Salk researchers discover a master gene responsible for
sleep and wake cycles, offering hope for a drug that could help reset sleep
Scientists at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies have
identified a gene that regulates sleep and wake rhythms.
The discovery of the role of this gene, called Lhx1,
provides scientists with a potential therapeutic target to help night-shift
workers or jet lagged travelers adjust to time differences more quickly. The
results, published in eLife, can point to treatment strategies for sleep
problems caused by a variety of disorders.