E-box function in a period gene repressed by light.

ABSTRACT: In most organisms, light plays a key role in the synchronization of the circadian timing system with the environmental day-night cycle. Light pulses that phase-shift the circadian clock also induce the expression of period (per) genes in vertebrates. Here, we report the cloning of a zebrafish per gene, zfper4, which is remarkable in being repressed by light. We have developed an in vivo luciferase reporter assay for this gene in cells that contain a light-entrainable clock. High-definition bioluminescence traces have enabled us to accurately measure phase-shifting of the clock by light. We have also exploited this model to study how four E-box elements in the zfper4 promoter regulate expression. Mutagenesis reveals that the integrity of these four E-boxes is crucial for maintaining low bas

SUBMITTER: Vallone D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC384702 | biostudies-literature | 2004 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature