mRNA Rhythms Research Articles

Daily Expression of Six Clock Genes in Central and Peripheral Tissues of a Night-Migratory SongBird: Evidence for Tissue-Specific Circadian Timing

In birds, independent circadian clocks reside in the retina, pineal, and hypothalamus, which interact with each other and produce circadian time at the functional level. However, less is known of the molecular clockwork, and of the integration between central and peripheral clocks in birds. The present study investigated this, by monitoring the timed expression of five core clock genes (Per2. Cry1. Cry2. Bmal1, and Clock) and one clock-controlled gene (E4bp4) in a night-migratory songbird, the redheaded bunting (rb; Emberiza bruniceps). The authors first partially cloned these six genes, and then measured their 24-h profiles in central (retina, hypothalamus) and peripheral (liver, heart, stomach, gut, testes) tissues, collected at six times (zeitgeber time 2 [ZT2], ZT6, ZT11, ZT13, ZT18, and ZT23; ZT0 = lights on) from birds (n = 5 per ZT) on 12 h:12 h light-dark cycle. rbPer2. rbCry1. rbBmal1, and rbClock were expressed with a significant rhythm in all the tissues, except in the retina (only rbClock) and testes. rbCry2, however, had tissue-specific expression pattern: a significant rhythm in the hypothalamus, heart, and gut, but not in the retina, liver, stomach, and testes. rbE4bp4 had a significant mRNA rhythm in all the tissues, except retina. Further, rbPer2 mRNA peak was phase aligned with lights on, whereas rbCry1. rbBmal1, and rbE4bp4 mRNA peaks were phase aligned with lights off. rbCry2 and rbClock had tissue-specific scattered peaks. For example, both rbCry2 and rbClock peaks were close to rbCry1 and rbBmal1 peaks, respectively, in the hypothalamus, but not in other tissues. The results are consistent with the autoregulatory circadian feedback loop, and indicate a conserved tissue-level circadian time generation in buntings. Variable phase relationships between gene pairs forming positive and negative limbs of the feedback loop may suggest the tissue-specific contribution of individual core circadian genes in the circadian time generation.

The phytoestrogen daidzein may affect reproductive performance of Zhedong White geese by regulating gene mRNA levels in the HPG axis

1. The effect of daidzein, a naturally occurring phytoestrogen, on the reproductive performance of 120 female Zhedong White geese was determined. The geese were divided into 4 groups which were fed on diets containing 0 (Control), 10 (Da1), 20 (Da2) and 30 (Da3) mg daidzein per kg diet. Egg production and weight, fertility and hatchability rates, concentrations of estradiol (E2), triiodothyronine (T3), progesterone (P4), thyroxine (T4) and growth hormone (GH) in serum, and mRNA levels of gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH), β-follicle stimulating hormone (FSHβ), follicle stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR), oestrogen receptor1 (ESR1), oestrogen receptor2 (ESR2), prolactin (PRL), prolactin receptor (PRLR), and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) in the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal axis (HPGA) were measured.2. Daidzein increased egg weight and fertility but had no detectable effect on egg production and hatchability.3. Daidzein affected serum P4 and GH concentrations and T4 rhythm, up-regulated GnRH mRNA and PRLR mRNA levels in the hypothalamus, down-regulated PRLR mRNA in the hypothalamus, PRL mRNA in the pituitary, and ESR2 mRNA levels in the ovary, respectively. The mRNA rhythms of PRLR in the hypothalamus, PRL, PRLR and FSHβ in the pituitary, FSHR, ESR1 and ESR2 in the ovary were significantly changed in the Da2 group.4. It is suggested that an appropriate dose of daidzein might improve reproductive performance by affecting serum hormone concentrations and rhythms and regulating gene mRNA levels in the HPGA of female Zhedong White geese.

Rhythmic profiles of cell cycle and circadian clock genes' transcripts in mice: a possible association between two periodic systems

The circadian system shapes the rhythms of most biological functions. The regulation of the cell cycle by a circadian clock was suggested to operate via stages S, G2 and G2/M. This study investigated a possible time link at stages G1 and G1/S as well. The daily expression profiles of cell cycle markers (Ccnd1, Ccne1 and Pcna) and circadian clock genes (Per2 and Clock) were monitored in liver and esophagus (low and high proliferation index, respectively) of BALB/c mice. Locomotor activity displayed a 24 h rhythm, establishing the circadian organization of the suprachiasmatic nucleus. In the liver, the mRNA level of Per2 and Clock fitted the circadian rhythm with a 7.5 h shift. This temporal pattern suggests that the liver harbors a functional circadian clock. The rhythm of the analyzed cell cycle genes, however, was of low significance fitness and showed an opposite peak time between Pcna and Clock. These results indicate a weak regulatory role of the circadian clock. In the esophagus, the rhythms of Clock and Per2 mRNA had a similar peak time and non-circadian periods. These results suggest either that the esophagus does not harbor a functional circadian apparatus or that the phenotypes stem from differences in phase and amplitude of the rhythms of its various cell types. The similarity in the rhythm parameters of Clock, Ccne1 and Pcna transcripts questions the control of the circadian clock on the cell cycle along the G1 and G1/S stages. Yet the G1/S transition may play a role in modulating the local clock of proliferating tissues.

Rhythmic expression of vasoactive compounds in the rat brain and cerebral vasculature

In mammals, circadian variation is evident in hormone levels, arterial pressure, heart rate and cerebral blood flow (CBF). In humans there is an increased stroke incidence in the morning. CYP2C11 and CYP4X1 are cytochrome P450 epoxygenases expressed in rat brain which convert arachidonic acid (AA) to vasodilatory epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs). We have shown that these genes are expressed in a circadian or biphasic circadian manner in rat brain and vasculature. Here we investigate rhythms in cultured astrocytes and cerebral microvascular endothelial cells over 48 hours using RT‐PCR. Using Western blotting, we measured CYP2C11 and CYP4X1 protein levels over 24 hours and CYP450 enzyme activity by measuring EETs and 20‐HETE formation following addition of the substrate AA. We show Cyp2c11, Cyp4x1 and Cyp4a2 mRNA expression is rhythmic with a 12 hour period although the phase differs between genes. This pattern was also apparent at the protein level. Preliminary P450 activity data suggest rhythmic formation of EETs and 20‐HETE with 12 and 24 hour periods. Our data indicate CYP450 enzymes have rhythmic mRNA and protein expression and activity levels, suggesting their involvement in regulation of rhythmic physiological phenomena, such as CBF. Our findings will lead to a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying increased morning stroke incidence in humans.

Cloning, tissue expression pattern and daily rhythms of Period1, Period2, and Clock transcripts in the flatfish Senegalese sole, Solea senegalensis

An extensive network of endogenous oscillators governs vertebrate circadian rhythmicity. At the molecular level, they are composed of a set of clock genes that participate in transcriptional-translational feedback loops to control their own expression and that of downstream output genes. These clocks are synchronized with the environment, although entrainment by external periodic cues remains little explored in fish. In this work, partial cDNA sequences of clock genes representing both positive (Clock) and negative (Period1, Period2) elements of the molecular feedback loops were obtained from the nocturnal flatfish Senegalese sole, a relevant species for aquaculture and chronobiology. All of the above genes exhibited high identities with their respective teleost clock genes, and Per-Arnt-Sim or basic helix-loop-helix binding domains were recognized in their primary structure. They showed a widespread distribution through the animal body and some of them displayed daily mRNA rhythms in central (retina, optic tectum, diencephalon, and cerebellum) and peripheral (liver) tissues. These rhythms were most robust in retina and liver, exhibiting marked Period1 and Clock daily oscillations in transcript levels as revealed by ANOVA and cosinor analysis. Interestingly, expression profiles were inverted in retina and optic tectum compared to liver. Such differences suggest the existence of tissue-dependent zeitgebers for clock gene expression in this species (i.e., light for retina and optic tectum and feeding time for liver). This study provides novel insight into the location of the molecular clocks (central vs. peripheral) and their different phasing and synchronization pathways, which contributes to better understand the teleost circadian systems and its plasticity.

A mechanism for robust circadian timekeeping via stoichiometric balance

Circadian (∼24 h) timekeeping is essential for the lives of many organisms. To understand the biochemical mechanisms of this timekeeping, we have developed a detailed mathematical model of the mammalian circadian clock. Our model can accurately predict diverse experimental data including the phenotypes of mutations or knockdown of clock genes as well as the time courses and relative expression of clock transcripts and proteins. Using this model, we show how a universal motif of circadian timekeeping, where repressors tightly bind activators rather than directly binding to DNA, can generate oscillations when activators and repressors are in stoichiometric balance. Furthermore, we find that an additional slow negative feedback loop preserves this stoichiometric balance and maintains timekeeping with a fixed period. The role of this mechanism in generating robust rhythms is validated by analysis of a simple and general model and a previous model of the Drosophila circadian clock. We propose a double-negative feedback loop design for biological clocks whose period needs to be tightly regulated even with large changes in gene dosage.

Altered clock gene expression and vascular smooth muscle diurnal contractile variations in type 2 diabeticdb/dbmice

This study was designed to determine whether the 24-h rhythms of clock gene expression and vascular smooth muscle (VSM) contractile responses are altered in type 2 diabetic db/db mice. Control and db/db mice were euthanized at 6-h intervals throughout the day. The aorta, mesenteric arteries, heart, kidney, and brain were isolated. Clock and target gene mRNA levels were determined by either real-time PCR or in situ hybridization. Isometric contractions were measured in isolated aortic helical strips, and pressor responses to an intravenous injection of vasoconstrictors were determined in vivo using radiotelemetry. We found that the 24-h mRNA rhythms of the following genes were suppressed in db/db mice compared with control mice: the clock genes period homolog 1/2 (Per1/2) and cryptochrome 1/2 (Cry1/2) and their target genes D site albumin promoter-binding protein (Dbp) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (Pparg) in the aorta and mesenteric arteries; Dbp in the heart; Per1, nuclear receptor subfamily 1, group D, member 1 (Rev-erba), and Dbp in the kidney; and Per1 in the suprachiasmatic nucleus. The 24-h contractile variations in response to phenylephrine (α(1)-agonist), ANG II, and high K(+) were significantly altered in the aortas from db/db mice compared with control mice. The diurnal variations of the in vivo pressor responses to phenylephrine and ANG II were lost in db/db mice. Moreover, the 24-h mRNA rhythms of the contraction-related proteins Rho kinase 1/2, PKC-potentiated phosphatase inhibitory protein of 17 kDa, calponin-3, tropomyosin-1/2, and smooth muscle protein 22-α were suppressed in db/db mice compared with control mice. Together, our data demonstrated that the 24-h rhythms of clock gene mRNA, mRNA levels of several contraction-related proteins, and VSM contraction were disrupted in db/db mice, which may contribute to the disruption of their blood pressure circadian rhythm.

Daily oscillation of glutathione redox cycle is dampened in the nutritional vitamin A deficiency

Examples of hormonal phase-shifting of circadian gene expression began to emerge a few years ago. Vitamin A fulfills a hormonal function by binding of retinoic acid to its nuclear receptors, RARs and RXRs. We found retinoid- as well as clock-responsive sites on regulatory regions of Glutathione reductase (GR) and Glutathione peroxidase (GPx) genes. Interestingly, we observed retinoid receptors, as well as GSH, GR, and GPx, display daily oscillating patterns in the rat liver. We also found that feeding animals with a vitamin A-free diet, dampened daily rhythms of RARα and RXRβ mRNA, GR expression and activity, GSH, BMAL1 protein levels, and locomotor activity. Differently, day–night oscillations of RXRα, GPx mRNA levels and activity and PER1 protein levels, were phase-shifted in the liver of vitamin A-deficient rats. These observations would emphasize the importance of micronutrient vitamin A in the modulation of biological rhythms of GSH and cellular redox state in liver.

Adrenergic Regulation of the Distribution of Transducer of Regulated cAMP-Response Element-Binding Protein (TORC2) in Rat Pinealocytes

Transducers of regulated cAMP-response element-binding protein (CREB) activity (TORC) are coactivators that can increase CREB transcriptional activity, suggesting that TORC may regulate the transcription of Aanat, a CREB-target gene. In the present study, we focused on the regulation of TORC2 and its role in Aanat transcription in the rat pineal gland. Although there was no endogenous Torc2 mRNA rhythm in the rat pineal gland and treatment of cultured pinealocytes with norepinephrine (NE) had no effect on the mRNA level of Torc2, the phosphorylation state and intracellular distribution of TORC2 protein were regulated by NE. Immunoblot analysis combined with cytosolic/nuclear fractionation or phosphatase treatment showed that TORC2 protein was rapidly dephosphorylated and translocated to the nucleus after NE stimulation in rat pinealocytes. Similar dephosphorylation of TORC2 also occurred nocturnally in the rat pineal gland. The NE-mediated TORC2 dephosphorylation was blocked by cotreatment with propranolol (a β-adrenergic antagonist) but not prazosin (an α(1)-adrenergic antagonist) and mimicked by dibutyryl cAMP, indicating the participation of the β-adrenergic receptor/cAMP pathway. Studies with protein phosphatase inhibitors showed that only okadaic acid and calyculin A were effective in blocking the NE-mediated TORC2 dephosphorylation, suggesting the involvement of protein phosphatase 2A in this dephosphorylation. Moreover, TORC2 overexpression had an enhancing effect on NE-stimulated Aanat transcription. Together, these results indicate that NE stimulation causes nuclear translocation of TORC2 by dephosphorylating the protein through a β-adrenoceptor/cAMP mechanism and that nuclear localization of TORC2 appears to regulate Aanat transcription by NE in the rat pineal gland.

Circadian rhythm of enolase in suprachiasmatic nucleus depends on mitochondrial function

Metabolic activity in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), a center of biological rhythm, is higher during the daytime than at night. The rhythmic oscillation in the SCN is feedback controlled by the CLOCK/BMAL1 heterodimer binding to the E-box in target genes (e.g., Arg- vasopressin). Similar transcriptional regulation by NPAS2/BMAL1 heterodimer formation operates in the brain, which depends on the redox state (i.e., NAD/NADH). To clarify the metabolic function of SCN in relation to the redox state, two-dimensional electrophoresis was carried out on the mitochondrial fraction of SCN, obtained from rats kept under a light:dark cycle and constant under dim light. The electrophoretic pattern with TOF-mass spectrometry analysis revealed that enolase catalyzes the interconversion of 2-phosphoglycerate and phosphoenolpyruvate. The enolase activity, coupled with lactate dehydrogenase, was higher during the light period than that in the dark. However, enolase mRNA, analyzed by RT-PCR, showed higher levels during the dark period than in the light. The clock gene products Per2, Bmal1, Rev-erbα, and AVP mRNA in the mitochondrial fraction of SCN developed a circadian rhythm showing almost the same peak time as that in whole SCN. These mRNA rhythms ran free except for that of Rev-erbα mRNA. The results indicate that, in the glycolysis-related energy pathway, enolase might be involved in higher metabolic activity during the day than at night, at least in part.

Diurnal Variations of Mouse Plasma and Hepatic Bile Acid Concentrations as well as Expression of Biosynthetic Enzymes and Transporters

BackgroundDiurnal fluctuation of bile acid (BA) concentrations in the enterohepatic system of mammals has been known for a long time. Recently, BAs have been recognized as signaling molecules beyond their well-established roles in dietary lipid absorption and cholesterol homeostasis.Methods and ResultsThe current study depicted diurnal variations of individual BAs detected by ultra-performance liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (UPLC/MS) in serum and livers collected from C57BL/6 mice fed a regular chow or a chow containing cholestyramine (resin). Circadian rhythms of mRNA of vital BA-related nuclear receptors, enzymes, and transporters in livers and ilea were determined in control- and resin-fed mice, as well as in farnesoid X receptor (FXR) null mice. The circadian profiles of BAs showed enhanced bacterial dehydroxylation during the fasting phase and efficient hepatic reconjugation of BAs in the fed phase. The resin removed more than 90% of BAs with β-hydroxy groups, such as muricholic acids and ursodeoxycholic acid, from serum and livers, but did not exert as significant influence on CA and CDCA in both compartments. Both resin-fed and FXR-null mouse models indicate that BAs regulate their own biosynthesis through the FXR-regulated ileal fibroblast growth factor 15. BA flux also influences the daily mRNA levels of multiple BA transporters.ConclusionBA concentration and composition exhibit circadian variations in mouse liver and serum, which influences the circadian rhythms of BA metabolizing genes in liver and ileum. The diurnal variations of BAs appear to serve as a signal that coordinates daily nutrient metabolism in mammals.

Post-transcriptional control of circadian rhythms

Circadian rhythms exist in most living organisms. The general molecular mechanisms that are used to generate 24-hour rhythms are conserved among organisms, although the details vary. These core clocks consist of multiple regulatory feedback loops, and must be coordinated and orchestrated appropriately for the fine-tuning of the 24-hour period. Many levels of regulation are important for the proper functioning of the circadian clock, including transcriptional, post-transcriptional and post-translational mechanisms. In recent years, new information about post-transcriptional regulation in the circadian system has been discovered. Such regulation has been shown to alter the phase and amplitude of rhythmic mRNA and protein expression in many organisms. Therefore, this Commentary will provide an overview of current knowledge of post-transcriptional regulation of the clock genes and clock-controlled genes in dinoflagellates, plants, fungi and animals. This article will also highlight how circadian gene expression is modulated by post-transcriptional mechanisms and how this is crucial for robust circadian rhythmicity.

Influence of a Time-Restricted Feeding Schedule on the Daily Rhythm of abcb1a Gene Expression and Its Function in Rat Intestine

P-glycoprotein (P-gp) is one of the ATP-binding cassette transporters and acts as an efflux pump for cytotoxic substances. P-gp mRNA expression and transporting activity show the daily rhythm and contribute to the chrono-pharmacokinetic profiles of many drugs. It is reported that the daily rhythm of abcb1a mRNA is regulated by a circadian clock-controlled output pathway. Time-restricted feeding is well known to shift the peripheral circadian phase of clock gene expression without changing the central clock function. This study was undertaken to examine the influence of a time-restricted feeding procedure during the light phase on the daily rhythms of abcb1a mRNA expression and P-gp activity. The abcb1a mRNA and P-gp activity showed a daily rhythm with a peak early in the dark phase in rat intestine under ad libitum feeding. Time-restricted feeding during the light phase shifted these rhythms to 12-h advance. The mRNA expression of clock genes (DBP and HLF, the transcript activators of abcb1a) also showed daily rhythms, and their phases were shifted by the time-restricted feeding procedure. The peak time of DBP mRNA expression was similar to that of abcb1a mRNA expression under ad libitum feeding and time-restricted feeding conditions. These results indicate that a time-restricted feeding procedure changes DBP mRNA expression, which in turn influences abcb1a mRNA expression and P-gp activity.

THE CIRCADIAN EXPRESSION OF c-MYC IS MODULATED BY THE HISTONE DEACETYLASE INHIBITOR TRICHOSTATIN A IN SYNCHRONIZED MURINE NEUROBLASTOMA CELLS

Circadian clocks govern the mammalian physiology in a day/night-dependent manner. The circadian oscillator of peripheral organs is composed of the same elements as the central pacemaker at the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN). The interaction between the circadian clock and several cell cycle components has been established in recent years, since many key regulators of cell cycle and growth control were proved to be rhythmically expressed. In particular, the proto-oncogene c-Myc has been documented to be under circadian regulation. Given that it is overexpressed in many malignancies, the study of c-Myc mRNA and c-MYC protein regulation by the circadian clock is of great interest. Thus, the aim of this work was to: (a) analyze in detail the circadian oscillations of c-Myc steady-state mRNA levels and to investigate whether c-MYC protein levels display any oscillating pattern, and (b) ascertain whether circadian time is important for reducing c-MYC levels after drug application. For this purpose, we selected trichostatin A (TSA), since it is known that long (≥12 h) treatment durations negatively influence the expression levels of c-Myc and short 2 h treatments up regulate the expression of the central oscillator gene Per1 resulting in the resetting of its rhythm. TSA is a specific inhibitor of histone deacetylases (HDACs), and its application results in increased acetylation levels of histone and non-histone proteins. Our results, using the murine neuroblastoma cell line N2A, show that Per1 and c-Myc steady-state mRNA levels oscillate with the same phase. Moreover, a short 2 h TSA treatment causes a phase-dependent decrease of oscillating c-Myc transcript levels only when applied at the trough of its mRNA rhythm, where a general decrease of c-MYC protein levels is also observed. At the peak of its rhythm, no apparent changes can be observed. These experiments demonstrate for the first time that a significant decrease in c-Myc transcript and protein levels can be achieved after a short TSA treatment applied only at specific circadian times. This is also followed by a reduction in the proliferation rate of the cell population. (Author correspondence: prombona@bio.demokritos.gr)

Circadian oscillations outside the optic lobe in the cricket Gryllus bimaculatus

Although circadian rhythms are found in many peripheral tissues in insects, the control mechanism is still to be elucidated. To investigate the central and peripheral relationships in the circadian organization, circadian rhythms outside the optic lobes were examined in the cricket Gryllus bimaculatus by measuring mRNA levels of period ( per) and timeless ( tim) genes in the brain, terminal abdominal ganglion (TAG), anterior stomach, mid-gut, testis, and Malpighian tubules. Except for Malpighian tubules and testis, the tissues showed a daily rhythmic expression in either both per and tim or tim alone in LD. Under constant darkness, however, the tested tissues exhibited rhythmic expression of per and tim mRNAs, suggesting that they include a circadian oscillator. The amplitude and the levels of the mRNA rhythms varied among those rhythmic tissues. Removal of the optic lobe, the central clock tissue, differentially affected the rhythms: the anterior stomach lost the rhythm of both per and tim; in the mid-gut and TAG, tim expression became arrhythmic but per maintained rhythmic expression; a persistent rhythm with a shifted phase was observed for both per and tim mRNA rhythms in the brain. These data suggest that rhythms outside the optic lobe receive control from the optic lobe to different degrees, and that the oscillatory mechanism may be different from that of Drosophila.

The Uterus Sustains Stable Biological Clock during Pregnancy

Maternal circadian information has been reported to play an important role in fetal physiology and development. Hormones and nutrition have been mainly investigated as circadian cues from mother to fetus. However, the influences of circadian properties of the pregnant reproductive organs on fetuses have not been fully investigated. To gain an insight on the circadian functions of the reproductive organs, we examined molecular clocks in the pregnant rat uterus and placenta. By using a Period1-luciferase (Per1-luc) rat, whose tissues express luciferase corresponding to activation of Period1, a "key clock gene", we examined the uterus clock during non-pregnancy, on embryonic day 12 (E12), and on E22 (the end of pregnancy) in a light-dark (LD) cycle and constant darkness (DD). By in situ hybridization we further explored Per1 mRNA rhythms in the placenta on E12 and E22. The uterus in vitro showed clear circadian Per1-luc rhythms both in and out of pregnancy, having peaks at around the time corresponding to dusk in LD. Likewise, in DD, the uterus in vitro had the same Per1-luc rhythms. The decidua in LD showed circadian Per1 mRNA rhythms, peaking during night 6 h after dusk, while the decidua in DD showed the same Per1 mRNA rhythms only on E22. In contrast, the labyrinth showed no circadian Per1 mRNA rhythms in LD or DD during pregnancy. These results suggest that the uterus and decidua, a maternally-originated tissue of the placenta, but not the labyrinth, a fetus-originated tissue of the placenta, can provide the fetus with circadian information.

CIRCADIAN RHYTHMICITY IN MURINE PRE-ADIPOCYTE AND ADIPOCYTE CELLS

Adipose tissue is central to metabolic homeostasis, signaling in part through the secretion of molecules termed adipokines. Circadian rhythms play an important role in adipose physiology, with plasma adipokine concentration and ∼20 % of the murine adipose transcriptome undergoing 24 h variation. However, due to the heterogeneity of adipose tissue and rhythmical input from both neuronal and humoral signals, the cellular basis of adipose rhythms is unclear. We tested the hypothesis that adipocyte cells contain a circadian clock that drives rhythmic mRNA expression and adipokine secretion. From the murine pre-adipocyte 3T3-L1 cell line, we generated populations of both pre-adipocytes and differentiated adipocytes. Cells were then treated with a 2 h serum pulse and sampled every 4 h over a 48 h period. Expression of clock gene, ‘metabolic’ gene (PPARα, PPARγ, SREBP1), and adipokine mRNA was analyzed by quantitative real-time PCR, and secretion of the adipokines leptin and adiponectin was measured in culture medium from differentiated adipocytes. In pre-adipocytes, we observed robust rhythms of clock genes Per2, Rev-erbα, and Dbp, but not of Per1, Cry1, Bmal1, or any of the ‘metabolic’ genes. Adipocytes produced similar temporal profiles of mRNA expression, albeit with a markedly reduced amplitude of Per2 and Dbp rhythms. Despite no circadian rhythm of adipokine mRNA expression, leptin accumulation in the culture medium suggested circadian control of leptin secretion from adipocytes. Adiponectin secretion showed temporal variation, but without any apparent circadian rhythmicity. Our data, therefore, suggest that an endogenous adipocyte clock controls the rhythmic expression of only a subset of genes that are reported to exhibit 24 h rhythmicity in murine adipose tissue. Moreover, secretion of leptin may also be regulated by the adipocyte clock. (Author correspondence: j.johnston@surrey.ac.uk).

Daily rhythms and sex differences in vasoactive intestinal polypeptide, VIPR2 receptor and arginine vasopressin mRNA in the suprachiasmatic nucleus of a diurnal rodent, Arvicanthis niloticus

Diurnal and nocturnal animals differ with respect to the time of day at which the ovulatory surge in luteinizing hormone occurs. In some species this is regulated by the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), the primary circadian clock, via cells that contain vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) and vasopressin (AVP). Here, we evaluated the hypothesis that chronotype differences in the timing of the luteinizing hormone surge are associated with rhythms in expression of the genes that encode these neuropeptides. Diurnal grass rats (Arvicanthis niloticus) were housed in a 12/12-h light-dark cycle and killed at one of six times of day (Zeitgeber time 1, 5, 9, 13, 17, 21; ZT 0 = lights-on). In-situ hybridization was used to compare levels of vip, avp and VIP receptor mRNA (vipr2) in the SCN of intact females, ovariectomized females, ovariectomized females given estradiol and intact males. We found a sex difference in vip rhythms with a peak occurring at ZT 13 in males and ZT 5 in intact females. In all groups avp mRNA rhythms peaked during the day, from ZT 5 to ZT 9, and had a trough in the dark at ZT 21. There was a modest rhythm and sex difference in the pattern of vipr2. Most importantly, the patterns of each of these SCN rhythms relative to the light-dark cycle resembled those seen in nocturnal rodents. Chronotype differences in timing of neuroendocrine events associated with ovulation are thus likely to be generated downstream of the SCN.

RNA interference is a powerful tool for chronobiological study in the cricket

Circadian rhythms are periodic phenomena recurring with a period of about 24 h that are observed in a variety of physiological functions. The rhythms are driven by an endogenous timing system involving the circadian clock. While recent molecular studies promoted understanding the oscillatory mechanism of the clock in model organisms such as Drosophila, its applicability to other insects still remains to be examined. RNA interference (RNAi) becomes a powerful method to dissect the clock and clock-related mechanisms in non-model insects. Crickets are particularly suitable for the application of RNAi, because a single injection of a clock gene dsRNA has long-lasting effects both on mRNA and behavioral rhythms. In this review, we introduce our current approach to the circadian clock as well as photoperiodic time-measurement mechanism in crickets, and describe the effectiveness of nymphal, adult, and parental RNAi in studies of biological timing mechanisms.

The hepatic circadian clock is preserved in a lipid-induced mouse model of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis

Recent studies have correlated metabolic diseases, such as metabolic syndrome and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, with the circadian clock. However, whether such metabolic changes per se affect the circadian clock remains controversial. To address this, we investigated the daily mRNA expression profiles of clock genes in the liver of a dietary mouse model of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) using a custom-made, high-precision DNA chip. C57BL/6J mice fed an atherogenic diet for 5 weeks developed hypercholesterolemia, oxidative stress, and NASH. DNA chip analyses revealed that the atherogenic diet had a great influence on the mRNA expression of a wide range of genes linked to mitochondrial energy production, redox regulation, and carbohydrate and lipid metabolism. However, the rhythmic mRNA expression of the clock genes in the liver remained intact. Most of the circadianly expressed genes also showed 24-h rhythmicity. These findings suggest that the biological clock is protected against such a metabolic derangement as NASH.