Thermosensitive splicing of a clock gene and seasonal adaptation.
Similar to many diurnal animals, the daily distribution of activity in Drosophila exhibits a bimodal pattern with clock-controlled morning and evening peaks separated by a midday "siesta." In prior work, we showed that the thermosensitive splicing of a 3'-terminal intron in the RNA product from the Drosophila period (per) gene (dper) is critical for temperature-induced adjustments in the timing of evening activity. Cold temperatures enhance the splicing efficiency of this intron (termed dmpi8, Drosophila melanogaster per intron 8), an event that stimulates the daily accumulation of dper RNA and protein, leading to earlier evening activity. Conversely, warm temperatures attenuate dmpi8 splicing efficiency contributing to delayed evening activity, likely ensuring that flies avoid activity during the hot midday sun when they are at increased risk of desiccation. Here, we discuss the underlying molecular mechanisms governing the thermosensitive splicing of dmpi8 and how it contributes to seasonal changes in the daily activity patterns of Drosophila. On a broader perspective, RNA-RNA interactions likely have fundamental roles in the thermal adaptation of life forms to the daily and seasonal changes in temperature.
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Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Rutgers University, Center for Advanced Biotechnology and Medicine, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854, USA.
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D000222:Adaptation, Physiological / Q000235:genetics; D000818:Animals; D001683:Biological Clocks / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*; D056926:CLOCK Proteins; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*; D017344:Genes, Insect; D007438:Introns; D008954:Models, Biological; D009491:Neurospora / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D056950:Period Circadian Proteins; D017440:Photoperiod; D012326:RNA Splicing; D012621:Seasons; D013696:Temperature; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology
C120526:Clk protein, Drosophila; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; C539040:PER protein, Drosophila; D056950:Period Circadian Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; C096445:tim protein, Drosophila; D056926:CLOCK Proteins