title: A circadian clock of Drosophila: effects of deuterium oxide and mutations at the period locus.
abstract: Mutations at the period (per) locus (1:1.3; 3B1-2) in Drosophila melanogaster lengthen (perL), shorten (pers), or abolish (per0) overt circadian rhythmicity. Deuterium oxide lengthens the free-running circadian period. We tested the effects of deuterium on three mutants of the per gene (pers, perL, and per0) and wild-type Drosophila melanogaster (per+) to assess interactions. With increasing concentrations of deuterium, the free-running circadian period of locomotor activity rhythms increased. The dose-response was linear in all genotypes tested. With increasing dosages of deuterium, circadian rhythms became weaker as evidenced by the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). Genotype and deuterium changed circadian period length independently and additively, showing no interaction. SNRs for all genotypes converged on a low level as deuterium concentration increased. Deuterium increased life span, except at high concentrations (40 and 50%).
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, University of Maine, Orono 04469.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: White
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ringo
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Dowse
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000235:genetics*; D003903:Deuterium / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017666:Deuterium Oxide; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D005838:Genotype; D009154:Mutation; D014867:Water / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D014867:Water; D003903:Deuterium; D017666:Deuterium Oxide