Discovery of Hypocretin/Orexin Ushers in a New Era of Sleep Research

Trends Neurosci. 2018 Feb;41(2):70-72. doi: 10.1016/j.tins.2017.11.007.

Abstract

Prior to the 21st century, genetic mechanisms that regulate sleep were largely unknown. In 1998, de Lecea et al. [1] (Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 1998; 95:322-327) and Sakurai et al. [2] (Cell 1998; 92: 573-585) reported the discovery of a gene they named hypocretin and orexin, respectively, which led to a revolution in our understanding of genetic and neuronal mechanisms that regulate sleep.

Keywords: arousal; hypocretin; orexin; sleep.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Humans
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / metabolism
  • Neurons / drug effects
  • Neuropeptides / metabolism*
  • Orexins / pharmacology*
  • Sleep / drug effects*
  • Sleep / physiology
  • Wakefulness / drug effects*
  • Wakefulness / physiology

Substances

  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Neuropeptides
  • Orexins