BMAL1, but not CLOCK, is linked to green light’s control of melatonin rhythms in chick pineal cells

Knockdown of BMAL1 disrupted circadian rhythms of melatonin secretion in chick pinealocytes.

• Monochromatic green light increased melatonin secretion and expression of specific clock genes in chick pinealocytes.
• Si-BMAL1 interference led to the loss of circadian rhythms for AANAT and melatonin, affecting most clock genes except CRY1.
• Overexpressing BMAL1 also disrupted AANAT and melatonin rhythms and caused abnormal expression of BMAL1 and CRY1/2.
• CLOCK overexpression did not affect AANAT, melatonin, or BMAL1 rhythms but altered the rhythms of other clock genes.
• CRY2 expression levels were modified by both knockdown and overexpression of BMAL1, suggesting its involvement in the BMAL1 pathway.

Simplified