title: Closing the circadian loop: CLOCK-induced transcription of its own inhibitors per and tim.
abstract: The circadian oscillator generates a rhythmic output with a period of about 24 hours. Despite extensive studies in several model systems, the biochemical mode of action has not yet been demonstrated for any of its components. Here, the Drosophila CLOCK protein was shown to induce transcription of the circadian rhythm genes period and timeless. dCLOCK functioned as a heterodimer with a Drosophila homolog of BMAL1. These proteins acted through an E-box sequence in the period promoter. The timeless promoter contains an 18-base pair element encompassing an E-box, which was sufficient to confer dCLOCK responsiveness to a reporter gene. PERIOD and TIMELESS proteins blocked dCLOCK's ability to transactivate their promoters via the E-box. Thus, dCLOCK drives expression of period and timeless, which in turn inhibit dCLOCK's activity and close the circadian loop.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology and NSF Center for Biological Timing, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.
authors.forename: T K
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Darlington
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wager-Smith
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Ceriani
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Staknis
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gekakis
authors.forename: T D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Steeves
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Weitz
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Kay
mesh_terms: D056930:ARNTL Transcription Factors; D000818:Animals; D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins; D001683:Biological Clocks; D056926:CLOCK Proteins; D002460:Cell Line; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D019281:Dimerization; D004330:Drosophila; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D005246:Feedback; D015870:Gene Expression; D018257:Helix-Loop-Helix Motifs; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D056950:Period Circadian Proteins; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015533:Transcriptional Activation; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: D056930:ARNTL Transcription Factors; D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins; D056926:CLOCK Proteins; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D019476:Insect Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D056950:Period Circadian Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D015534:Trans-Activators; D014157:Transcription Factors; C539040:PER protein, Drosophila; C096445:tim protein, Drosophila