Altered behavioral rhythms and clock gene expression in mice with a targeted mutation in the Period1 gene.

ABSTRACT: A group of specialized genes has been defined to govern the molecular mechanisms controlling the circadian clock in mammals. Their expression and the interactions among their products dictate circadian rhythmicity. Three genes homologous to Drosophila period exist in the mouse and are thought to be major players in the biological clock. Here we present the generation of mice in which the founding member of the family, Per1, has been inactivated by homologous recombination. These mice present rhythmicity in locomotor activity, but with a period almost 1 h shorter than wild-type littermates. Moreover, the expression of clock genes in peripheral tissues appears to be delayed in Per1 mutant animals. Importantly, light-induced phase shifting appears conserved. The oscillatory expression of cloc

SUBMITTER: Cermakian N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC149149 | biostudies-literature | 2001 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature