A Self-Sustaining, Light-Entrainable Circadian Oscillator in the Drosophila Brain

Only a subset of pacemaker neurons in Drosophila can sustain PERIOD protein oscillations after 5 days in constant darkness.

• A novel period-luciferase transgene was used to monitor clock gene activity in specific neurons in real-time.
• Sustained PERIOD protein oscillations were observed in a group of clock neurons in the dorsal brain, which had not been previously associated with this function.
• The identified dorsal neurons can synchronize behavioral rhythms in Drosophila.
• Light input to these dorsal neurons is mediated by the blue-light photoreceptor cryptochrome.
• The findings may enhance understanding of how different clock neuronal clusters contribute to circadian behavior.

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