<i>CACNA1D</i> is a circadian gene and causes familial advanced sleep phase

J John M. Webb (Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco) F Fayal Abderemane-Ali (Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of California) L Liza Ashbrook (Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco) M Mingyang Ma (Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco) N Neha Nibber (Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco) X Xianlin Zou (Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco) M Maya Yamazaki (Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco) E Elizabeth Wohler (McKusick-Nathans Department of Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins Medicine) N Nara Sobreira (McKusick-Nathans Department of Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins Medicine) D Daniel L. Minor (Kavli Institute for Fundamental Neuroscience, University of California San Francisco) Y Ying-Hui Fu (Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco) L Louis J. Ptáček (Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco)

Abstract

Familial advanced sleep phase (FASP) is a heritable human sleep trait characterized by early sleep onset and offset times. We have identified five variants in five different families in the human voltage-gated calcium channel subunit alpha1 D ( CACNA1D ) that cosegregate with FASP. The variants in CACNA1D lead to altered channel dynamics in vitro. A mouse model of the E427K variant has a normal circadian period under constant darkness but displays altered phase shifts in response to light in the subjective night at circadian time (CT) 16 and CT22. Overall, these experiments establish CACNA1D as an FASP gene with altered entrainment, highlighting the ability of human genetics to uncover novel aspects of human circadian regulation.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 122, Issue 23
Published June 10, 2025
ISSN 0027-8424
Publisher National Academy of Sciences

Authors (12)

J

John M. Webb

Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco

F

Fayal Abderemane-Ali

Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of California

L

Liza Ashbrook

Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco

M

Mingyang Ma

Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco

N

Neha Nibber

Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco

X

Xianlin Zou

Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco

M

Maya Yamazaki

Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco

E

Elizabeth Wohler

McKusick-Nathans Department of Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins Medicine

N

Nara Sobreira

McKusick-Nathans Department of Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins Medicine

D

Daniel L. Minor

Kavli Institute for Fundamental Neuroscience, University of California San Francisco

Y

Ying-Hui Fu

Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco

L

Louis J. Ptáček

Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco