Splicing of a core clock gene regulates seasonal adaptations by a winter gating mechanism.

ABSTRACT: Seasons bring changes to the environment. Many organisms adjust their physiology and behavior in response to seasonal changes in order to survive. Although the molecular mechanisms mediating the integration of seasonal cues are still unclear, the working model indicates the involvement of the circadian clock. Notably, the circadian neuropeptide Pigment Dispersing Factor (PDF), an output of the circadian clock, has been shown to alter its expression and activity in response to seasonal changes to facilitate seasonal adaptations in insects. Here, we show that the alternative splicing (AS) of a circadian clock gene, timeless (tim), regulates the seasonal responses of PDF signaling in Drosophila melanogaster. We first showed that tim-sc, the predominant isoform in winter,

SUBMITTER: Hidalgo S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12637415 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature