Exploring the link between neuronal mitochondrial DNA damage and sleep

Sleep is a highly conserved biological process whose function remains under intense investigation. Recent evidence suggests that the repair of DNA damage accumulated during wakefulness is a key component of sleep regulation. While nuclear DNA damage has been linked to sleep homeostasis, the role of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), particularly vulnerable to oxidative stress, remains largely unexplored. This project aims to determine whether neuronal mtDNA damage acts as a cellular stress signal capable of modifying sleep regulation in Drosophila melanogaster. By addressing whether mtDNA integrity contributes to sleep homeostasis, this study will provide novel insights into the link between genomic stability and physiological regulation of sleep. The findings may help clarify how mitochondrial dysfunction contributes to neuronal vulnerability and sleep-related pathologies.