Effects of an electric field on sleep quality and life span mediated by ultraviolet (UV)-A/blue light photoreceptor CRYPTOCHROME in Drosophila

Haruhisa Kawasaki,Yuzo Nakagawa-Yagi,Akikuni Hara,Hideyuki Okano,Takaki Nedachi,Norio Ishida

doi:10.1038/s41598-021-99753-4

Abstract

Although electric fields (EF) exert beneficial effects on animal wound healing, differentiation, cancers and rheumatoid arthritis, the molecular mechanisms of these effects have remained unclear about a half century. Therefore, we aimed to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying EF effects in Drosophila melanogaster as a genetic animal model. Here we show that the sleep quality of wild type (WT) flies was improved by exposure to a 50-Hz (35 kV/m) constant electric field during the day time, but not during the night time. The effect was undetectable in cryptochrome mutant (cryb) flies. Exposure to a 50-Hz electric field under low nutrient conditions elongated the lifespan of male and female WT flies by ~ 18%, but not of several cry mutants and cry RNAi strains. Metabolome analysis indicated that the adenosine triphosphate (ATP) content was higher in intact WT than cry gene mutant strains exposed to an electric field. A putative magnetoreceptor protein and UV-A/blue light photoreceptor, CRYPTOCHROME (CRY) is involved in electric field (EF) receptors in animals. The present findings constitute hitherto unknown genetic evidence of a CRY-based system that is electric field sensitive in animals.

Highlights

Electric fields (EFs) influence various behaviors, including embryogenesis, wound healing, polarity, differentiation, and motility in plants and animals[1,2,3]
The purpose of the present study is to test the hypothesis that an EF exposure of 50 Hz can improve sleep quality and extend the lifetime in wild type (WT) flies and that cry is essential for the electric field receptor system in Drosophila
The sleep quality of WT flies exposed to a 12-h EF during the day (ZT 0–12) or night (ZT 13–24) differed (Fig. 1a)

Summary

Introduction

Electric fields (EFs) influence various behaviors, including embryogenesis, wound healing, polarity, differentiation, and motility in plants and animals[1,2,3]. Drosophila melanogaster was the experimental model in the present study. Several studies have found that animals and plants detect magnetic fields through CRY proteins. Nerve-specific cry expression in Drosophila increased magnetic field sensitivity[14]. A specific geographic magnetic field is imprinted on Drosophila and is inherited to its progeny[15]. The purpose of the present study is to test the hypothesis that an EF exposure of 50 Hz can improve sleep quality and extend the lifetime in WT flies and that cry is essential for the electric field receptor system in Drosophila

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion