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cGMP-dependent protein kinase I, the circadian clock, sleep, and learning

Robert Feil, Sabine M. Hölter, Karin Weindl, Wolfgang Wurst, Sonia Langmesser, Andrea Gerling, Susanne Feil and Urs Albrecht

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The second messenger cGMP controls cardiovascular and gastrointestinal homeostasis in mammals. However, its physiological relevance in the nervous system is poorly understood.¹ Now, we have reported that the cGMP-dependent protein kinase type I (PRKG1) is implicated in the regulation of the timing and quality of sleep and wakefulness.² Prkg1 mutant mice showed altered distribution of sleep and wakefulness as well as reduction in rapid-eye-movement sleep (REMS) duration and in non-REMS consolidation. Furthermore, the ability to sustain waking episodes was compromised. These observations were also reflected in wheel-running and drinking activity. A decrease in electroencephalogram power in the delta frequency range (1–4 Hz) under baseline conditions was observed, which was normalized after sleep deprivation. Together with the finding that circadian clock amplitude is reduced in Prkg1 mutants these results indicate a decrease of the wake-promoting output of the circadian system affecting sleep. Because quality of sleep might affect learning we tested Prkg1 mutants in several learning tasks and find normal spatial learning but impaired object recognition memory in these animals. Our findings indicate that Prkg1 impinges on circadian rhythms, sleep and distinct aspects of learning.

Langmesser S, Franken P, Feil S, Emmenegger Y, Albrecht U, Feil R. cGMP-dependent protein kinase type I is implicated in the regulation of the timing and quality of sleep and wakefulness. PLoS One 2009; 4:e4238.

Authors

Robert Feil

Interfakultäres Institut für Biochemie, Universität Tübingen, Germany

Sabine M. Hölter

Institute of Developmental Genetics, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg/Munich, Germany

Karin Weindl

Institute of Developmental Genetics, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg/Munich, Germany

Wolfgang Wurst

Institute of Developmental Genetics, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg/Munich, Germany

Sonia Langmesser

Department of Medicine, Unit of Biochemistry, University of Fribourg, Switzerland

Andrea Gerling

Interfakultäres Institut für Biochemie, Universität Tübingen, Germany

Susanne Feil

Interfakultäres Institut für Biochemie, Universität Tübingen, Germany

Urs Albrecht Corresponding author: urs.albrecht@unifr.ch

Department of Medicine, Unit of Biochemistry, University of Fribourg, Switzerland

This is an open-access article

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If the document does not open, please right-click on the link (control-click on a Macintosh) and select the option to save the file to disk.