A role for the Drosophila fragile X-related gene in circadian output |
| |
Authors: | Inoue Shunsuke Shimoda Masami Nishinokubi Izumi Siomi Mikiko C Okamura Miwako Nakamura Akira Kobayashi Satoru Ishida Norio Siomi Haruhiko |
| |
Institution: | Institute for Genome Research, University of Tokushima, Kuramoto 3-18-15, 770-8503, Tokushima, Japan. |
| |
Abstract: | Mutations that abolish expression of an X-linked gene, FMR1, result in the pathogenesis of fragile X syndrome, the most common form of inherited mental retardation. To understand the normal function of the FMR1 protein, we have produced fly strains bearing deletions in a Drosophila homolog of FMR1 (dfmr1). Since fragile X patients show a number of abnormal behaviors including sleep problems, we investigated whether a loss-of-function mutation of dfmr1 affect circadian behavior. Here we show that under constant darkness (DD), a lack of dfmr1 expression causes arrhythmic locomotor activity, but in light:dark cycles, their behavioral rhythms appear normal. In addition, the clock-controlled eclosion rhythm is normal in DFMR1-deficient flies. These results suggest that DFMR1 plays a critical role in the circadian output pathway regulating locomotor activity in Drosophila. |
| |
Keywords: | |
本文献已被 ScienceDirect PubMed 等数据库收录! |
|