Dataset from: Functional divergence of mammalian TFAP2a and TFAP2b transcription factors for bidirectional sleep control

Sleep is a conserved behavioral state that is found in all animals that have a nervous system. Invertebrates typically show quiet sleep, whereas in mammals, sleep is more complex, and consists of periods of non-rapid-eye-movement sleep (NREMS) and REM sleep (REMS). We previously found that the transcription factor AP-2 is required for sleep in C. elegans and Drosophila and that the C. elegans AP-2 gene aptf-1 is required for sleep-active neurons to induce sleep. In mammals, several paralogous AP-2 transcription factors exist. Sleep-controlling genes are often conserved. However, little is known about how sleep genes evolved from controlling simpler types of sleep to govern complex mammalian sleep. Here, we studied the roles of Tfap2a and Tfap2b in sleep control in mice. Consistent with our results from C. elegans and Drosophila, the AP-2 transcription factors Tfap2a and Tfap2b also control sleep in mice. Surprisingly, however, the two AP-2 paralogs play contrary roles in sleep control. ...