Targeting this gene, called Tango10 and involved in the control of sleep-wake cycles, would improve sleep and improve the situation of depressed people and better understand neurodegenerative and metabolic diseases.
- By conducting trials on flies, the researchers found that deleting the Tango10 gene disrupted their biological rhythm.
- Normally, Tango10 protein levels change with circadian time, which has the effect of modulating the activity of neurons and regulating the sleep-wake cycle.
The circadian rhythm organizes the biological functioning of our body, from cells to organs. It is therefore essential not to disrupt it to avoid creating dysfunctions in the body that can promote certain diseases, such as obesity or Alzheimer’s. American neurobiologists from Northwestern University have identified a new gene, called Tango10, involved in a molecular pathway by which the central circadian clock regulates cellular clock output to control daily sleep-wake cycles. They presented their findings in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
A loss of regular rhythm without the gene
The new gene discovery could lead to therapies to help sleep problems and could shed light on diseases linked to the internal clock, such as depression, neurodegenerative diseases and metabolic diseases. “We wanted to better understand the molecular basis of the daily ‘wake-up signal’, which signals that it’s time to wake upsaid Ravi Allada, professor of neurobiology, who led the study. In this study, we focused on pacemaker neurons that control the sleep-wake cycle and used genetic screening to identify genes that regulate neurons.”
For their study, the authors looked at a number of genes that they believe may be important for circadian clock function and behavior. They conducted their experiments on flies and ensure that the results are transposable to humans. Through this process, they discovered the gene called Tango10. By eliminating it, the fly lost its normal 24-hour behavioral rhythm. Some potassium currents were reduced and probably caused overactive neurons and contributed to a loss of regular rhythm.
Disturbed neuron activity
Normally, Tango10 protein levels change with circadian time, which has the effect of modulating the activity of neurons and regulating the sleep-wake cycle. Without this protein, the whole daily rhythm is disturbed. “Our findings fill a molecular gap in our understanding of how the clock’s basic gears control the hands”, advances Ravi Allada.
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