Chimera analysis of the Clock mutation in mice shows that complex cellular integration determines circadian behavior.
The Clock mutation lengthens periodicity and reduces amplitude of circadian rhythms in mice. The effects of Clock are cell intrinsic and can be observed at the level of single neurons in the suprachiasmatic nucleus. To address how cells of contrasting genotype functionally interact in vivo to control circadian behavior, we have analyzed a series of Clock mutant mouse aggregation chimeras. Circadian behavior in Clock/Clock <--> wild-type chimeric individuals was determined by the proportion of mutant versus normal cells. Significantly, a number of intermediate phenotypes, including Clock/+ phenocopies and novel combinations of the parental behavioral characteristics, were seen in balanced chimeras. Multivariate statistical techniques were used to quantitatively analyze relationships among circadian period, amplitude, and suprachiasmatic nucleus composition. Together, our results demonstrate that complex integration of cellular phenotypes determines the generation and expression of coherent circadian rhythms at the organismal level.
Low-Zeddies
S S
SS
Department of Neurobiology and Physiology, Northwestern University, 2153 North Campus Drive, Evanston, IL 60208, USA. low-zeddies@northwester.edu
Takahashi
J S
JS
D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology; D056926:CLOCK Proteins; D002678:Chimera / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000235:genetics*; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D005583:Fourier Analysis; D008040:Genetic Linkage; D005838:Genotype; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008817:Mice, Mutant Strains; D005810:Multigene Family; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009154:Mutation; D019683:Penetrance; D010507:Periodicity; D010641:Phenotype; D013493:Suprachiasmatic Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
D015534:Trans-Activators; D056926:CLOCK Proteins; C538944:Clock protein, mouse