The circadian gene Clock is restricted to the anterior neural plate early in development and is regulated by the neural inducer noggin and the transcription factor Otx2.
The circadian cycle is a simple, universal molecular mechanism for imposing cyclical control on cellular processes. Here we have examined the regulation of one of the key circadian genes, Clock, in early Xenopus development. We find that the expression of Clock is dependent on developmental stage, not on time per se, and is mostly restricted to the anterior neural plate. It's expression can be induced by the secreted polypeptide noggin, and subsequently upregulated by Otx2, a transcription factor required for the determination of anterior fate.
Green
C B
CB
Department of Biology, NSF Center for Biological Timing, 264 Gilmer Hall, University of Virginia, PO Box 400328, Charlottesville, VA 22904-4328, USA.
Durston
A J
AJ
Morgan
R
R
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism; D056926:CLOCK Proteins; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism; D051857:Otx Transcription Factors; D011506:Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D012313:RNA / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013997:Time Factors; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000378:metabolism*; D015854:Up-Regulation; D014981:Xenopus / Q000196:embryology; D029867:Xenopus Proteins; D000099176:Noggin Protein
D056926:CLOCK Proteins; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D051857:Otx Transcription Factors; D011506:Proteins; D012313:RNA; D015534:Trans-Activators; D029867:Xenopus Proteins; D000099176:Noggin Protein; C497661:Otx2 protein, Xenopus