Wie ein einzelnes Neuron das Überleben eines Fadenwurmes sichert

Abstract

Sleep is a vital behavioral and physiological state. It is controlled by conserved genes and neuronal circuit mechanisms. In the round worm Caenorhabditis elegans, one single neuron called RIS is essential for sleep. During sleep, RIS activates to shut down behavior and to support survival. Here, we summarize how stress leads to the activation of RIS signaling through immunity and longevity signaling pathways and how the single RIS neuron becomes crucial for the round worm to survive.