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A light-entrainment mechanism for the Drosophila circadian clock

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Abstract

Biochemical studies indicate that the Drosophila timeless protein (Tim) is a stoichiometric partner of the period protein (Per) in fly head extracts. A Per-Tim heterodimeric complex explains the reciprocal autoregulation of the proteins on transcription. The complex is under clock control, and many circadian features of the Tim cycle resemble those of the Per cycle. However, Tim is rapidly degraded in the early morning or in response to light, releasing Per from the complex. The Per–Tim complex is a functional unit of the Drosophila circadian clock, and Tim degradation may be the initial response of the clock to light.

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Author notes

  1. Michael Rosbash: To whom correspondence should be addressed.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Howard Hughes Medical Institute, National Science Foundation Science and Technology Center for Biological Timing, and Department of Biology, Brandeis University, Waltham, Massachusetts, 02254, USA

    Hongkui Zeng, Zuwei Qian & Michael Rosbash

  2. Howard Hughes Medical Institute, National Science Foundation Science and Technology Center for Biological Timing, and Laboratory of Genetics, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York, 10021, USA

    Michael P. Myers

Authors
  1. Hongkui Zeng
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  2. Zuwei Qian
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  3. Michael P. Myers
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  4. Michael Rosbash
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Zeng, H., Qian, Z., Myers, M. et al. A light-entrainment mechanism for the Drosophila circadian clock. Nature 380, 129–135 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1038/380129a0

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