The ion channel narrow abdomen is critical for neural output of the Drosophila circadian pacemaker

Bridget C Lear; Jui-Ming Lin; J Russel Keath; Jermaine J McGill; Indira M Raman; Ravi Allada

doi:10.1016/j.neuron.2005.10.030

The ion channel narrow abdomen is critical for neural output of the Drosophila circadian pacemaker

Neuron. 2005 Dec 22;48(6):965-76. doi: 10.1016/j.neuron.2005.10.030.

Authors

Bridget C Lear¹, Jui-Ming Lin, J Russel Keath, Jermaine J McGill, Indira M Raman, Ravi Allada

Affiliation

¹ Department of Neurobiology and Physiology, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, USA.

PMID: 16364900
DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2005.10.030

Abstract

Circadian clocks consist of transcriptional feedback loops housed in interdependent pacemaker neurons. Yet little is known about the neuronal output components essential for rhythmic behavior. Drosophila mutants of a putative ion channel, narrow abdomen (na), exhibit poor circadian rhythms and suppressed daylight activity. We find that NA is expressed in pacemaker neurons and induced expression within circadian neurons is sufficient to rescue these mutant phenotypes. Selective na rescue in distinct pacemaker neurons influences rhythmicity and timing of behavior. Oscillations of the clock protein PERIOD are intact in na mutants, indicating an output role. Pore residues are required for robust rescue consistent with NA action as an ion channel. In na mutants, expression of potassium currents and the key neuropeptide PDF are elevated, the latter consistent with reduced release. These data implicate NA and the pacemaker neural network in controlling phase and rhythmicity.

Publication types

Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Animals
Biological Clocks / genetics*
Brain / cytology
Brain / metabolism*
Circadian Rhythm / genetics*
Drosophila Proteins / genetics
Drosophila Proteins / metabolism*
Drosophila melanogaster / cytology
Drosophila melanogaster / genetics
Drosophila melanogaster / metabolism*
Female
Ion Channels / genetics
Ion Channels / metabolism*
Male
Mutation / genetics
Nerve Net / cytology
Nerve Net / metabolism
Neural Pathways / cytology
Neural Pathways / metabolism
Neurons / cytology
Neurons / metabolism
Neurons / physiology*
Neuropeptides / genetics
Neuropeptides / metabolism
Nuclear Proteins / genetics
Nuclear Proteins / metabolism
Period Circadian Proteins
Potassium Channels / genetics
Potassium Channels / metabolism
Sodium Channels / genetics
Sodium Channels / metabolism
Synaptic Transmission / genetics

Substances

Drosophila Proteins
Ion Channels
Na protein, Drosophila
Neuropeptides
Nuclear Proteins
PER protein, Drosophila
Period Circadian Proteins
Potassium Channels
Sodium Channels
pdf protein, Drosophila