title: Rhythmic gene expression in pituitary depends on heterologous sensitization by the neurohormone melatonin.
abstract: In mammals, many daily cycles are driven by a central circadian clock, which is based on the cell-autonomous rhythmic expression of clock genes. It is not clear, however, how peripheral cells are able to interpret the rhythmic signals disseminated from this central oscillator. Here we show that cycling expression of the clock gene Period1 in rodent pituitary cells depends on the heterologous sensitization of the adenosine A2b receptor, which occurs through the nocturnal activation of melatonin mt1 receptors. Eliminating the impact of the neurohormone melatonin simultaneously suppresses the expression of Period1 and evokes an increase in the release of pituitary prolactin. Our findings expose a mechanism by which two convergent signals interact within a temporal dimension to establish high-amplitude, precise and robust cycles of gene expression.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Anatomy II, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, D-60590 Frankfurt, Germany.
authors.forename: Charlotte
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: von Gall
authors.forename: Martine L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Garabette
authors.forename: Christian A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Kell
authors.forename: Sascha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Frenzel
authors.forename: Faramarz
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Dehghani
authors.forename: Petra-Maria
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Schumm-Draeger
authors.forename: David R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Weaver
authors.forename: Horst-Werner
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Korf
authors.forename: Michael H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Hastings
authors.forename: Jörg H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Stehle
mesh_terms: D019830:Adenosine-5'-(N-ethylcarboxamide) / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001683:Biological Clocks / Q000502:physiology*; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000502:physiology; D006224:Cricetinae; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000378:metabolism; D017362:Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology*; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D008550:Melatonin / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D056950:Period Circadian Proteins; D017111:Phodopus; D010870:Pineal Gland / Q000601:surgery; D010904:Pituitary Gland, Posterior / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D043704:Receptor, Adenosine A2B; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000378:metabolism; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear / Q000378:metabolism; D044094:Receptors, Melatonin; D018047:Receptors, Purinergic P1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D017362:Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; C539023:Per1 protein, mouse; D056950:Period Circadian Proteins; D043704:Receptor, Adenosine A2B; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear; D044094:Receptors, Melatonin; D018047:Receptors, Purinergic P1; D019830:Adenosine-5'-(N-ethylcarboxamide); D000242:Cyclic AMP; D008550:Melatonin