BTBD9-driven IMPDH2 ubiquitination governs sleep homeostasis by gating adenosine metabolism in the basal forebrain

Abstract Background BTB domain containing 9 (BTBD9) is among the most reproducible genetic risk factors for sleep-related disorders, yet its molecular function in sleep regulation remains unclear. Here, we aimed to define the downstream substrate, core brain region, and molecular mechanism through which BTBD9 regulates sleep–wake homeostasis. Methods Population-scale genomic and brain expression quantitative trait locus (eQTL) datasets were integrated to infer the direction of BTBD9 -associated genetic risk in sleep-related traits. Basal forebrain-specific neuronal manipulation of Btbd9 was combined with electroencephalography/electromyography (EEG/EMG)-based sleep analysis and fiberphotomerty to define the relevant brain locus and functional output. Ubiquitinomics, protein interaction, ubiquitination, and enzymatic assays were used to identify BTBD9-regulated substrates and determine how BTBD9 -dependent modification affects metabolic enzyme activity. Basal forebrain-specific genetic disruption, receptor pharmacology, and adeno-associated virus (AAV)-delivered interfering peptides were further applied to test pathway necessity and reversibility in vivo. Results human genetic analyses showed that BTBD9 variants associated with higher expression predicted a pro-arousal tendency. Consistently, neuron-specific deletion of Btbd9 in the mouse basal forebrain increased non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep and extracellular adenosine levels. Mechanistically, IMPDH2, the rate-limiting enzyme in de novo purine biosynthesis, was identified as a substrate of the Cullin-RING E3 ubiquitin ligase 3 (CRL3) BTBD9 ubiquitin ligase. BTBD9-mediated ubiquitination at IMPDH2 lysine 195 (K195) relieved guanosine triphosphate (GTP)-dependent allosteric inhibition, thereby limiting adenosine accumulation and sleep pressure. Basal forebrain neuronal knockout of Impdh2 recapitulated the sleep-promoting effect of Btbd9 deletion, whereas adenosine A1 receptor (A1R) blockade attenuated this phenotype. AAV-delivered interfering peptides targeting the BTBD9–IMPDH2 interaction reduced IMPDH2 ubiquitination, elevated adenosine levels, increased NREM sleep, and rescued BTBD9 overexpression-induced abnormal wakefulness in vivo. Conclusions These findings identify a BTBD9–IMPDH2–adenosine pathway that links human genetic risk to basal forebrain control of sleep homeostasis. By defining BTBD9 as a molecular regulator of purine metabolism, this study provides a mechanistic framework for understanding and potentially targeting BTBD9 -related sleep dysregulation.