Photic Entrainment of the Circadian System

Circadian rhythms are essential for the survival of all organisms, enabling them to predict daily changes in the environment and time their behaviour appropriately. The molecular basis of such rhythms is the circadian clock, a self-sustaining molecular oscillator comprising a transcriptional–translational feedback loop. This must be continually readjusted to remain in alignment with the external world through a process termed entrainment, in which the phase of the master circadian clock in the suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN) is adjusted in response to external time cues. In mammals, the primary time cue, or “zeitgeber”, is light, which inputs directly to the SCN where it is integrated with additional non-photic zeitgebers. The molecular mechanisms underlying photic entrainment are complex, comprising a number of regulatory factors. This review will outline the photoreception pathways mediating photic entrainment, and our current understanding of the molecular pathways that drive it in the SCN.

Targeted Disruption of the Inhibitor of DNA Binding 4 (Id4) Gene Alters Photic Entrainment of the Circadian Clock

Inhibitor of DNA binding (Id) genes comprise a family of four helix–loop–helix (HLH) transcriptional inhibitors. Our earlier studies revealed a role for ID2 within the circadian system, contributing to input, output, and core clock function through its interaction with CLOCK and BMAL1. Here, we explore the contribution of ID4 to the circadian system using a targeted disruption of the Id4 gene. Attributes of the circadian clock were assessed by monitoring the locomotor activity of Id4−/− mice, and they revealed disturbances in its operation. Id4-mutant mice expressed a shorter circadian period length, attenuated phase shifts in responses to continuous and discrete photic cues, and an advanced phase angle of entrainment under a 12:12 light:dark cycle and under short and long photoperiods. To understand the basis for these properties, suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) and retinal structures were examined. Anatomical analysis reveals a smaller Id4−/− SCN in the width dimension, which is a finding consistent with its smaller brain. As a result of this feature, anterograde tracing in Id4−/− mice revealed retinal afferents innovate a disproportionally larger SCN area. The Id4−/− photic entrainment responses are unlikely to be due to an impaired function of the retinal pathways since Id4−/− retinal anatomy and function tested by pupillometry were similar to wild-type mice. Furthermore, these circadian characteristics are opposite to those exhibited by the Id2−/− mouse, suggesting an opposing influence of the ID4 protein within the circadian system; or, the absence of ID4 results in changes in the expression or activity of other members of the Id gene family. Expression analysis of the Id genes within the Id4−/− SCN revealed a time-of-day specific elevated Id1. It is plausible that the increased Id1 and/or absence of ID4 result in changes in interactions with bHLH canonical clock components or with targets upstream and/or downstream of the clock, thereby resulting in abnormal properties of the circadian clock and its entrainment.

Ambient Temperature as a Strong Zeitgeber of Circadian Rhythms in Response to Temperature Sensitivity and Poor Heat Dissipation Abilities in Subterranean African Mole-Rats

Mammals have evolved circadian rhythms in internal biological processes and behaviors, such as locomotor activity (LA), to synchronize to the environmental conditions they experience. Photic entrainment of LA has been well established; however, non-photic entrainment, such as ambient temperature ( Ta), has received much less attention. To address this dearth of knowledge, we exposed two subterranean endothermic-homeothermic African mole-rat species, the solitary Cape mole-rat ( Georychus capensis [GC]) and social Mahali mole-rat ( Cryptomys hottentotus mahali [CHM]), to varying Ta cycles in the absence of light. We showed that the LA rhythms of these two species entrain to Ta cycles and that the majority of LA occurred during the coolest 12-h period. LA confined to the coolest Ta periods may be the direct consequence of the poor heat dissipation abilities of African mole-rats brought about by physiological and ecological constraints. Recently, it has been hypothesized that Ta is only a strong zeitgeber for circadian rhythms in species whose thermoregulatory abilities are sensitive to changes in Ta (i.e., heterotherms and ectotherms), which previously has excluded endothermic-homeothermic mammals. However, this study demonstrates that Ta is a strong zeitgeber or entrainer for circadian rhythms of LA in subterranean endothermic-homeothermic mammals as a consequence of their sensitivity to changes in Ta brought about by their poor heat dissipation abilities. This study reinforces the intimate link between circadian rhythms and thermoregulation and conclusively, for the first time, provides evidence that Ta is a strong zeitgeber for endothermic-homeothermic mammals.

0018 Whole Genome Sequencing Study Identifies Novel Variants Associated with Intrinsic Circadian Period in Humans

Introduction Non-24 is a circadian rhythm disorder in which the master body clock runs either slightly earlier or, more commonly in the disorder, longer than 24 hours. Methods We conducted the first whole genome sequencing study of a non-24 population of 174 individuals that we identified as being totally blind with Non-24 Disorder. We have directly tested the association between SNPs and circadian period length (tau) (n=69). Linear regression corrected for PCs and covariates identified a strong signal in HCN1, Brain Cyclic Nucleotide-Gated Channel 1, HCN1. Results HCN1 channel is responsible for the feedback on the rods regulating the dynamic range of light reactivity under dim or intermediate light conditions. Minor allele rs72762058 associated with longer tau, a difference of 12 minutes, and mean tau of 24.71. In Drosophila there is only one HCN channel encoding gene, DmIh. Interestingly, DmIh mutant flies display alterations in the rest:activity pattern, and altered circadian rhythms, specifically, arrhythmic behavior or a shorter period in constant darkness. We report a variant that associated with longer tau. In addition, we identify others variants that strongly associate with tau, such as a missense variant (rs16989535), (minor allele associated with longer tau), within DEPDC5, GATOR Complex Protein). Subjects carrying the rare allele have a period > 25.2. DEPDC5 is part of GATOR1 complex, together with NPRL2 and NPRL3acts to inhibit the mTORC1 pathway. The GATOR1 seizure phenotype consists mostly of focal seizures, often sleep-related and drug-resistant and is associated with focal cortical dysplasia (20%). mTOR signaling is part of the photic entrainment pathway in the SCN, it regulates autonomous clock properties in a variety of circadian oscillators. Light-induced mTORC1 activation appears to be important for photic entrainment of the SCN clock, as rapamycin modulates light-induced phase shifts of wheel-running and body temperature rhythms in mice. Conclusion We identify variants in HCN1 and DEPDC5 implicated in significantly longer tau. Knowledge of the circadian clock and period length is not only essential for understanding of the basic clockwork mechanisms but also could provide insights into mechanistic links between circadian dysfunctions and human diseases such as epilepsy. Support Vanda Pharmaceuticals