title: Expression of clock genes period and timeless in the central nervous system of the Mediterranean flour moth, Ephestia kuehniella.
abstract: Homologous circadian genes are found in all insect clocks, but their contribution to species-specific circadian timing systems differs. The aim of this study was to extend research within Lepidoptera to gain a better understanding of the molecular mechanism underlying circadian clock plasticity and evolution. The Mediterranean flour moth, Ephestia kuehniella (Pyralidae), represents a phylogenetically ancestral lepidopteran species. We have identified circadian rhythms in egg hatching, adult emergence, and adult locomotor activity. Cloning full-length complementary DNAs and further characterization confirmed one copy of period and timeless genes in both sexes. Both per and tim transcripts oscillate in their abundance in E. kuehniella heads under light-dark conditions. PER-like immunoreactivity (PER-lir) was observed in nuclei and cytoplasm of most neurons in the central brain, the ventral part of subesophageal complex, the neurohemal organs, the optic lobes, and eyes. PER-lir in photoreceptor nuclei oscillated during the day with maximal intensity in the light phase of the photoperiodic regime and lack of a signal in the middle of the dark phase. Expression patterns of per and tim messenger RNAs (mRNAs) were revealed in the identical location as the PER-lir was detected. In the photoreceptors, a daily rhythm in the intensity of expression of both per mRNA and tim mRNA was found. These findings suggest E. kuehniella as a potential lepidopteran model for circadian studies.
authors: Institute of Entomology, Biology Centre CAS Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic.
authors: Alena
authors: A
authors: Kobelková
authors: Institute of Entomology, Biology Centre CAS Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic Faculty of Education, University of South Bohemia, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic david.dolezel@entu.cas.cz radkaz@pf.jcu.cz.
authors: Radka
authors: R
authors: Závodská
authors: Institute of Entomology, Biology Centre CAS Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic.
authors: Ivo
authors: I
authors: Sauman
authors: Institute of Entomology, Biology Centre CAS Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic.
authors: Olga
authors: O
authors: Bazalová
authors: Institute of Entomology, Biology Centre CAS Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic david.dolezel@entu.cas.cz radkaz@pf.jcu.cz.
authors: David
authors: D
authors: Dolezel
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001683:Biological Clocks / Q000235:genetics*; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism; D057906:Circadian Clocks / Q000235:genetics; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D019976:Cloning, Organism; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D008027:Light; D008297:Male; D009036:Moths / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D009899:Optic Lobe, Nonmammalian / Q000502:physiology; D056950:Period Circadian Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D010641:Phenotype; D017440:Photoperiod; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
chemical_list: D018076:DNA, Complementary; D019476:Insect Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D056950:Period Circadian Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger
keywords: Lepidoptera; PER-like immunoreactivity; activity rhythms; circadian clock; eclosion rhythm; timeless