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Circadian clock system in the pineal gland.

Yoshitaka Fukada1, Toshiyuki Okano

  • 1Department of Biophysics and Biochemistry, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo and JST, CREST, Japan. sfukada@mail.ecc.u-tokyo.ac.jp

Molecular Neurobiology
|March 14, 2002
PubMed
Summary

The avian pineal gland, unlike the mammalian one, acts as a central circadian oscillator. Both avian pineal and mammalian SCN share a core molecular clock mechanism involving clock genes and post-translational modifications.

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroendocrinology
  • Chronobiology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • The pineal gland is a neuroendocrine organ central to circadian rhythms in nonmammalian vertebrates.
  • Mammalian pineal glands primarily produce melatonin, regulated by the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN).
  • Clock genes (Per, Cry, Clock, Bmal) are fundamental to circadian oscillators across species.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the molecular clock mechanisms in the avian pineal gland.
  • To compare the avian pineal gland's clock system with mammalian counterparts (SCN and pineal gland).

Main Methods:

  • Molecular studies focusing on clock gene expression.
  • Analysis of temporal changes in clock gene profiles.
  • Examination of post-translational modifications like protein phosphorylation.

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Main Results:

  • Avian pineal gland exhibits clock gene expression patterns more akin to the mammalian SCN than the mammalian pineal gland.
  • A fundamental molecular framework, a transcription/translation-based autoregulatory feedback loop, is shared between avian pineal and mammalian SCN.
  • Post-translational events, including phosphorylation, are crucial for stable circadian cycling and photic entrainment.

Conclusions:

  • The avian pineal gland functions as a primary circadian oscillator with a molecular clockwork similar to the mammalian SCN.
  • This suggests a conserved molecular basis for circadian timekeeping across vertebrate species.
  • Post-translational modifications are vital for the robustness and adaptability of the circadian system.