Orcokinin neuropeptides regulate sleep in Caenorhabditis elegans

Abstract

Orcokinin neuropeptides are conserved among ecdysozoans, but their functions are incompletely understood. Here, we report a role for orcokinin neuropeptides in the regulation of sleep in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. The C. elegans orcokinin peptides, which are encoded by the nlp-14 and nlp-15 genes, are necessary and sufficient for quiescent behaviors during developmentally timed sleep (DTS) as well as during stress-induced sleep (SIS). The five orcokinin neuropeptides encoded by nlp-14 have distinct but overlapping functions in the regulation of movement and defecation quiescence during SIS. We suggest that orcokinins may regulate behavioral components of sleep-like states in nematodes and other ecdysozoans.

Is direct bodyguard manipulation a parasitoid-induced stress sleep? A new perspective

“…Orcokinin in Ca. elegans is encoded by the nlp-14 gene present in the ALA neuron and its paralogue nlp-15 genes in the ALA and RIS neurons [41]. ALA is a nociceptive neuron; epidermal growth factor (EGF) elevation in ALA neurons can induce behavioural quiescence in Ca.…”

Neuromodulators: an essential part of survival

“…Non-FLP, non-ILP neuropeptides. : NLPs comprise a heterogeneous group of neuropeptides, but are again involved in diverse physiological processes (Li & Kim, 2008;Hobert, 2013), from sleep behaviors (see Honer, Buscemi et al, 2020; this issue) to neurodegeneration (Lezi et al, 2018) and longevity (Park, Link, & Johnson, 2010). Similar to FLPs and ILPs, NLPs can amplify or dampen signaling at specific synapses (Chalasani et al, 2010;Hapiak et al, 2013;Macosko et al, 2009), thereby shaping circuit connectivities and behaviors.…”

Neuromodulators: an essential part of survival

“…The profound influence of neuromodulators on behavior, metabolism, and overall physiology is a common thread throughout this issue (Cheon, Hwang, & Kim, 2020;Honer et al, 2020;Kim & Flavell, 2020;Kim, Lee, Kim, & Lee, 2020;Liang, McKinnon, & Rankin, 2020;Liu & Zhang, 2020;Muirhead & Srinivasan, 2020;Prahlad, 2020;Srinivasan, 2020;Takeishi, Takagaki, & Kuhara, 2020;Yang, Lee, Yim, & Lee, 2020). In this perspective, we will focus on the roles of monoamines and neuropeptides in C. elegans survival.…”

“…Non-FLP, non-ILP neuropeptides. NLPs comprise a heterogeneous group of neuropeptides, but are again involved in diverse physiological processes (Li & Kim, 2008;Hobert, 2013), from sleep behaviors (see Honer, Buscemi et al, 2020; this issue) to neurodegeneration (Lezi et al, 2018) and longevity (Park, Link, & Johnson, 2010). Similar to FLPs and ILPs, NLPs can amplify or dampen signaling at specific synapses (Chalasani et al, 2010;Hapiak et al, 2013;Macosko et al, 2009), thereby shaping circuit connectivities and behaviors.…”