Transcriptional activity in the brain during sleep deprivation

Molecular biological techniques combined with experimental sleep deprivatio n have revealed alterations in gene transcriptional activity of several pro teins which may mediate the effects of prolonged wakefulness in the brain. During sleep deprivation gene transcription is altered in neuronal systems known to participate in the regulation of vigilance and sleep, ie the norar denergic and cholinergic systems, and several neuropeptides and cytokines. The study of immediate early genes during sleep deprivation has revealed in creased transcriptional activity in those brain areas that are active durin g wakefulness. Systemic search for alterated levels of messenger RNA in sle ep-deprived brain has revealed signal transduction proteins and metabolic e nzymes which may mediate changes in neuronal function during prolonged wake fulness. The purpose of this article is to give a short overview of those g enes whose transcription is affected by sleep deprivation according to the current literature, and to characterize the possible role of these genes in sleep regulation.