Drosophila cry mutation reveals two circadian clocks that drive locomotor rhythm and have different responsiveness to light

Jun 9, 2004Journal of insect physiology

Two body clocks control movement rhythms and respond differently to light in fruit flies with the cryb mutation

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Abstract

Cryb mutant flies exhibit free-running rhythms with two distinct components in constant light conditions.

  • Wild-type Drosophila melanogaster became arrhythmic when exposed to constant light.
  • Cryb mutant flies displayed two separate circadian oscillators with varying light responsiveness.
  • The dissociation of rhythms in cryb mutants was influenced by light intensity, with more flies showing both oscillations at higher intensities.
  • External photoreceptors, including compound eyes and ocelli, likely mediate the rhythm dissociation.
  • Different populations of neurons exhibited distinct patterns of PERIOD expression, suggesting two separate mechanisms driving locomotor rhythms.

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