An antibody to the Drosophila period protein recognizes circadian pacemaker neurons in Aplysia and Bulla.
The molecular mechanisms of the pacemakers underlying circadian rhythms are not well understood. One molecule that presumably functions in the circadian clock of Drosophila is the product of the period (per) gene, which dramatically affects biological rhythms when mutated. An antibody specific for the per protein labels putative circadian pacemaker neurons and fibers in eyes of two marine gastropods, Aplysia and Bulla. As was found for the Drosophila per protein, there is a daily rhythm in the levels of the per-like antigen in Aplysia eyes. Thus, certain molecular features of the per protein, as well as aspects of the temporal regulation of its expression, may be conserved in circadian pacemakers of widely divergent species.
Siwicki
K K
KK
Department of Biology, Brandeis University, Waltham, Massachusetts 02254.
Strack
S
S
Rosbash
M
M
Hall
J C
JC
Jacklet
J W
JW
D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies; D001048:Aplysia / Q000032:analysis; D001683:Biological Clocks; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D004330:Drosophila / Q000032:analysis*; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D005123:Eye / Q000294:innervation; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008974:Mollusca / Q000032:analysis*; D009474:Neurons / Q000032:analysis*; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D056950:Period Circadian Proteins; D011506:Proteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology
D000906:Antibodies; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; C539040:PER protein, Drosophila; D056950:Period Circadian Proteins; D011506:Proteins