Sleep is an essential and phylogenetically conserved behavioral state, but it remains unclear to what extent genes identified in invertebrates also regulate vertebrate sleep. RFamide-related neuropeptides have been shown to promote invertebrate sleep, and here we report that the vertebrate hypothalamic RFamide neuropeptide VF (NPVF) regulates sleep in the zebrafish, a diurnal vertebrate. We found that NPVF signaling and npvf-expressing neurons are both necessary and sufficient to promote sleep, that mature peptides derived from the NPVF preproprotein promote sleep in a synergistic manner, and that stimulation of npvf-expressing neurons induces neuronal activity levels consistent with normal sleep. These results identify NPVF signaling and npvf-expressing neurons as a novel vertebrate sleep-promoting system and suggest that RFamide neuropeptides participate in an ancient and central aspect of sleep control.

The genetic bases for most human sleep disorders and for variation in human sleep quantity and quality are largely unknown. Using the zebrafish, a diurnal vertebrate, to investigate the genetic regulation of sleep, we found that epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling is necessary and sufficient for normal sleep levels and is required for the normal homeostatic response to sleep deprivation. We observed that EGFR signaling promotes sleep via mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal–regulated kinase and RFamide neuropeptide signaling and that it regulates RFamide neuropeptide expression and neuronal activity. Consistent with these findings, analysis of a large cohort of human genetic data from participants of European ancestry revealed that common variants in genes within the EGFR signaling pathway are associated with variation in human sleep quantity and quality. These results indicate that EGFR signaling and its downstream pathways play a central and ancient role in regulating sleep and provide new therapeutic targets for sleep disorders.

Although several sleep-regulating neuronal populations have been identified, little is known about how they interact with each other to control sleep/wake states. We previously identified neuropeptide VF (NPVF) and the hypothalamic neurons that produce it as a sleep-promoting system (Lee et al., 2017). Here we show using zebrafish that npvf-expressing neurons control sleep via the serotonergic raphe nuclei (RN), a hindbrain structure that is critical for sleep in both diurnal zebrafish and nocturnal mice. Using genetic labeling and calcium imaging, we show that npvf-expressing neurons innervate and can activate serotonergic RN neurons. We also demonstrate that chemogenetic or optogenetic stimulation of npvf-expressing neurons induces sleep in a manner that requires NPVF and serotonin in the RN. Finally, we provide genetic evidence that NPVF acts upstream of serotonin in the RN to maintain normal sleep levels. These findings reveal a novel hypothalamic-hindbrain neuronal circuit for sleep/wake control.

15Although several sleep-regulating neurons have been identified, little is known about how they 16 interact with each other for sleep/wake control. We previously identified neuropeptide VF (NPVF) 17 and the hypothalamic neurons that produce it as a sleep-promoting system (Lee et al., 2017). 18Here we use zebrafish to describe a neural circuit in which neuropeptide VF (npvf)-expressing 19 neurons control sleep via the serotonergic raphe nuclei (RN), a hindbrain structure that promotes 20 sleep in both diurnal zebrafish and nocturnal mice. Using genetic labeling and calcium imaging, 21we show that npvf-expressing neurons innervate and activate serotonergic RN neurons. We 22 additionally demonstrate that optogenetic stimulation of npvf-expressing neurons induces sleep 23 in a manner that requires NPVF and is abolished when the RN are ablated or lack serotonin. 24Finally, genetic epistasis demonstrates that NPVF acts upstream of serotonin in the RN to 25 maintain normal sleep levels. These findings reveal a novel hypothalamic-hindbrain circuit for 26 sleep/wake control. 28While several sleep-and wake-promoting neuronal populations have been identified (reviewed in 30 (Bringmann, 2018; Liu and Dan, 2019; Saper and Fuller, 2017; Scammell et al., 2017)), 31 characterizing and understanding the functional and hierarchical relationships between these 32 populations is essential for understanding how the brain regulates sleep and wake states 33 (Oikonomou and Prober, 2017). Recent evidence from zebrafish and mice demonstrate that the 34 serotonergic raphe nuclei (RN) are critical for the initiation and maintenance of sleep (Oikonomou 35 et al., 2019), in contrast with previous models suggesting a wake-promoting role for the RN that 36 were largely based on their wake-active nature (Saper and Fuller, 2017; Scammell et al., 2017; 37Weber and Dan, 2016). In zebrafish, mutation of tryptophan hydroxylase 2 (tph2), which is 38 required for serotonin (5-HT) synthesis in the RN, results in reduced sleep, sleep depth, and 39 homeostatic response to sleep deprivation (Oikonomou et al., 2019). Pharmacological inhibition 40 of 5-HT synthesis or ablation of the RN also results in reduced sleep. Consistent with a sleep-41 promoting role for the raphe, optogenetic stimulation of raphe neurons results in increased sleep.42 Similarly, in mice, ablation of the RN results in increased wakefulness and an impaired 43 homeostatic response to sleep deprivation, whereas tonic optogenetic stimulation of the RN at a 44 rate similar to their baseline pattern of activity induces NREM sleep. These complementary results 45 in zebrafish and mice (Oikonomou et al., 2019), along with classical ablation and pharmacological 46 studies (Ursin, 2008), indicate an evolutionarily conserved role for the serotonergic system in 47 promoting vertebrate sleep. However, it is unclear how the RN are themselves regulated to 48 promote sleep. 50Trans-synaptic retrograde viral tracing studies have identified substantial inputs to the RN from 51 hypothalamic ...

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