Constitutive expression of the Period1 gene impairs behavioral and molecular circadian rhythms.
Three mammalian Period (Per) genes, termed Per1, Per2, and Per3, have been identified as structural homologues of the Drosophila circadian clock gene, period (per). The three Per genes are rhythmically expressed in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), the central circadian pacemaker in mammals. The phases of peak mRNA levels for the three Per genes in the SCN are slightly different. Light sequentially induces the transcripts of Per1 and Per2 but not of Per3 in mice. These data and others suggest that each Per gene has a different but partially redundant function in mammals. To elucidate the function of Per1 in the circadian system in vivo, we generated two transgenic rat lines in which the mouse Per1 (mPer1) transcript was constitutively expressed under the control of either the human elongation factor-1alpha (EF-1alpha) or the rat neuron-specific enolase (NSE) promoter. The transgenic rats exhibited an approximately 0.6-1.0-h longer circadian period than their wild-type siblings in both activity and body temperature rhythms. Entrainment in response to light cycles was dramatically impaired in the transgenic rats. Molecular analysis revealed that the amplitudes of oscillation in the rat Per1 (rPer1) and rat Per2 (rPer2) mRNAs were significantly attenuated in the SCN and eyes of the transgenic rats. These results indicate that either the level of Per1, which is raised by overexpression, or its rhythmic expression, which is damped or abolished in over expressing animals, is critical for normal entrainment of behavior and molecular oscillation of other clock genes.
Human Genome Center, Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo, 4-6-1 Shirokanedai, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8639, Japan.
Rika
R
Numano
Shin
S
Yamazaki
Nanae
N
Umeda
Tomonori
T
Samura
Mitsugu
M
Sujino
Ri-ichi
R
Takahashi
Masatsugu
M
Ueda
Akiko
A
Mori
Kazunori
K
Yamada
Yoshiyuki
Y
Sakaki
Shin-ichi T
ST
Inouye
Michael
M
Menaker
Hajime
H
Tei
D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D001483:Base Sequence; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D005123:Eye / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D056950:Period Circadian Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013493:Suprachiasmatic Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology
D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; C539022:PER1 protein, human; C421902:PER2 protein, human; C539023:Per1 protein, mouse; C539024:Per1 protein, rat; C513312:Per2 protein, mouse; C513311:Per2 protein, rat; D056950:Period Circadian Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014157:Transcription Factors