An inhibitor of casein kinase I epsilon induces phase delays in circadian rhythms under free-running and entrained conditions.
Casein kinase Iepsilon (CKIepsilon) is an essential component of the biological clock, phosphorylating PER proteins, and in doing so regulating their turnover and nuclear entry in oscillator cells of the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN). Although hereditary decreases in PER phosphorylation have been well characterized, little is known about the consequences of acute enzyme inhibition by pharmacological means. A novel reagent, 4-[3-cyclohexyl-5-(4-fluoro-phenyl)-3H-imidazol-4-yl]-pyrimidin-2-ylamine (PF-670462), proved to be both a potent (IC(50) = 7.7 +/- 2.2 nM) and selective (>30-fold with respect to 42 additional kinases) inhibitor of CKIepsilon in isolated enzyme preparations; in transfected whole cell assays, it caused a concentration-related redistribution of nuclear versus cytosolic PER. When tested in free-running animals, 50 mg/kg s.c. PF-670462 produced robust phase delays when dosed at circadian time (CT)9 (-1.97 +/- 0.17 h). Entrained rats dosed in normal light-dark (LD) and then released to constant darkness also experienced phase delays that were dose- and time of dosing-dependent. PF-670462 yielded only phase delays across the circadian cycle with the most sensitive time at CT12 when PER levels are near their peak in the SCN. Most importantly, these drug-induced phase delays persisted in animals entrained and maintained in LD throughout the entire experiment; re-entrainment to the prevailing LD required days in contrast to the rapid elimination of the drug (t(1/2) = 0.46 +/- 0.04 h). Together, these results suggest that inhibition of CKIepsilon yields a perturbation of oscillator function that forestalls light as a zeitgeber, and they demonstrate that pharmacological tools such as PF-670462 may yield valuable insight into clock function.
Badura
Lori
L
Comparative Physiology and Medicine, Pfizer Global Research and Development, MS 8220-4178, Groton, CT 06340, USA.
Swanson
Terri
T
Adamowicz
Wendy
W
Adams
Jessica
J
Cianfrogna
Julie
J
Fisher
Katherine
K
Holland
Janice
J
Kleiman
Robin
R
Nelson
Frederick
F
Reynolds
Linda
L
St Germain
Kristin
K
Schaeffer
Eric
E
Tate
Barbara
B
Sprouse
Jeffrey
J
D021581:Active Transport, Cell Nucleus / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D019556:COS Cells; D048149:Casein Kinase 1 epsilon / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000502:physiology*; D003624:Darkness; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D015394:Molecular Structure; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D056950:Period Circadian Proteins; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014162:Transfection
D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; C512645:Per3 protein, mouse; D056950:Period Circadian Proteins; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; D011743:Pyrimidines; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; C522839:PF-670462; D048149:Casein Kinase 1 epsilon