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NSF PR 97-35 - May 15, 1997
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First Circadian Clock Gene Identified and Cloned in
Mammals
Scientists affiliated with the National Science Foundation's
(NSF) Center for Biological Timing have identified
and cloned a gene for the biological clock in a mouse,
the first such gene to be identified at the molecular
level in a mammal.
The identification of the "Clock" gene was proven
by restoring a functioning biological clock in a line
of mutant mice which had lost normal circadian rhythms.
The researchers accomplished this by inserting DNA
for the gene into developing embryos, which not only
grew to have normal biological clocks, but incorporated
them into their own genetic material, passing them
on to their descendants.
"The identification of the 'Clock' gene is definitive,"
said Joseph Takahashi, professor of neurobiology and
physiology at Northwestern University in Evanston,
Illinois, and author of two articles appearing in
the Friday, May 16, 1997 issue of the journal Cell.
"This is the first time that the discovery of a mammalian
gene regulating behavior has been accompanied by simultaneous
proof that the gene has been located, by 'rescuing'
the lost function of the gene," Takahashi said.
The work is the result of the Clock Genome Project
at the NSF Center for Biological Timing. The project
uses "forward genetics" to discover the genes regulating
circadian clocks in mice, fruit flies, and plants.
"The cloning and characterization of the Clock gene
in mice is an important step forward in our understanding
of the mechanisms underlying biological clocks in
mammals. The work should ultimately lead to insights
into the regulation of human circadian behaviors,
such as the rhythms in sleep and wakefulness," Gene
Block, director of the NSF center said.
All life forms, including humans, possess internal
24-hour clocks, known as "circadian" (from the Latin
"circa," about, and "dian", a day) clocks, which regulate
our daily activities such as sleep and waking. Difficulties
in readjusting our clocks cause jet lag and shift
work problems, as well as some types of sleep disorders.
The circadian clock impacts almost every level of
our bodily functions. A new understanding of the nature
of the Clock gene may make it possible to target it
with drugs that would help restore normal clock functioning.
"This research provides direct evidence that clocks
in mammals may be built with the same principles as
those seen in fruit flies and fungi," Takahashi said.
Fruit flies and fungi were until now the only organisms
in which clock genes had been cloned and identified
at the molecular level.
Takahashi's approach used a novel strategy called
"rescue" to help locate the Clock gene. The behavior
of the mice was used to track down the responsible
gene. The team inserted a number of different artificial
chromosomes carrying normal DNA into the embryos of
mutant mice, to see which might have an impact on
the mouse's behavior. One of these proved to be able
to restore the biological clock function in the mutated
mice. This finding helped the team zero in on the
precise location of the gene.
Evidence of the Clock gene was found to be very high
in two tissues known to be able to generate circadian
signals, the eye and the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN)
of the hypothalamus. Surprisingly, Clock was also
found in other areas of the brain as well as the testis,
ovary, liver, heart, lung and kidney. According to
Takahashi, "This widespread expression of Clock leads
to the speculation that Clock may regulate timing
at many different levels in cells and tissues in the
entire body."
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