Neurofibromin 1 regulates early developmental sleep in Drosophila .

Sleep disturbances are common in neurodevelopmental disorders, but knowledge of molecular factors that govern sleep in young animals is lacking. Evidence across species, including , suggests that juvenile sleep has distinct functions and regulatory mechanisms in comparison to sleep in maturity. In flies, manipulation of most known adult sleep regulatory genes is not associated with sleep phenotypes during early developmental (larval) stages. Here, we examine the role of the neurodevelopmental disorder-associated gene () in sleep during numerous developmental periods. Mutations in () are associated with sleep and circadian disorders in humans and adult flies. We find in flies that acts to regulate sleep across the lifespan, beginning during larval stages. is required in neurons for this function, as is signaling via the Alk pathway. These findings identify as one of a small number of genes positioned to regulate sleep across developmental periods.