Disruption of Cryptochrome partially restores circadian rhythmicity to the arrhythmic period mutant of Drosophila.

ABSTRACT: The Drosophila melanogaster circadian clock is generated by interlocked feedback loops, and null mutations in core genes such as period and timeless generate behavioral arrhythmicity in constant darkness. In light-dark cycles, the elevation in locomotor activity that usually anticipates the light on or off signals is severely compromised in these mutants. Light transduction pathways mediated by the rhodopsins and the dedicated circadian blue light photoreceptor cryptochrome are also critical in providing the circadian clock with entraining light signals from the environment. The cry(b) mutation reduces the light sensitivity of the fly's clock, yet locomotor activity rhythms in constant darkness or light-dark cycles are relatively normal, because the rhodopsins compensate for the lack of cr

SUBMITTER: Collins BH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1323156 | biostudies-literature | 2005 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature