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Temperature regulates transcription in the zebrafish circadian clock.

Temperature regulates transcription in the zebrafish circadian clock.

Authors :
Kajori Lahiri
Daniela Vallone
Srinivas Babu Gondi
Cristina Santoriello
Thomas Dickmeis
Nicholas S Foulkes
Source :
PLoS Biology, Vol 3, Iss 11, p e351 (2005)
Publication Year :
2005
Publisher :
Public Library of Science (PLoS), 2005.

Abstract

It has been well-documented that temperature influences key aspects of the circadian clock. Temperature cycles entrain the clock, while the period length of the circadian cycle is adjusted so that it remains relatively constant over a wide range of temperatures (temperature compensation). In vertebrates, the molecular basis of these properties is poorly understood. Here, using the zebrafish as an ectothermic model, we demonstrate first that in the absence of light, exposure of embryos and primary cell lines to temperature cycles entrains circadian rhythms of clock gene expression. Temperature steps drive changes in the basal expression of certain clock genes in a gene-specific manner, a mechanism potentially contributing to entrainment. In the case of the per4 gene, while E-box promoter elements mediate circadian clock regulation, they do not direct the temperature-driven changes in transcription. Second, by studying E-box-regulated transcription as a reporter of the core clock mechanism, we reveal that the zebrafish clock is temperature-compensated. In addition, temperature strongly influences the amplitude of circadian transcriptional rhythms during and following entrainment by light-dark cycles, a property that could confer temperature compensation. Finally, we show temperature-dependent changes in the expression levels, phosphorylation, and function of the clock protein, CLK. This suggests a mechanism that could account for changes in the amplitude of the E-box-directed rhythm. Together, our results imply that several key transcriptional regulatory elements at the core of the zebrafish clock respond to temperature.

Subjects

Subjects :
Biology (General)
QH301-705.5

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
15449173 and 15457885
Volume :
3
Issue :
11
Database :
Directory of Open Access Journals
Journal :
PLoS Biology
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
edsdoj.65cc2bfb9959482d811a44e9ecb80fb2
Document Type :
article
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.0030351