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Circadian Rhythms and Gene Regulation

Circadian Rhythms and Gene Regulation

The biological clock is involved in many aspects of regulating complex physiology in all animals. It was in 1935 when German zoologists, Hans Kalmus and Erwin Bünning, discovered the existence of circadian rhythm in Drosophila melanogaster. However, the internal molecular mechanisms behind the circadian clock remained a mystery until 1984, when Jeffrey C. Hall, Michael Rosbash, and Michael W. Young discovered the expression of the Per gene oscillating over a 24-hour cycle. In subsequent...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Dec 10, 2025

Single-cell Resolution Fluorescence Live Imaging of Drosophila Circadian Clocks in Larval Brain Culture

Single-cell Resolution Fluorescence Live Imaging of Drosophila Circadian Clocks in Larval Brain Culture

Published on: January 19, 2018

Clock network in Drosophila.

Christiane Hermann-Luibl¹, Charlotte Helfrich-Förster¹

¹Department of Neurobiology and Genetics, Theodor-Boveri Institute, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, Germany.

Current Opinion in Insect Science

|August 28, 2020

Summary

The circadian clock uses peptidergic neurons in animal brains. Research in fruit flies reveals the network organization and neuropeptide roles in this biological timing system.

Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Chronobiology
Animal Behavior

Background:

The circadian clock, a fundamental biological process, relies on a network of peptidergic neurons present in the brains of all animals.
Understanding this network is crucial for deciphering biological timing mechanisms.

Purpose of the Study:

To review the neuronal organization of the circadian clock network.
To elucidate the roles of individual clock neurons and neuropeptides within this network.

Main Methods:

Review of existing literature on circadian clock research.
Focus on studies utilizing the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster as a model organism.
Analysis of genetic manipulation techniques applied to clock neurons.

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Circadian Entrainment of Drosophila Melanogaster

Circadian Entrainment of Drosophila Melanogaster

Published on: June 3, 2020

Assaying Locomotor Activity to Study Circadian Rhythms and Sleep Parameters in Drosophila

Assaying Locomotor Activity to Study Circadian Rhythms and Sleep Parameters in Drosophila

Published on: September 28, 2010

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Dec 10, 2025

Single-cell Resolution Fluorescence Live Imaging of Drosophila Circadian Clocks in Larval Brain Culture

Single-cell Resolution Fluorescence Live Imaging of Drosophila Circadian Clocks in Larval Brain Culture

Published on: January 19, 2018

Circadian Entrainment of Drosophila Melanogaster

Circadian Entrainment of Drosophila Melanogaster

Published on: June 3, 2020

Assaying Locomotor Activity to Study Circadian Rhythms and Sleep Parameters in Drosophila

Assaying Locomotor Activity to Study Circadian Rhythms and Sleep Parameters in Drosophila

Published on: September 28, 2010

Main Results:

The fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster serves as a key model for understanding circadian clock function due to its well-characterized neurons.
Genetic tractability in Drosophila allows for detailed investigation of neuronal roles and neuropeptide functions.
The peptidergic network's organization and the specific contributions of its components are increasingly understood.

Conclusions:

The study of Drosophila melanogaster has significantly advanced our knowledge of the animal circadian clock.
Individual clock neurons and their associated neuropeptides play critical, distinct roles in regulating circadian rhythms.
Further research on this peptidergic network promises deeper insights into biological timing.