The mammalian circadian clock is coordinated by the brain’s suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) and involves self-sustaining transcriptional–translational negative feedback loops (TTFLs) in which CLOCK and BMAL1 proteins drive expression of the negative regulator proteins Period and Cryptochrome (Cry). Globally deleting the genes for Cry1 and Cry2 disables the TTFL and disrupts circadian rhythms.
The researchers developed a translational switch based on genetic code expansion (GCE) that involved incorporating a noncanonical amino acid (ncAA) into Cry1, resulting in Cry1 translation and ncAA-dependent expression.
The authors found that ncAA-dependent activation of Cry1 translation in neurons of arrhythmic Cry-deficient SCN slices reversibly and dose-dependently initiated TTFL molecular rhythms. Using the ncAA to activate Cry1 translation in SCN neurons of arrhythmic Cry1- and Cry2-null mice rapidly and reversibly initiated circadian behavior, and the amplitude of the circadian rhythm was dependent on the number of transduced SCN neurons.
The results indicate that expression of Cry1 in SCN neurons is sufficient to initiate and sustain TTFLs and circadian timekeeping. The authors suggest that GCE-based translational switching might be used to reversibly control diverse mammalian behaviors.
http://www.pnas.org/content/early/2018/11/27/1811438115
http://sciencemission.com/site/index.php?page=news&type=view&id=publications%2Frapid-functional&filter=22
Controlling circadian behavior in mice
- 1,107 views
- Added
Edited
Latest News
Metabolic rewiring promotes…
By newseditor
Posted 18 Apr
A drug to prevent flu-induc…
By newseditor
Posted 18 Apr
New origin of deep brain waves
By newseditor
Posted 17 Apr
Starving cells hijack prote…
By newseditor
Posted 17 Apr
Miniature battery-free epid…
By newseditor
Posted 17 Apr
Other Top Stories
Neurotransmitters role in cancer progression
Read more
Slowing tumor growth by protein modification
Read more
Spliceosome gene mutation implicated in acute lymphoblastic leukaemia
Read more
3D Structure of a Promising Molecular Target for Cancer Treatment
Read more
Removal of gene prevents development of pancreatic cancer in mice
Read more
Protocols
MemPrep, a new technology f…
By newseditor
Posted 08 Apr
A tangible method to assess…
By newseditor
Posted 08 Apr
Stem cell-derived vessels-o…
By newseditor
Posted 06 Apr
Single-cell biclustering fo…
By newseditor
Posted 01 Apr
Modular dual-color BiAD sen…
By newseditor
Posted 31 Mar
Publications
How does the microbiota con…
By newseditor
Posted 18 Apr
The integrated stress respo…
By newseditor
Posted 18 Apr
The immunobiology of herpes…
By newseditor
Posted 17 Apr
Circulating microbiome DNA…
By newseditor
Posted 17 Apr
Spindle oscillations in com…
By newseditor
Posted 17 Apr
Presentations
Hydrogels in Drug Delivery
By newseditor
Posted 12 Apr
Lipids
By newseditor
Posted 31 Dec
Cell biology of carbohydrat…
By newseditor
Posted 29 Nov
RNA interference (RNAi)
By newseditor
Posted 23 Oct
RNA structure and functions
By newseditor
Posted 19 Oct
Posters
A chemical biology/modular…
By newseditor
Posted 22 Aug
Single-molecule covalent ma…
By newseditor
Posted 04 Jul
ASCO-2020-HEALTH SERVICES R…
By newseditor
Posted 23 Mar
ASCO-2020-HEAD AND NECK CANCER
By newseditor
Posted 23 Mar
ASCO-2020-GENITOURINARY CAN…
By newseditor
Posted 23 Mar