SLEEP - Identification of Causal Genes, Networks, and Transcriptional Regulators of REM Sleep and Wake

VOLUME 34, ISSUE 11

CAUSAL GENES, NETWORKS AND REGULATORS OF SLEEP AND WAKE
Identification of Causal Genes, Networks, and Transcriptional Regulators of REM Sleep and Wake

http://dx.doi.org/10.5665/sleep.1378

Joshua Millstein, PhD¹; Christopher J. Winrow, PhD²; Andrew Kasarskis, PhD³; Joseph R. Owens, BE⁴; Lili Zhou, BS⁴; Keith C. Summa, BS⁴; Karrie Fitzpatrick, BS⁴; Bin Zhang, PhD¹; Martha H. Vitaterna, PhD⁴; Eric E. Schadt, PhD³; John J. Renger, PhD²; Fred W. Turek, PhD⁴

¹Sage Bionetworks, Seattle, WA ; ²Neuroscience Department, Merck Research Laboratories, West Point, PA ; ³Pacific Biosciences, Menlo Park, CA ; ⁴Center for Sleep & Circadian Biology, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL

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Study Objective:

Sleep-wake traits are well-known to be under substantial genetic control, but the specific genes and gene networks underlying primary sleep-wake traits have largely eluded identification using conventional approaches, especially in mammals. Thus, the aim of this study was to use systems genetics and statistical approaches to uncover the genetic networks underlying 2 primary sleep traits in the mouse: 24-h duration of REM sleep and wake.

Design:

Genome-wide RNA expression data from 3 tissues (anterior cortex, hypothalamus, thalamus/midbrain) were used in conjunction with high-density genotyping to identify candidate causal genes and networks mediating the effects of 2 QTL regulating the 24-h duration of REM sleep and one regulating the 24-h duration of wake.

Setting:

Basic sleep research laboratory.

Patients or Participants:

Male [C57BL/6J × (BALB/cByJ × C57BL/6J*) F₁] N₂ mice (n = 283).

Interventions:

None.

Measurements and Results:

The genetic variation of a mouse N₂ mapping cross was leveraged against sleep-state phenotypic variation as well as quantitative gene expression measurement in key brain regions using integrative genomics approaches to uncover multiple causal sleep-state regulatory genes, including several surprising novel candidates, which interact as components of networks that modulate REM sleep and wake. In particular, it was discovered that a core network module, consisting of 20 genes, involved in the regulation of REM sleep duration is conserved across the cortex, hypothalamus, and thalamus. A novel application of a formal causal inference test was also used to identify those genes directly regulating sleep via control of expression.

Conclusion:

Systems genetics approaches reveal novel candidate genes, complex networks and specific transcriptional regulators of REM sleep and wake duration in mammals.

Citation:

Millstein J; Winrow CJ; Kasarskis A; Owens JR; Zhou L; Summa KC; Fitzpatrick K; Zhang B; Vitaterna MH; Schadt EE; Renger JJ; Turek FW. Identification of causal genes, networks, and transcriptional regulators of REM sleep and wake. SLEEP 2011;34(11):1469-1477.