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  • The EMBO Journal (1997) 16, 5006 - 5018
  • doi:10.1093/emboj/16.16.5006

Multiple circadian-regulated elements contribute to cycling period gene expression in Drosophila

Ralf Stanewsky1,3, Creston F. Jamison1,3, Jeffrey D. Plautz2, Steve A. Kay2 and Jeffrey C. Hall1

  1. Department of Biology and National Science Foundation Center for Biological Timing, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA 02254, USA
  2. Department of Cell Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
  3. R.Stanewsky and C.F.Jamison contributed equally to this work

Received 10 April 1997; Revised 29 May 1997

A new regulatory element necessary for the correct temporal expression of the period (per) gene was identified by monitoring real-time per expression in living individual flies carrying two different period–luciferase transgenes. luciferase RNA driven from only the per promoter was not sufficient to replicate the normal pattern of per RNA cycling; however, a per–luc fusion RNA driven from a transgene containing additional per sequences cycled identically to endogenous per. The results indicate the existence of at least two circadian-regulated elements—one within the promoter and one within the transcribed portion of the per gene. Phase and amplitude analysis of both per–luc transgenes revealed that normal per expression requires the regulation of these elements at distinct phases and suggests a mechanism by which biological clocks sustain high-amplitude feedback oscillations.

  • Keywords:

    • circadian rhythms,
    • Drosophila,
    • luciferase reporter,
    • period