Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

Drosophila cryptochromes

A unique circadian-rhythm photoreceptor

Nature volume 404, pages 456–457 (2000)Cite this article

Abstract

Cryptochrome proteins are critical for circadian rhythms, but their function(s) is uncertain. Here we show that a mutation in a cryptochrome (dCRY) from the fruitfly Drosophila blocks an essential photoresponse of circadian rhythms, namely arrhythmicity under constant light conditions. We conclude that dCRY acts as a key photoreceptor for circadian rhythms and that there is probably no other comparable photoreceptor in this species.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Rent or buy this article

Prices vary by article type

from$1.95

to$39.95

Learn more

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Figure 1: cryb circadian rhythms free-run under intense constant light.

References

  1. Aschoff, J. Z. Tierpsychol. 49, 225–249 (1979).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Konopka, R. J., Pittendrigh, C. & Orr, D. J. Neurogenet. 6, 1– 10 (1989).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Cashmore, A. R., Jarillo, J. A., Wu, Y. J. & Liu, D. Science 284, 760–765 ( 1999).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Stanewsky, R. et al. Cell 95, 681–692 (1998).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Emery, P., So, W. V., Kaneko, M., Hall, J. C. & Rosbash, M. Cell 95, 669– 679 (1998).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Kume, K. et al. Cell 98, 193–205 (1999).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. van der Horst, G. T. et al. Nature 398, 627–630 (1999).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Vitaterna, M. H. et al. Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA 96, 12114 –12119 (1999).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Ohata, K., Nishiyama, H. & Tsukahara, Y. in Biological Clocks: Mechanisms and Applications (ed. Touitou, Y.) 167–170 (Elsevier, Amsterdam, 1999).

    Google Scholar 

  10. Ewer, J., Frisch, B., Hamblen-Coyle, M. J., Rosbash, M. & Hall, J. C. J. Neurosci. 12, 3321–3349 (1992).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, NSF Center for Biological Timing, Brandeis University, Waltham, 02454, Massachusetts, USA

    Patrick Emery, Jeffrey C. Hall & Michael Rosbash

  2. Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Brandeis University, Waltham, 02454, Massachusetts, USA

    Michael Rosbash

  3. Zoologisches Institut, Universität Regensburg, Regensburg, D93040, Germany

    Ralf Stanewsky

Authors
  1. Patrick Emery
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Ralf Stanewsky
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Jeffrey C. Hall
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Michael Rosbash
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Michael Rosbash.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Emery, P., Stanewsky, R., Hall, J. et al. A unique circadian-rhythm photoreceptor. Nature 404, 456–457 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1038/35006558

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/35006558

This article is cited by

Comments

By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.

Search

Advanced search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing