Abstract
Mice lacking mCry1 and mCry2 are behaviorally arrhythmic. As shown here, cyclic expression of the clock genes mPer1 and mPer2 (mammalian Period genes 1 and 2) in the suprachiasmatic nucleus and peripheral tissues is abolished and mPer1 and mPer2 mRNA levels are constitutively high. These findings indicate that the biological clock is eliminated in the absence of both mCRY1 and mCRY2 (mammalian cryptochromes 1 and 2) and support the idea that mammalian CRY proteins act in the negative limb of the circadian feedback loop. The mCry double-mutant mice retain the ability to have mPer1 and mPer2 expression induced by a brief light stimulus known to phase-shift the biological clock in wild-type animals. Thus, mCRY1 and mCRY2 are dispensable for light-induced phase shifting of the biological clock.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Biological Clocks / physiology*
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Cell Cycle Proteins
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Circadian Rhythm / physiology*
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Cryptochromes
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Drosophila Proteins*
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Eye Proteins*
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Feedback
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Flavoproteins / genetics
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Flavoproteins / physiology*
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Gene Expression Regulation
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In Situ Hybridization
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Light*
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Liver / metabolism
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Mice
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Mice, Inbred BALB C
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Mice, Inbred C57BL
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Mutation
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Nuclear Proteins / genetics*
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Period Circadian Proteins
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Photoreceptor Cells, Invertebrate*
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Polymerase Chain Reaction
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RNA, Messenger / genetics
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RNA, Messenger / metabolism
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Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled
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Retina / metabolism
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Suprachiasmatic Nucleus / metabolism
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Transcription Factors
Substances
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Cell Cycle Proteins
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Cryptochromes
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Drosophila Proteins
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Eye Proteins
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Flavoproteins
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Nuclear Proteins
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Per1 protein, mouse
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Per2 protein, mouse
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Period Circadian Proteins
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RNA, Messenger
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Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled
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Transcription Factors
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cry protein, Drosophila