title: Induction of photosensitivity in cultured rat pineal affects Aa-nat regulation.
abstract: In a previous investigation we have demonstrated that neonatal rat pineal may become photosensitive if removed from the animal at post-natal day 1 and cultured for 7 days. In the present study we demonstrated that Aa-nat mRNA, the key enzyme in melatonin biosynthetic pathway, is affected by illumination in photosensitive pineal, and Aa-nat transcription in photosensitive pineal, but not in adult or non photosensitive pineals, is up-regulated by BMAL1:CLOCK.
authors.affiliation: Neuroscience Institute and NSF Center for Behavioral Neuroscience, Morehouse School of Medicine, 720 Westview Dr. SW, Atlanta, GA 30310-1495, USA.
authors.forename: Chiaki
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fukuhara
authors.forename: Gianluca
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tosini
mesh_terms: D056930:ARNTL Transcription Factors; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001191:Arylamine N-Acetyltransferase / Q000235:genetics*; D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic / Q000235:genetics; D008550:Melatonin / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D010870:Pineal Gland / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000254:growth & development*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D056930:ARNTL Transcription Factors; D001191:Arylamine N-Acetyltransferase; D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins; D008550:Melatonin; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014157:Transcription Factors