title: A molecular basis for natural selection at the timeless locus in Drosophila melanogaster.
abstract: Diapause is a protective response to unfavorable environments that results in a suspension of insect development and is most often associated with the onset of winter. The ls-tim mutation in the Drosophila melanogaster clock gene timeless has spread in Europe over the past 10,000 years, possibly because it enhances diapause. We show that the mutant allele attenuates the photosensitivity of the circadian clock and causes decreased dimerization of the mutant TIMELESS protein isoform to CRYPTOCHROME, the circadian photoreceptor. This interaction results in a more stable TIMELESS product. These findings reveal a molecular link between diapause and circadian photoreception.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sandrelli
authors.forename: Eran
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tauber
authors.forename: Mirko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pegoraro
authors.forename: Gabriella
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mazzotta
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cisotto
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Landskron
authors.forename: Ralf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Stanewsky
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Piccin
authors.forename: Ezio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rosato
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zordan
authors.forename: Rodolfo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.forename: Charalambos P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Kyriacou
mesh_terms: D000483:Alleles; D000818:Animals; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000235:genetics; D002980:Climate; D056931:Cryptochromes; D019281:Dimerization; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D005420:Flavoproteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008027:Light; D009043:Motor Activity; D009154:Mutation; D017440:Photoperiod; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012621:Seasons; D012641:Selection, Genetic; D013696:Temperature; D019076:Transgenes; D020798:Two-Hybrid System Techniques
chemical_list: D056931:Cryptochromes; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D005420:Flavoproteins; D020033:Protein Isoforms; C096445:tim protein, Drosophila