The period gene encodes a predominantly nuclear protein in adult Drosophila.
The period gene of Drosophila melanogaster (per) is important for the generation and maintenance of biological rhythms. Previous light microscopic observations indicated that per is expressed in a variety of tissues and cell types and suggested that the per protein (PER) may be present in different subcellular compartments. To understand how PER influences circadian rhythms, it is important to define its subcellular location, especially in adult flies where inducible promoter experiments suggested that it is most relevant to circadian locomotor activity rhythms. To this end, we report the results of an immunoelectron microscopic analysis of wild-type flies and per-beta-galactosidase (beta-gal) fusion gene transgenics using a polyclonal anti-PER antibody or an anti-beta-gal antibody, respectively. Most of the PER antigen and the fusion gene product were located within nuclei, suggesting that PER acts in that subcellular compartment to affect circadian rhythms. The results are discussed in terms of per's possible biochemical functions.
Liu
X
X
Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Brandeis University, Waltham, Massachusetts 02254.
Zwiebel
L J
LJ
Hinton
D
D
Benzer
S
S
Hall
J C
JC
Rosbash
M
M
D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000235:genetics*; D005123:Eye / Q000648:ultrastructure; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D016253:Microscopy, Immunoelectron; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D009799:Ocular Physiological Phenomena; D056950:Period Circadian Proteins; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D011506:Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis; D001616:beta-Galactosidase / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics
D000906:Antibodies; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; C539040:PER protein, Drosophila; D056950:Period Circadian Proteins; D011506:Proteins; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D001616:beta-Galactosidase