An inherited functional circadian clock in zebrafish embryos.
Circadian clocks are time-keeping systems found in most organisms. In zebrafish, expression of the clock gene Period3 (Per3) oscillates throughout embryogenesis in the central nervous system and the retina. Per3 rhythmic expression was free-running and was reset by light but not by the developmental delays caused by low temperature. The time of fertilization had no effect on Per3 expression. Per3 messenger RNA accumulates rhythmically in oocytes and persists in embryos. Our results establish that the circadian clock functions during early embryogenesis in zebrafish. Inheritance of maternal clock gene products suggests a mechanism of phase inheritance through ovogenesis.
Delaunay
F
F
Ecole Normale Supérieure, CNRS UMR 5665, 46 allée d'Italie, 69364 Lyon Cedex, France.
Thisse
C
C
Marchand
O
O
Laudet
V
V
Thisse
B
B
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000235:genetics; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000378:metabolism; D047108:Embryonic Development; D005260:Female; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D008027:Light; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D056950:Period Circadian Proteins; D011506:Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear; D014157:Transcription Factors; D015027:Zebrafish / Q000196:embryology / Q000502:physiology*; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins
D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D056950:Period Circadian Proteins; D011506:Proteins; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear; D014157:Transcription Factors; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins; C512647:per3 protein, zebrafish