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Extracellular signal‐regulated kinase modulates sleep and sleep homeostasis in Drosophila melanogaster

Although humans spend a third of life asleep, the function this sleep serves is still unknown. Using the model system Drosophila melanogaster, we have begun to identify genes that alter either sleep or sleep homeostasis, the increase in sleep observed after sleep loss. One of the genes we have identified, extra‐cellular signal regulated kinase (ERK), is of particular interest given its role in synaptic plasticity. Thus, we expressed an activated form of ERK (UAS‐ERKact) in adult flies using the pan neuronal Geneswitch driver Gsw‐elav. We have found that RU486 (RU) fed GSw‐elav/+>UAS‐ERKact/+ display a significant increase in sleep compared to vehicle (ETOH) fed controls. Importantly, the pan neuronal expression of ERKact in the adult fly also results in a significantly larger sleep rebound than controls. Consistent with these results, we have observed a reduction in sleep time and an attenuated sleep rebound in two loss of function lines for the Drosophila homologue of ERK, rolled (rl1) and GSw‐elav/+>rlRNAi. Surprisingly, no sleep rebound is observed when ERKact is expressed in the adult Mushroom Body (MB) indicating that ERKact plays a circuit dependent role in sleep regulation. Given the relationship between sleep and synaptic plasticity, it will be interesting to further elucidate the common signaling cascades linking ERK, sleep and plasticity.