NEUROENDOCRINE REGULATION OF THE CIRCADIAN RHYTHMS

描述(改编自申请人的摘要)：生物计时 系统位于各种各样的动物的神经系统中， 由一个可携带的时钟组成，它产生昼夜节律信息， 然后它控制着有节奏的行为。这一制度的更改 深刻地影响动物(包括人类)的表现，并与 与某些类型的情感障碍有关。由于信号流 (从起搏器到起搏器的输入到输出)对于大多数人来说是常见的昼夜节律 动物种类，从果蝇研究中获得的基本信息是 在高等动物中与临床意义交织在一起。大多数分子 果蝇生物计时系统的遗传学研究一直是关注的焦点 关于时钟基因的周期和永恒。在这项提案中，考虑因素是 神经内分泌因素也可能影响苍蝇的起搏 系统。一种名为色素分散激素(PDH)的神经肽 已知与珠被颜色的昼夜节律变化有关 在甲壳类动物中。类似的神经肽已经被发现，它们的 生物功能似乎与昆虫的昼夜节律有关。最近， 果蝇PDH同源基因(DM-PDF)的克隆 申请者，而拟议的研究将扩展这一初步成就 明确DM-PDF在苍蝇生物学调控中的作用 使用综合分子遗传学方法的计时系统以及 行为分析。

DESCRIPTION (Adapted from applicant's abstract): The biological timing system is located in the nervous system of a wide variety of animals and consists of an entrainable clock which generates circadian information, which then governs the rhythmic behavior. Alterations of this system profoundly affect the animal's (including human) performance and are closely associated with certain types of affective disorders. Since the signal flow (input to pacemaker to output) for the circadian rhythms is common to most animal species, basic information obtained from research in the fruit fly is intertwined with clinical significance in higher animals. Most molecular genetic studies of the biological timing system in Drosophila have focused on the clock genes period and timeless. In this proposal, consideration is given to neuroendocrine factors that may also affect the fly's pacemaking system. A neuropeptide called pigment-dispersing hormone (PDH) has been known to be involved in the circadian rhythmic changes on integumental color in crustaceans. Similar neuropeptides have been identified, and their biological functions appear related to insect circadian rhythms. Recently, cDNA of the Drosophila PDH homolog (Dm-PDF) has been cloned by the applicant, and the proposed research will extend this initial accomplishment to define the roles of Dm-PDF in the regulation of the fly's biological timing system using comprehensive molecular genetic approaches along with behavioral analyses.