Disruption of the internal molecular clock by a Drosophila clock mutation in pacemaker neurons similar to a mouse mutation

Amino acids 657-707 of dCLOCK are crucial for its interaction with PERIOD and affect circadian rhythms.

• Deletion of amino acids 657-707 in dCLOCK results in diminished amplitude of core clock gene oscillations in transgenic flies.
• Flies with the dCLK deletion exhibit arrhythmic behavior under photic conditions but show improved rhythms under temperature conditions.
• The abundance of dCLOCK target clock proteins is reduced in specific neurons (ventral lateral neurons) but not in others (dorsal neurons).
• Delayed molecular oscillations in temperature-sensitive neurons are associated with altered anticipatory activities during temperature transitions.
• Findings suggest that the dCLOCK/CYCLE feedback loop functions differently in various types of pacemaker neurons.

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