Evidence for oscillating circadian clock genes in the copepod Calanus finmarchicus during the summer solstice in the high Arctic

Biology Letters
Lukas HüppeBettina Meyer

Abstract

The circadian clock provides a mechanism for anticipating environmental cycles and is synchronized by temporal cues such as daily light/dark cycle or photoperiod. However, the Arctic environment is characterized by several months of Midnight Sun when the sun is continuously above the horizon and where sea ice further attenuates photoperiod. To test if the oscillations of circadian clock genes remain in synchrony with subtle environmental changes, we sampled the copepod Calanus finmarchicus, a key zooplankter in the north Atlantic, to determine in situ daily circadian clock gene expression near the summer solstice at a southern (74.5° N) sea ice-free and a northern (82.5° N) sea ice-covered station. Results revealed significant oscillation of genes at both stations, indicating the persistence of the clock at this time. While copepods from the southern station showed oscillations in the daily range, those from the northern station exhibited an increase in ultradian oscillations. We suggest that in C. finmarchicus, even small daily changes of solar altitude seem to be sufficient to entrain the circadian clock and propose that at very high latitudes, in under-ice ecosystems, tidal cues may be used as an additional entrainment cue.

References

Feb 16, 2002·Methods : a Companion to Methods in Enzymology·K J Livak, T D Schmittgen
Sep 13, 2008·Current Biology : CB·David Wilcockson, Lin Zhang
Apr 4, 2009·PLoS Genetics·Michael E HughesJohn B Hogenesch
Jan 22, 2011·BioEssays : News and Reviews in Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology·Kristin Tessmar-RaibleEnrique Arboleda
Apr 16, 2013·Cell Reports·Pål O Westermark, Hanspeter Herzel
Oct 19, 2014·Journal of Biological Rhythms·Paul F Thaben, Pål O Westermark
Sep 1, 2016·Scientific Reports·Damien TranJean-Charles Massabuau
Apr 27, 2017·Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews·Manuel SpitschanTimothy M Brown
Jul 18, 2017·Current Biology : CB·N Sören HäfkerMathias Teschke
Nov 5, 2019·Current Biology : CB·Enrico BertoliniPamela Menegazzi
Jan 9, 2020·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·Damien TranLaura Payton
Apr 18, 2020·Frontiers in Physiology·Christoph SchmalJihwan Myung
Jun 1, 2020·Trends in Ecology & Evolution·Nicholas Per Huffeldt

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Jan 13, 2021·Nature Ecology & Evolution·Vinoth Babu Veedin RajanKristin Tessmar-Raible
May 5, 2021·Biological Reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society·Kanchana BandaraKetil Eiane
Aug 6, 2021·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Melissa M OmandKaren Stamieszkin

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Methods Mentioned

BETA
PCR

Software Mentioned

mbotps
MB
OTPS
R package ‘ RAIN ’
- System

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.