Department of Systems Biology

Animal Sleep Analysis

We are analyzing mouse sleep to reveal a causal relationship between the sleep control and candidate molecular factors identified in human research. The recent advent of public resources and efficient technologies for human sleep-related information allows us to find interesting correlations between sleep & wake behaviors and genetic factors. We are working to establish essential knowledge on sleep regulatory mechanisms through evaluating the potential correlation and finding true causal relationships. The key techniques we develop and apply to our research are the following:

Sleep & Wake Behavior Analysis Techniques:

• Non-invasive respiration-based sleep phenotyping (Snappy Sleep Stager - SSS): High-throughput system for 396 mouse recordings per week, providing automated sleep staging based on respiratory signals.
• Electroencephalogram/Electromyogram (EEG/EMG) recordings: An Invasive method for detailed brain wave (脳波) and muscle electrical activity (筋電) analysis to study sleep brain activity.

Efficient Molecular Function Modification Methods:

• Overexpression of mutated molecules: Introducing mutated genes via adeno-associated virus (AAV) for specific molecular manipulation in particular cell groups.
• Knockout of genes by Triple-targeted CRISPR: Gene knockout using CRISPR guide RNAs to obtain a highly efficient full-body knockout mouse in a single generation.

Key Research Areas/Examples:

• Discovery of molecular sleep-wake regulators through high-throughput genetics & phenotyping.
• Sub-cellular specific manipulations showing post-synaptic contribution to sleep.
• Research on the electrophysiological regulation of brain oscillations during sleep, specifically focusing on the role of excitatory neurons.