A blind circadian clock in cavefish reveals that opsins mediate peripheral clock photoreception

The circadian clock is synchronized with the day-night cycle primarily by light. Fish represent fascinating models for deciphering the light input pathway to the vertebrate clock since fish cell clocks are regulated by direct light exposure. Here we have performed a comparative, functional analysis...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	PLoS biology Vol. 9; no. 9; p. e1001142
Main Authors:	Cavallari, Nicola, Frigato, Elena, Vallone, Daniela, Fröhlich, Nadine, Lopez-Olmeda, Jose Fernando, Foà, Augusto, Berti, Roberto, Sánchez-Vázquez, Francisco Javier, Bertolucci, Cristiano, Foulkes, Nicholas S
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	United States Public Library of Science 01-09-2011 Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Subjects:	Animals Biological clocks Biology Cell Line Circadian Clocks - physiology Circadian rhythm Circadian Rhythm - physiology Circadian rhythms Danio rerio Evolution Feeding Behavior Freshwater Gene Expression Genotype & phenotype Ixodidae Mutation Opsins - genetics Opsins - metabolism Photic Stimulation Photoreceptor Cells, Vertebrate - physiology Photoreceptors Physiological aspects Rod Opsins - genetics Rod Opsins - metabolism Zebrafish Zebrafish - physiology Italy Somalia Cell Line Gene Expression Animals Opsins Photoreceptor Cells, Vertebrate Circadian Clocks Feeding Behavior Zebrafish Rod Opsins Circadian Rhythm Photic Stimulation
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Summary:	The circadian clock is synchronized with the day-night cycle primarily by light. Fish represent fascinating models for deciphering the light input pathway to the vertebrate clock since fish cell clocks are regulated by direct light exposure. Here we have performed a comparative, functional analysis of the circadian clock involving the zebrafish that is normally exposed to the day-night cycle and a cavefish species that has evolved in perpetual darkness. Our results reveal that the cavefish retains a food-entrainable clock that oscillates with an infradian period. Importantly, however, this clock is not regulated by light. This comparative study pinpoints the two extra-retinal photoreceptors Melanopsin (Opn4m2) and TMT-opsin as essential upstream elements of the peripheral clock light input pathway.
Bibliography:	ObjectType-Article-1 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-2 content type line 23 The author(s) have made the following declarations about their contributions: Conceived and designed the experiments: CB NSF FJSV AF NC. Performed the experiments: NC EF DV NF JFLO RB. Analyzed the data: CB DV NC EF JFLO. Contributed reagents/materials/analysis tools: CB NSF RB AF FJSV. Wrote the paper: NSF CB NC DV FJSV.
ISSN:	1545-7885 1544-9173 1545-7885
DOI:	10.1371/journal.pbio.1001142