Targeted disruption of the mPer3 gene: subtle effects on circadian clock function.
Neurons in the mammalian suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) contain a cell-autonomous circadian clock that is based on a transcriptional-translational feedback loop. The basic helix-loop-helix-PAS proteins CLOCK and BMAL1 are positive regulators and drive the expression of the negative regulators CRY1 and CRY2, as well as PER1, PER2, and PER3. To assess the role of mouse PER3 (mPER3) in the circadian timing system, we generated mice with a targeted disruption of the mPer3 gene. Western blot analysis confirmed the absence of mPER3-immunoreactive proteins in mice homozygous for the targeted allele. mPer1, mPer2, mCry1, and Bmal1 RNA rhythms in the SCN did not differ between mPER3-deficient and wild-type mice. Rhythmic expression of mPer1 and mPer2 RNAs in skeletal muscle also did not differ between mPER3-deficient and wild-type mice. mPer3 transcripts were rhythmically expressed in the SCN and skeletal muscle of mice homozygous for the targeted allele, but the level of expression of the mutant transcript was lower than that in wild-type controls. Locomotor activity rhythms in mPER3-deficient mice were grossly normal, but the circadian cycle length was significantly (0.5 h) shorter than that in controls. The results demonstrate that mPer3 is not necessary for circadian rhythms in mice.
Laboratory of Developmental Chronobiology, MassGeneral Hospital for Children, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02114, USA.
L P
LP
Shearman
X
X
Jin
C
C
Lee
S M
SM
Reppert
D R
DR
Weaver
D056930:ARNTL Transcription Factors; D000483:Alleles; D000818:Animals; D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D015139:Blotting, Southern; D015153:Blotting, Western; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000235:genetics*; D056931:Cryptochromes; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D005136:Eye Proteins; D005420:Flavoproteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015723:Gene Library; D005838:Genotype; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D008957:Models, Genetic; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000378:metabolism; D016296:Mutagenesis; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*; D056950:Period Circadian Proteins; D017956:Photoreceptor Cells, Invertebrate; D011233:Precipitin Tests; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013997:Time Factors; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
D056930:ARNTL Transcription Factors; D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D056931:Cryptochromes; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D005136:Eye Proteins; D005420:Flavoproteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D056950:Period Circadian Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; D014157:Transcription Factors; C538961:Bmal1 protein, mouse; C538964:Cry1 protein, mouse; C538967:Cry2 protein, mouse; C539023:Per1 protein, mouse; C513312:Per2 protein, mouse; C512645:Per3 protein, mouse; C119828:cry protein, Drosophila