title: Downloading central clock information in Drosophila.
abstract: Pigment-dispersing factor (PDF) neuropeptide is an important neurochemical that carries circadian timing information originating from the central oscillator in Drosophila. Several core-clock factors function as upstream pdf regulators; the dClock and cycle genes control pdf transcription, whereas the period and timeless genes regulate post-translational processes of PDF via unknown mechanisms. For a downstream neural path, PDF most likely acts as a local modulator, which binds to its receptors that are possibly linked to Ras/MAPK signaling pathways. PDF receptor-containing cells seem to localize in the vicinity of nerve terminals from pace-making neurons. Although PDF is likely to be a principal clock-output factor, our recent evidence predicts the presence of other neuropeptides with rhythm-relevant functions. Furthermore, recent microarray screens have identified numerous potential clock-controlled genes, suggesting that diverse physiological processes might be affected by the biological clock system.
authors.affiliation: jhpark@utk.edu
authors.forename: Jae H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Park
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D056926:CLOCK Proteins; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000502:physiology; D004330:Drosophila / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: C120526:Clk protein, Drosophila; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D009479:Neuropeptides; D014157:Transcription Factors; C113883:pdf protein, Drosophila; D056926:CLOCK Proteins