title: Chickens' Cry2: molecular analysis of an avian cryptochrome in retinal and pineal photoreceptors.
abstract: We have identified and characterized an ortholog of the putative mammalian clock gene cryptochrome 2 (Cry2) in the chicken, Gallus domesticus. Northern blot analysis of gCry2 mRNA indicates widespread distribution in central nervous and peripheral tissues, with very high expression in pineal and retina. In situ hybridization of chick brain and retina reveals expression in photoreceptors and in visual and circadian system structures. Expression is rhythmic; mRNA levels predominate in late subjective night. The present data suggests that gCry2 is a candidate avian clock gene and/or photopigment and set the stage for functional studies of gCry2.
authors.affiliation: Biological Clocks Program, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Bailey
authors.forename: Nelson W
authors.initials: NW
authors.lastname: Chong
authors.forename: Jin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Xiong
authors.forename: Vincent M
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Cassone
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D056926:CLOCK Proteins; D002645:Chickens; D056931:Cryptochromes; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D005136:Eye Proteins; D005420:Flavoproteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008958:Models, Molecular; D010786:Photoreceptor Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D017956:Photoreceptor Cells, Invertebrate; D010870:Pineal Gland / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D056931:Cryptochromes; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D005136:Eye Proteins; D005420:Flavoproteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; D015534:Trans-Activators; C119828:cry protein, Drosophila; D056926:CLOCK Proteins