Molecular oscillation of Per1 and Per2 genes in the rodent brain: an in situ hybridization and molecular biological study.
The circadian rhythm is originally generated by a transcription-translation based oscillatory loop where Per1 and Per2 genes locate in its central. In the rat brain, rhythmic expressions of Per1 and Per2 were observed not only in neurons of the hypothalamic suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) but also in those of non-SCN regions including the cerebral cortex. The E-box enhancer elements possible to regulate transcription of Per1 and Per2 genes were highly conserved in rats and mice. When E-box-activating transcription factors, CLOCK and BMAL1, were coexpressed, each of both proteins showed two molecular forms. The presence of these higher molecular weight forms seems to be correlated with the E-box mediated transcription activation. This mechanism might not be involved in the PER2 mediated suppression of E-box, since adding PER2 did not change the content of the higher molecular forms of CLOCK and BMAL1.
Division of Molecular Brain Science, Department of Brain Science/Neuroscience, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan.
Daisuke
D
Matsui
Seiichi
S
Takekida
Hitoshi
H
Okamura
D056930:ARNTL Transcription Factors; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D056926:CLOCK Proteins; D019556:COS Cells; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D041681:NIH 3T3 Cells; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D056950:Period Circadian Proteins; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000032:analysis; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics*
D056930:ARNTL Transcription Factors; D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins; D056926:CLOCK Proteins; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D056950:Period Circadian Proteins; D015534:Trans-Activators; D014157:Transcription Factors; C538961:Bmal1 protein, mouse; C539023:Per1 protein, mouse; C539024:Per1 protein, rat; C513312:Per2 protein, mouse; C513311:Per2 protein, rat; C538944:Clock protein, mouse; C538945:Clock protein, rat