Daily rhythms in cell cleaning process in brain support cells affect sleep and fat metabolism

Import of peroxisomal proteins in cortex glia peaks in the early morning, driven by the circadian clock.

• Peroxisomes are found enriched in the neuronal soma and surrounding cortex glia.
• Oscillation of peroxisomal protein import occurs specifically in cortex glia, not neurons.
• The circadian clock is required for rhythmic peroxisomal protein import in cortex glia.
• Reducing Pex5 in cortex glia leads to hyperactivity and decreased total sleep.
• Knockdown of Pex5 alters lipid metabolism differently in glia (sphingolipids and triacylglycerols) versus neurons (phospholipids).
• These findings suggest distinct roles for peroxisomal import in sleep regulation and lipid metabolism in the brain.

Simplified