Systematic analysis of output pathways in the circadian rhythms of Drosophila

最近对果蝇的分子遗传学研究已经确定了几个与昼夜节律有关的基因。这些基因定义了一个基于转录-翻译的负反馈循环。为了确定与输入和输出通路有关的新基因，我们克隆了果蝇的隐色素基因，并阐明了其作为假定的昼夜节律光感受器分子的作用。我们利用抗cry抗体揭示了它在果蝇和蝇类大脑中的表达。我们发现，CRY在侧侧神经元中表达，而其他时钟基因在日常循环中表达。我们使用高密度寡核苷酸探针阵列（GeneChip）来分析果蝇所有基因的基因表达。总之，我们发现712个基因在光暗条件下表现出每日波动，其中115个基因在自由运行条件下仍在循环。

Recent molecular genetic studies in Drosophila have led to identification of several genes involved in circadian rhythms. These genes define a transcription-translation-based negative feedback loop. To identify novel genes implicated in input and output pathway, we have cloned a cryptochrome gene in Drosophila and clarified its role as a putative circadian photoreceptor molecule. We used anti-CRY antibody to reveal its expression in the brain of Drosophila and also in Musca. We found that CRY is expressed in lateral neurons where the other clock genes are expressed in a daily cycle. We used a high-density oligonucleotide probe array (GeneChip) to profile gene expression of all the genes in Drosophila. In summary we found 712 genes showing a daily fluctuation under light-dark conditions and among these 115 genes was still cycling in a freerunning conditions.