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Updated: Feb 15, 2026

Assaying Locomotor Activity to Study Circadian Rhythms and Sleep Parameters in Drosophila
Published on: September 28, 2010
JmjC domain proteins modulate circadian behaviors and sleep in Drosophila
Nevine A Shalaby1,2, Jorge H Pinzon1,3, Anjana S Narayanan3
1Department of Molecular Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA.
Abstract:
Jumonji (JmjC) domain proteins are known regulators of gene expression and chromatin organization by way of histone demethylation. Chromatin modification and remodeling provides a means to modulate the activity of large numbers of genes, but the importance of this class of predicted histone-modifying enzymes for different aspects of post-developmental processes remains poorly understood. Here we test the function of all 11 non-lethal members in the regulation of circadian rhythms and sleep. We find loss of every Drosophila JmjC gene affects different aspects of circadian behavior and sleep in a specific manner. Together these findings suggest that the majority of JmjC proteins function as regulators of behavior, rather than controlling essential developmental programs.
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