title: Regulation of hydroxyindole-O-methyltransferase gene expression in Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica).
abstract: Hydroxyindole-O-methyltrasferase (HIOMT) plays an important role as the final enzyme in the synthesis of melatonin. In this study, the expression of the HIOMT gene in Japanese quail was investigated with respect to tissue distribution and the effects of light and vitamin A deficiency. HIOMT mRNA in the pineal gland and eye had a clear daily rhythm with peak values in daytime. The testis also contained a detectable amount of HIOMT mRNA, which did not display a rhythmic change over a 24-h period. When birds were rendered vitamin A deficient through feeding with a vitamin A-free diet, the daily rhythm of the HIOMT gene almost disappeared in both the pineal gland and eye due to increases in the nighttime values. Our previous observations and these results suggest that vitamin A and a photo-signal are required to maintain the rhythmic expression of the HIOMT gene as well as the arylalkylamine N-acetyltransferase gene.
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Biological Chemistry, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kato
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kotera
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Noguchi
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sugahara
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kubo
mesh_terms: D000121:Acetylserotonin O-Methyltransferase / Q000235:genetics*; D000818:Animals; D001191:Arylamine N-Acetyltransferase / Q000235:genetics; D001483:Base Sequence; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D003370:Coturnix; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000235:genetics; D005123:Eye / Q000201:enzymology; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic / Q000528:radiation effects; D008027:Light; D008297:Male; D008550:Melatonin / Q000096:biosynthesis; D010870:Pineal Gland / Q000201:enzymology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D013737:Testis / Q000201:enzymology; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D014802:Vitamin A Deficiency / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D018076:DNA, Complementary; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D000121:Acetylserotonin O-Methyltransferase; D001191:Arylamine N-Acetyltransferase; D008550:Melatonin