Light-induced resetting of a circadian clock is mediated by a rapid increase in frequency transcript

To understand how light entrains circadian clocks, weexamined the effects of light on a gene known to encode a state variable of a circadian oscillator, the frequency ( frq) gene. frq is rapidly induced by short pulses of visible light; clock resetting is correlated with frq induction and is blocked...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Cell 1995-06, Vol.81 (7), p.1003-1012
Main Authors: Crosthwaite, Susan K., Loros, Jennifer J., Dunlap, Jay C.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Analysis of Variance
Calcium-Binding Proteins - biosynthesis
Calcium-Binding Proteins - genetics
Cell Nucleus - metabolism
Circadian Rhythm - genetics
Darkness
Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal - radiation effects
Light
Nerve Tissue Proteins - biosynthesis
Nerve Tissue Proteins - genetics
Neurospora
Neurospora - genetics
Neurospora - physiology
Open Reading Frames
Oscillometry
Protein Biosynthesis
RNA, Messenger - biosynthesis
Signal Transduction
Transcription, Genetic
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Summary:To understand how light entrains circadian clocks, weexamined the effects of light on a gene known to encode a state variable of a circadian oscillator, the frequency ( frq) gene. frq is rapidly induced by short pulses of visible light; clock resetting is correlated with frq induction and is blocked by drugs that block the synthesis of protein or translatable RNA. The speed and magnitude of frq induction suggest that this may be the initial clock-specific event in light resetting. Light induction overcomes frq negative autoregulation so that frq expression can remain high in constant light. These data explain how a simple unidirectional signal (light and the induction of frq) may be turned into a bidirectional clock response (time of day-specific advances and delays). This light entrainment model is easily generalized and may be the common mechanism by which the intracellular feedback cycles that comprise circadian clocks are brought into synchrony with external cycles in the real world.
ISSN:0092-8674
1097-4172
DOI:10.1016/S0092-8674(05)80005-4