title: Circadian clocks: lessons from fish.
abstract: Our understanding of the molecular and cellular organization of the circadian timing system in vertebrates has increased enormously over the past decade. In large part, progress has been based on genetic studies in the mouse as well as on fundamental similarities between vertebrate and Drosophila clocks. The zebrafish was initially considered as a potentially attractive genetic model for identifying vertebrate clock genes. However, instead, fish have ultimately proven to be valuable complementary models for studying various aspects of clock biology. For example, many fish can shift from diurnal to nocturnal activity implying specific flexibility in their clock function. We have learned much about the function of light input pathways, and the ontogeny and function of the pineal organ, the fish central pacemaker. Finally, blind cavefish have also provided new insight into the evolution of the circadian clock under extreme environmental conditions.
authors.affiliation: Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Institute of Toxicology and Genetics, Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany.
authors.forename: M Laura
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Idda
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology and Evolution, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.
authors.forename: Cristiano
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bertolucci
authors.affiliation: Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Institute of Toxicology and Genetics, Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany.
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vallone
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurobiology, George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
authors.forename: Yoav
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Gothilf
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain.
authors.forename: Francisco Javier
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Sánchez-Vázquez
authors.affiliation: Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Institute of Toxicology and Genetics, Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany. Electronic address: nicholas.foulkes@kit.edu.
authors.forename: Nicholas S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Foulkes
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D057906:Circadian Clocks / Q000235:genetics*; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000235:genetics; D056925:Circadian Rhythm Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005399:Fishes / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D008027:Light; D010870:Pineal Gland / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D056925:Circadian Rhythm Signaling Peptides and Proteins