# Reduced expression of the electron transport chain component ATPsynβL in glutamate neurons changes Drosophila melanogaster sleep patterns through adulthood

## TL;DR

Reducing ATPsynβL in specific brain cells of fruit flies changes their daytime sleep patterns as they age.

## Contribution

This study shows that targeting ATPsynβL in glutamate neurons affects sleep without impacting lifespan.

## Key findings

- Reduced ATPsynβL in glutamate neurons increases daytime sleep in aged flies.
- RNAi targeting ATPsynβL does not affect nighttime sleep or sleep bout length.
- The effect on sleep is persistent from 5 to 30 days of age.

## Abstract

A physiological marker of human aging is a decline in sleep patterns, a behavior also found in
Drosophila melanogaster
. To understand the connection between aging and sleep, we monitored sleep in long-lived flies. RNAi targeting the electron transport chain
ATPsynβL
gene in glutamate neurons has been demonstrated to extend life span. We investigate the sleep behavior in these RNAi flies at 5 days and 30 days of age and observe a persistent increase in daytime sleep, but not in nighttime sleep or sleep bout length. These results demonstrate the unique effects on sleep by glutamate-specific RNAi of
ATPsynβL
.