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Tissue-specific function of Period3 in circadian rhythmicity
Julie S Pendergast1, Kevin D Niswender, Shin Yamazaki
1Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America.
Plos One
|January 19, 2012
Summary
The Period 3 (Per3) gene influences circadian rhythms in specific tissues, affecting internal clock timing. Loss of Per3 causes internal circadian misalignment in mammals.
Area of Science:
- Chronobiology
- Molecular Biology
- Genetics
Background:
- Mammalian circadian rhythms rely on coordinated central and peripheral clocks.
- The Period genes (Per1, Per2, Per3) are crucial for circadian timekeeping.
- The specific role of Per3 in circadian regulation remained largely unknown.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the function of the Period 3 (Per3) gene in mammalian circadian timekeeping.
- To analyze the impact of Per3 deficiency on central and peripheral circadian oscillators.
- To determine if Per3 influences the molecular clockwork in different tissues.
Main Methods:
- Utilized PER2::LUCIFERASE reporter gene expression assays.
- Compared tissues from Per3 knockout mice (Per3⁻/⁻) with wild-type controls.
- Analyzed circadian period and phase in explanted tissues and in vivo.
Main Results:
- Per3 deficiency led to shortened circadian periods in specific peripheral tissues, but not the SCN.
- These period shortenings resulted in advanced phases in affected tissues.
- Tissue-specific alterations in circadian periods caused internal misalignment of clocks in Per3⁻/⁻ mice.
Conclusions:
- Per3 plays a significant role in regulating endogenous timekeeping in a tissue-specific manner.
- The absence of Per3 disrupts the internal synchronization of the mammalian circadian system.
- Per3 is a key component of the mammalian circadian clockwork, influencing overall physiological rhythmicity.
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