Sleep is one of many biological mysteries scientists seek to explore and explain. Although the timing of sleep is known to be regulated by the body’s biological clock, the nitty gritty mechanics of exactly how that happens remain obscure. Until, perhaps, now: A team of researchers have identified, in fruit flies, the protein made by the gene that promotes and regulates sleep as well as a mutant gene — dubbed “Wide Awake” — that sabotages how the biological clock sets the timing for sleep. “We have now found the first protein ever identified that translates timing information from the body’s circadian clock and uses it to regulate sleep,” said Dr. Mark N. Wu, an assistant professor of neurology, medicine, genetic medicine, and neuroscience at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. The researchers feel confident the same protein plays a similar role in the human body.
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