title: Analysis of rhythmic gene expression in adult Drosophila using the firefly luciferase reporter gene.
abstract: The study of circadian clock function in Drosophila relies heavily on the analysis of rhythmic gene expression. Typically, individuals or groups of flies collected during a specific time of the circadian day need to be sacrificed, followed by the extraction of clock gene products. This procedure makes it impossible to analyze molecular rhythms in an individual over time. To measure clock gene expression within the living animal, firefly luciferase can be used as real-time reporter gene. This chapter describes how rhythmic expression of clock or clock-controlled genes can be measured in living adult Drosophila. A survey of all existing clock-related luciferase transgenics is given.
authors.affiliation: School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, UK.
authors.forename: Ralf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Stanewsky
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000235:genetics*; D004330:Drosophila / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D015870:Gene Expression; D017344:Genes, Insect; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D049409:Luciferases, Firefly / Q000235:genetics*; D008163:Luminescent Measurements / Q000379:methods; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D056950:Period Circadian Proteins
chemical_list: D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; C539040:PER protein, Drosophila; D056950:Period Circadian Proteins; C411066:TO protein, Drosophila; C096445:tim protein, Drosophila; D049409:Luciferases, Firefly