The molecular ethology of the period gene in Drosophila

Behavior Genetics
C P Kyriacou

Abstract

The period (per) gene in Drosophila has made a major contribution to the emerging field of molecular ethology. Mutations at this locus after a number of temporally programmed phenotypes, such as the 24-h circadian locomotor activity cycle and the 60-s male love-song cycle. Molecular analysis of per has revealed that it encodes a conceptual protein of approximately 1200 amino acids. A striking feature of the per protein is a series of alternating threonine-glycine residues, which, when removed by in vitro mutagenesis, alter song periodicity but not circadian periodicity. Evolutionary implications of this, and of species differences among per genes, are discussed. The threonine-glycine region is similar to a serine-glycine repeat found in mammalian proteoglycans. Based on this observation and other experiments, a model has been proposed, which suggests that the per protein may determine periodicity by modulating intercellular communication. The per protein is localized in the eye, brain, and other nonneural tissues, and immunochemical staining appears to cycle in intensity in the visual system and some brain cells. Perhaps some of these per+staining cells represent the anatomical concomitant of "the clock."

References

Aug 1, 1978·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·C F WuS Benzer
May 17, 1979·Nature·A M Handler, R J Konopka
Jun 1, 1990·Heredity·C P KyriacouM Hill
Dec 1, 1988·Molecular and Cellular Biology·L Saez, M W Young
Apr 1, 1989·Trends in Genetics : TIG·G A Dover
Feb 1, 1987·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Q YuM Rosbash
Jan 1, 1988·Annual Review of Cell Biology·E Ruoslahti
Mar 1, 1987·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·W J SchwartzM T Morton
Jan 1, 1987·Molecular and Cellular Biology·M A BourdonE Ruoslahti
Jan 1, 1985·Cold Spring Harbor Symposia on Quantitative Biology·M W YoungT A Bargiello
Mar 14, 1985·Nature·C P Kyriacou, J C Hall
Mar 15, 1972·Nature: New Biology·D L BarkerE A Kravitz
Sep 1, 1971·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·R J Konopka, S Benzer
May 1, 1971·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·D T SuzukiR Williamson
May 1, 1982·Quarterly Reviews of Biophysics·J C Hall
May 5, 1983·Nature·M S Livingstone, B L Tempel
Nov 1, 1980·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·C P Kyriacou, J C Hall

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Apr 27, 2005·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Trudy F C MackayStephanie M Rollmann
Jan 1, 1997·Annual Review of Entomology·D YamamotoA Komatsu
Nov 15, 2001·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·A AviviE Nevo
May 26, 1998·Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications·D Yamamoto, Y Nakano

❮ Previous
Next ❯

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.