Surprising gene expression patterns within and between PDF-containing circadian neurons in Drosophila.

ABSTRACT: To compare circadian gene expression within highly discrete neuronal populations, we separately purified and characterized two adjacent but distinct groups of Drosophila adult circadian neurons: the 8 small and 10 large PDF-expressing ventral lateral neurons (s-LNvs and l-LNvs, respectively). The s-LNvs are the principal circadian pacemaker cells, whereas recent evidence indicates that the l-LNvs are involved in sleep and light-mediated arousal. Although half of the l-LNv-enriched mRNA population, including core clock mRNAs, is shared between the l-LNvs and s-LNvs, the other half is l-LNv- and s-LNv-specific. The distribution of four specific mRNAs is consistent with prior characterization of the four encoded proteins, and therefore indicates successful purification of the two neuronal typ

SUBMITTER: Kula-Eversole E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2922133 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature