RIGUI, a putative mammalian ortholog of the Drosophila period gene.
The molecular components of mammalian circadian clocks are elusive. We have isolated a human gene termed RIGUI that encodes a bHLH/PAS protein 44% homologous to Drosophila period. The highly conserved mouse homolog (m-rigui) is expressed in a circadian pattern in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), the master regulator of circadian clocks in mammals. Circadian expression in the SCN continues in constant darkness, and a shift in the light/dark cycle evokes a proportional shift of m-rigui expression in the SCN. m-rigui transcripts also appear in a periodic pattern in Purkinje neurons, pars tuberalis, and retina, but with a timing of oscillation different from that seen in the SCN. Sequence homology and circadian patterns of expression suggest that RIGUI is a mammalian ortholog of the Drosophila period gene, raising the possibility that a regulator of circadian clocks is conserved.
Sun
Z S
ZS
Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA.
Albrecht
U
U
Zhuchenko
O
O
Bailey
J
J
Eichele
G
G
Lee
C C
CC
D000221:Adaptation, Ocular / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000235:genetics*; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000032:analysis; D004330:Drosophila; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D008322:Mammals; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D056950:Period Circadian Proteins; D010507:Periodicity; D011689:Purkinje Cells / Q000502:physiology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012160:Retina / Q000502:physiology; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D013493:Suprachiasmatic Nucleus / Q000502:physiology; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000502:physiology
D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; C539040:PER protein, Drosophila; C539022:PER1 protein, human; C539023:Per1 protein, mouse; D056950:Period Circadian Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger