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The DBP gene is expressed according to a circadian rhythm in the suprachiasmatic nucleus and influences circadian behavior
Author(s) -
LopezMolina Luis,
Conquet François,
DuboisDauphin Michel,
Schibler Ueli
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
the embo journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 7.484
H-Index - 392
eISSN - 1460-2075
pISSN - 0261-4189
DOI - 10.1093/emboj/16.22.6762
Subject(s) - circadian rhythm , suprachiasmatic nucleus , biology , light effects on circadian rhythm , endocrinology , medicine , period (music) , hypothalamus , gene expression , microbiology and biotechnology , gene , genetics , physics , acoustics
DBP, a PAR leucine zipper transcription factor, accumulates according to a robust circadian rhythm in liver and several other tissues of mouse and rat. Here we report that DBP mRNA levels also oscillate strongly in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) of the hypothalamus, believed to harbor the central mammalian pacemaker. However, peak and minimum levels of DBP mRNA are reached about 4 h earlier in the SCN than in liver, suggesting that circadian DBP expression is controlled by different mechanisms in SCN and in peripheral tissues. Mice homozygous for a DBP‐null allele display less locomotor activity and free‐run with a shorter period than otherwise isogenic wild‐type animals. The altered locomotor activity in DBP mutant mice and the highly rhythmic expression of the DBP gene in SCN neurons suggest that DBP is involved in controlling circadian behavior. However, since DBP−/− mice are still rhythmic and since DBP protein is not required for the circadian expression of its own gene, dbp is more likely to be a component of the circadian output pathway than a master gene of the clock.