Spatial and Temporal Expression of theperiodandtimelessGenes in the Developing Nervous System ofDrosophila: Newly Identified Pacemaker Candidates and Novel Features of Clock Gene Product Cycling

Sep 1, 1997The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience

Timing and location of period and timeless gene activity in developing fruit fly nervous system reveal new internal clock cells and patterns

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Abstract

Period (per) and timeless (tim) genes are rhythmically expressed in larval Drosophila neurons throughout development.

  • Rhythmic expression of per and tim occurs in several groups of neurons in the larval central nervous system under both light/dark cycles and constant dark conditions.
  • Lateral neurons (LNs) in larvae, similar to those in adults, are immunoreactive to pigment-dispersing hormone and maintain strong cycling of PER from the first larval instar onward.
  • LNs are positioned close to the terminals of Bolwig's nerve, suggesting they may receive light input from the larval eyes.
  • A subset of dorsal neurons (DNLs) also expresses per and tim but shows differential cycling patterns in PER and TIM compared to LNs.
  • The light sensitivity associated with TIM protein levels differs in larval Drosophila compared to adults.

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