Veela connects light-sensing proteins Cryptochrome and Timeless in fruit fly's internal clock

The genetic variant Veela in Drosophila melanogaster disrupts light-dependent circadian clock synchronization.

• Veela flies maintain behavioral and molecular rhythmicity under constant-light conditions, conditions that typically halt the circadian clock.
• The Veela strain contains a natural variant of the timeless gene, known as ls-tim, which produces a Timeless protein that is less sensitive to light.
• The Veela variant also includes a mutant version of the F-box protein Jetlag, which interacts with the timeless and cryptochrome proteins.
• Neither the ls-tim variant nor the jetlag mutation alone is sufficient to prevent light input into the circadian pacemaker.
• This study uncovers a complex interaction among the Jetlag, Timeless, and Cry proteins, indicating a more intricate mechanism for regulating circadian sensitivity to light.

Simplified