scholarly journals Genetic variation and phenotypic plasticity in circadian rhythms in an armed beetle, Gnatocerus cornutus (Tenebrionidae)

2020 ◽  
Vol 130 (1) ◽  
pp. 34-40 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kentarou Matsumura ◽  
Masato S Abe ◽  
Manmohan D Sharma ◽  
David J Hosken ◽  
Taishi Yoshii ◽  
...  

Abstract Circadian rhythms, their free-running periods and the power of the rhythms are often used as indicators of biological clocks, and there is evidence that the free-running periods of circadian rhythms are not affected by environmental factors, such as temperature. However, there are few studies of environmental effects on the power of the rhythms, and it is not clear whether temperature compensation is universal. Additionally, genetic variation and phenotypic plasticity in biological clocks are important for understanding the evolution of biological rhythms, but genetic and plastic effects are rarely investigated. Here, we used 18 isofemale lines (genotypes) of Gnatocerus cornutus to assess rhythms of locomotor activity, while also testing for temperature effects. We found that total activity and the power of the circadian rhythm were affected by interactions between sex and genotype or between sex, genotype and temperature. The males tended to be more active and showed greater increases in activity, but this effect varied across both genotypes and temperatures. The period of activity varied only by genotype and was thus independent of temperature. The complicated genotype–sex–environment interactions we recorded stress the importance of investigating circadian activity in more integrated ways.

1978 ◽  
Vol 235 (5) ◽  
pp. R243-R249 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. I. Honma ◽  
T. Hiroshige

Three biological rhythms (locomotor activity, body temperature, and plasma corticosterone) were measured simultaneously in individual rats under light-dark cycles and continuous light. Spontaneous locomotor activity was recorded on an Animex and body temperature was telemetrically monitored throughout the experiments. Blood samples were obtained serially at 2-h intervals on the experimental days. Phase angles of these rhythms were calculated by a least-squares spectrum analysis. Under light-dark cycles, the acrophases of locomotor activity, body temperature, and plasma corticosterone were found at 0029, 0106, and 1940 h, respectively. When rats were exposed to 200 lx continuous light, locomotor activity and body temperature showed free-running rhythms with a period of 25.2 h on the average. Plasma corticosterone levels determined at 12 days after exposure to continuous light exhibited a circadian rhythm with the acrophase shifted to 0720. The acrophases of locomotor activity and body temperature, determined simultaneously on the same day, were found to be located at 1303 and 1358 h, respectively. Phase-angle differences among the three rhythms on the 12th day of continuous light were essentially the same with those under the light-dark cycle. These results suggest that circadian rhythms of locomotor activity, body temperature, and plasma corticosterone are most probably coupled to a common internal oscillator in the rat.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Masato S. Abe ◽  
Kentarou Matsumura ◽  
Taishi Yoshii ◽  
Takahisa Miyatake

AbstractMany species show rhythmicity in activity, from the timing of flowering in plants to that of foraging behaviour in animals. The free-running periods and amplitude (sometimes called strength or power) of circadian rhythms are often used as indicators of biological clocks. Many reports have shown that these traits highly geographically variable, and interestingly, they often show latitudinal or altitudinal clines. In many cases, the higher the latitude is, the longer the free-running circadian period (i.e., period of rhythm) in insects and plants. However, reports of positive correlations between latitude or longitude and circadian rhythm traits, including free-running periods, the power of the rhythm and locomotor activity, are limited to certain taxonomic groups. Therefore, we collected a cosmopolitan stored-product pest species, the red flour beetle Tribolium castaneum, in various parts of Japan and examined its rhythm traits, including the power of the rhythm and period of the rhythm, which were calculated from locomotor activity. The analysis revealed that power was significantly lower for beetles collected in northern areas compared with southern areas in Japan. However, it is worth noting that the period of circadian rhythm did not show any clines; specifically, it did not vary among the sampling sites, despite the very large sample size (n = 1585). We discuss why these cline trends were observed in T. castaneum.


PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. e0245115
Author(s):  
Masato S. Abe ◽  
Kentarou Matsumura ◽  
Taishi Yoshii ◽  
Takahisa Miyatake

Many species show rhythmicity in activity, from the timing of flowering in plants to that of foraging behavior in animals. The free-running periods and amplitude (sometimes called strength or power) of circadian rhythms are often used as indicators of biological clocks. Many reports have shown that these traits are highly geographically variable, and interestingly, they often show latitudinal or longitudinal clines. In many cases, the higher the latitude is, the longer the free-running circadian period (i.e., period of rhythm) in insects and plants. However, reports of positive correlations between latitude or longitude and circadian rhythm traits, including free-running periods, the power of the rhythm and locomotor activity, are limited to certain taxonomic groups. Therefore, we collected a cosmopolitan stored-product pest species, the red flour beetle Tribolium castaneum, in various parts of Japan and examined its rhythm traits, including the power and period of the rhythm, which were calculated from locomotor activity. The analysis revealed that the power was significantly lower for beetles collected in northern areas than southern areas in Japan. However, it is worth noting that the period of circadian rhythm did not show any clines; specifically, it did not vary among the sampling sites, despite the very large sample size (n = 1585). We discuss why these cline trends were observed in T. castaneum.


2017 ◽  
Vol 114 (42) ◽  
pp. E8855-E8864 ◽  
Author(s):  
Seung-Hee Yoo ◽  
Shihoko Kojima ◽  
Kazuhiro Shimomura ◽  
Nobuya Koike ◽  
Ethan D. Buhr ◽  
...  

We previously created two PER2::LUCIFERASE (PER2::LUC) circadian reporter knockin mice that differ only in the Per2 3′-UTR region: Per2::Luc, which retains the endogenous Per2 3′-UTR and Per2::LucSV, where the endogenous Per2 3′-UTR was replaced by an SV40 late poly(A) signal. To delineate the in vivo functions of Per2 3′-UTR, we analyzed circadian rhythms of Per2::LucSV mice. Interestingly, Per2::LucSV mice displayed more than threefold stronger amplitude in bioluminescence rhythms than Per2::Luc mice, and also exhibited lengthened free-running periods (∼24.0 h), greater phase delays following light pulse, and enhanced temperature compensation relative to Per2::Luc. Analysis of the Per2 3′-UTR sequence revealed that miR-24, and to a lesser degree miR-30, suppressed PER2 protein translation, and the reversal of this inhibition in Per2::LucSV augmented PER2::LUC protein level and oscillatory amplitude. Interestingly, Bmal1 mRNA and protein oscillatory amplitude as well as CRY1 protein oscillation were increased in Per2::LucSV mice, suggesting rhythmic overexpression of PER2 enhances expression of Per2 and other core clock genes. Together, these studies provide important mechanistic insights into the regulatory roles of Per2 3′-UTR, miR-24, and PER2 in Per2 expression and core clock function.


2021 ◽  
pp. 074873042199994
Author(s):  
Rosa Eskandari ◽  
Lalanthi Ratnayake ◽  
Patricia L. Lakin-Thomas

Molecular models for the endogenous oscillators that drive circadian rhythms in eukaryotes center on rhythmic transcription/translation of a small number of “clock genes.” Although substantial evidence supports the concept that negative and positive transcription/translation feedback loops (TTFLs) are responsible for regulating the expression of these clock genes, certain rhythms in the filamentous fungus Neurospora crassa continue even when clock genes ( frq, wc-1, and wc-2) are not rhythmically expressed. Identification of the rhythmic processes operating outside of the TTFL has been a major unresolved area in circadian biology. Our lab previously identified a mutation ( vta) that abolishes FRQ-less rhythmicity of the conidiation rhythm and also affects rhythmicity when FRQ is functional. Further studies identified the vta gene product as a component of the TOR (Target of Rapamycin) nutrient-sensing pathway that is conserved in eukaryotes. We now report the discovery of TOR pathway components including GTR2 (homologous to the yeast protein Gtr2, and RAG C/D in mammals) as binding partners of VTA through co-immunoprecipitation (IP) and mass spectrometry analysis using a VTA-FLAG strain. Reciprocal IP with GTR2-FLAG found VTA as a binding partner. A Δ gtr2 strain was deficient in growth responses to amino acids. Free-running conidiation rhythms in a FRQ-less strain were abolished in Δ gtr2. Entrainment of a FRQ-less strain to cycles of heat pulses demonstrated that Δ gtr2 is defective in entrainment. In all of these assays, Δ gtr2 is similar to Δ vta. In addition, expression of GTR2 protein was found to be rhythmic across two circadian cycles, and functional VTA was required for GTR2 rhythmicity. FRQ protein exhibited the expected rhythm in the presence of GTR2 but the rhythmic level of FRQ dampened in the absence of GTR2. These results establish association of VTA with GTR2, and their role in maintaining functional circadian rhythms through the TOR pathway.


2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. eabe2086
Author(s):  
Zheng Eelderink-Chen ◽  
Jasper Bosman ◽  
Francesca Sartor ◽  
Antony N. Dodd ◽  
Ákos T. Kovács ◽  
...  

Circadian clocks create a 24-hour temporal structure, which allows organisms to occupy a niche formed by time rather than space. They are pervasive throughout nature, yet they remain unexpectedly unexplored and uncharacterized in nonphotosynthetic bacteria. Here, we identify in Bacillus subtilis circadian rhythms sharing the canonical properties of circadian clocks: free-running period, entrainment, and temperature compensation. We show that gene expression in B. subtilis can be synchronized in 24-hour light or temperature cycles and exhibit phase-specific characteristics of entrainment. Upon release to constant dark and temperature conditions, bacterial biofilm populations have temperature-compensated free-running oscillations with a period close to 24 hours. Our work opens the field of circadian clocks in the free-living, nonphotosynthetic prokaryotes, bringing considerable potential for impact upon biomedicine, ecology, and industrial processes.


Cells ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (8) ◽  
pp. 883 ◽  
Author(s):  
Debajyoti Chowdhury ◽  
Chao Wang ◽  
Ai-Ping Lu ◽  
Hai-Long Zhu

Circadian rhythms have a deep impact on most aspects of physiology. In most organisms, especially mammals, the biological rhythms are maintained by the indigenous circadian clockwork around geophysical time (~24-h). These rhythms originate inside cells. Several core components are interconnected through transcriptional/translational feedback loops to generate molecular oscillations. They are tightly controlled over time. Also, they exert temporal controls over many fundamental physiological activities. This helps in coordinating the body’s internal time with the external environments. The mammalian circadian clockwork is composed of a hierarchy of oscillators, which play roles at molecular, cellular, and higher levels. The master oscillation has been found to be developed at the hypothalamic suprachiasmatic nucleus in the brain. It acts as the core pacemaker and drives the transmission of the oscillation signals. These signals are distributed across different peripheral tissues through humoral and neural connections. The synchronization among the master oscillator and tissue-specific oscillators offer overall temporal stability to mammals. Recent technological advancements help us to study the circadian rhythms at dynamic scale and systems level. Here, we outline the current understanding of circadian clockwork in terms of molecular mechanisms and interdisciplinary concepts. We have also focused on the importance of the integrative approach to decode several crucial intricacies. This review indicates the emergence of such a comprehensive approach. It will essentially accelerate the circadian research with more innovative strategies, such as developing evidence-based chronotherapeutics to restore de-synchronized circadian rhythms.


1993 ◽  
Vol 264 (4) ◽  
pp. R708-R715 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Jilge ◽  
H. Stahle

Free-running circadian rhythms of rabbits were exposed to a 11:55-11:55-h light-dark (LD) schedule. After complete entrainment (63 +/- 22 days), the predominantly nocturnally active rabbits were exposed to an additional zeitgeber, restricted food access (RF), which was imposed during the light period. In five animals RF had the same period (T) as the LD cycle (23:50 h), and in five other animals TRF was 24:10 h. At a period of 23:50 h for both zeitgebers, the rhythms of four animals were stably entrained to RF, while in one animal a component of the rhythm broke away from RF and entrained to the LD zeitgeber. In animals exposed to zeitgebers of different periods most of the activity rhythm also entrained to RF, but 20 +/- 7% of the activity entrained to the LD zeitgeber. The light-entrained activity component merged with the RF component when the zeitgebers crossed, and decomposition occurred when the phase difference exceeded 4-6 h. The results indicate that two circadian oscillator systems exist in the rabbit, one entrained by light-dark cycles and the other by feeding-fasting cycles. Both exert common control over a number of overt behavioral rhythms.


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