Mitochondrial coenzyme Q redox balance restrains dopaminergic neuron activity to promote early-life sleep in Drosophila

To identify cell-intrinsic regulators of juvenile sleep, we profiled gene expression in Drosophila dopaminergic neurons (DANs) at different ages and performed a targeted RNAi screen of genes with enriched juvenile expression. We found that the magnitude of mitochondrial complex I (MCI) disruption produced strikingly distinct physiological outcomes.

Severe MCI loss-of-function caused profound mitochondrial dysfunction, reduced dopaminergic activity, and locomotor impairment. In contrast, partial MCI inhibition left overall mitochondrial function intact but instead reduced sleep, with disproportionately strong effects on juvenile sleep fragmentation and depth, consistent with a gain of dopaminergic signaling. Multiple genetic manipulations that deplete the reduced coenzyme Q pool (CoQH₂) converged on a phenotype of increased dopaminergic activity and wakefulness, indicating that coenzyme Q redox balance itself regulates dopaminergic output.