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DCRY is a Drosophila photoreceptor protein implicated in light entrainment of circadian rhythm
Author(s) -
Ishikawa Tomoko,
Matsumoto Akira,
Kato Jr Tomohisa,
Togashi Shin,
Ryo Haruko,
Ikenaga Mituo,
Todo Takeshi,
Ueda Ryu,
Tanimura Teiichi
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
genes to cells
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.912
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1365-2443
pISSN - 1356-9597
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2443.1999.00237.x
Subject(s) - cryptochrome , circadian rhythm , biology , timeless , circadian clock , entrainment (biomusicology) , drosophila melanogaster , microbiology and biotechnology , light effects on circadian rhythm , bacterial circadian rhythms , clock , period (music) , oscillating gene , genetics , gene , rhythm , neuroscience , medicine , physics , acoustics
Background : Light is the major environmental signal for the entrainment of circadian rhythms. In Drosophila melanogaster , the period ( per ) and timeless ( tim ) genes are required for circadian behavioural rhythms and their expression levels undergo circadian fluctuations. Light signals can entrain these rhythms by shifting their phases. However, little is known about the molecular mechanism for the perception and transduction of the light signal. The members of the photolyase/cryptochrome family contain flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) as chromophore and are involved in two diverse functions, DNA repair and photoreception of environmental light signals. Results : We report the cloning of a new member of this family, dcry , from Drosophila . Northern blot analysis shows that this gene is expressed in various tissues. The dcry mRNA is expressed in a circadian manner in adult heads, while such rhythmic fluctuation is abolished in the clock‐defective per 0 and tim 0 mutants. The circadian expression is dampened down in constant darkness. The over‐expression of the dcry gene alters the light‐induced phase delay in the locomotor activity rhythms of flies. Conclusion : These results suggest that DCRY is a circadian photoreceptor and that its expression is regulated by circadian clock genes.