Title
Rhythmic gene expression in pituitary depends on heterologous sensitization by the neurohormone melatonin
UMMS Affiliation
Department of Neurobiology; Weaver Lab
Publication Date
2002-3
Document Type
Article
Subjects
Adenosine-5'-(N-ethylcarboxamide); Animals; Biological Clocks; Cell Cycle Proteins; Circadian Rhythm; Cricetinae; Cyclic AMP; Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein; Gene Expression Regulation; In Situ Hybridization; Male; Melatonin; Mice; Mice, Inbred C3H; Neurons; Nuclear Proteins; Period Circadian Proteins; Phodopus; Pineal Gland; Pituitary Gland, Posterior; Receptor, Adenosine A2B; Receptors, Cell Surface; Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear; Receptors, Melatonin; Receptors, Purinergic P1; Signal Transduction
Disciplines
Neuroscience and Neurobiology
Abstract
In mammals, many daily cycles are driven by a central circadian clock, which is based on the cell-autonomous rhythmic expression of clock genes. It is not clear, however, how peripheral cells are able to interpret the rhythmic signals disseminated from this central oscillator. Here we show that cycling expression of the clock gene Period1 in rodent pituitary cells depends on the heterologous sensitization of the adenosine A2b receptor, which occurs through the nocturnal activation of melatonin mt1 receptors. Eliminating the impact of the neurohormone melatonin simultaneously suppresses the expression of Period1 and evokes an increase in the release of pituitary prolactin. Our findings expose a mechanism by which two convergent signals interact within a temporal dimension to establish high-amplitude, precise and robust cycles of gene expression.
DOI of Published Version
10.1038/nn806
Source
Nat Neurosci. 2002 Mar;5(3):234-8. Link to article on publisher's site
Journal/Book/Conference Title
Nature neuroscience
Related Resources
PubMed ID
11836530
Repository Citation
von Gall C, Garabette ML, Kell CA, Frenzel S, Dehghani F, Schumm-Draeger P, Weaver DR, Korf H, Hastings MH, Stehle JH. (2002). Rhythmic gene expression in pituitary depends on heterologous sensitization by the neurohormone melatonin. Neurobiology Publications. https://doi.org/10.1038/nn806. Retrieved from https://escholarship.umassmed.edu/neurobiology_pp/94