# Investigating the role of dSERT activity in Drosophila Sleep

> **NIH NIH F32** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES · 2022 · $67,174

## Abstract

Abstract:
 Sleep is a critical process essential for life and is conserved across many species. Although
sleep disruption has been linked to a variety of neurological and psychiatric disorders, the cellular
mechanisms and neural circuitry involved in sleep regulation are not well understood. The biogenic
amine serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) functions as a key neuromodulator of sleep behavior
from insects to mammals. The relationship between serotonergic signaling and sleep has been
studied for several decades, however its complex role in sleep regulation remains uncertain, with
many studies showing it to play a role in both wakefulness and conversely sleep propensity. These
complexities are further compounded by the fact that many antidepressants and antianxiety
medications that work through selective inhibition of serotonin reuptake (SSRIs) have been shown to
produce contradicting and various effects on sleep, ranging from insomnia to daytime somnolence. In
both Drosophila and mammals reuptake of serotonin from the synaptic cleft is mediated via the
Serotonin Transporter (SERT). The relationships between sleep, neurological disorders, and SSRI
medications strongly suggest that variations in extracellular serotonin levels as a result of increased
or decreased SERT activity could play a key role in modulating sleep behaviors. The molecular
mechanisms underlying this process, however, are not well understood in either humans or model
systems. To address these questions, I propose to use Drosophila as a model system to study the
mechanisms by which altering Drosophila SERT (dSERT) activity may impact sleep behavior. I will
first generate cutting edge genetic tools to probe the function of dSERT, and then I will implement
these tools to interrogate sleep behavior. My training will take place in the Krantz and Donlea
Laboratories at UCLA, a world-renowned center for neuroscience research. In order to accomplish
these aims, I will train under neuroscience experts and collaborate with local specialists. In addition, I
will utilize the ample resources of classes, seminars, journal clubs and workshops offered by UCLA
and external sources. These experiments will elucidate the role of extracellular serotonin signaling in
sleep physiology and identify the serotonergic circuitry involved in this behavior. This work
investigates the molecular mechanisms of neuromodulation in the context of sleep and will enhance
our understanding of how serotonergic signaling is involved in sleep behavior.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10463579
- **Project number:** 5F32NS123014-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES
- **Principal Investigator:** Elizabeth Knapp
- **Activity code:** F32 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $67,174
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2021-09-01 → 2023-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10463579

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10463579, Investigating the role of dSERT activity in Drosophila Sleep (5F32NS123014-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10463579. Licensed CC0.

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