Cellular circadian oscillators in the suprachiasmatic nucleus remain coupled in the absence of connexin-36.

ABSTRACT: In mammals, the master circadian clock resides in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN). The SCN is characterized by robust circadian oscillations of clock gene expression and neuronal firing. The synchronization of circadian oscillations among individual cells in the SCN is attributed to intercellular coupling. Previous studies have shown that gap junctions, specifically those composed of connexin-36 (Cx36) subunits, are required for coupling of electrical firing among SCN neurons at a time scale of milliseconds. However, it remains unknown whether Cx36 gap junctions also contribute to coupling of circadian (∼24h) rhythms of clock gene expression. Here, we investigated circadian expression patterns of the clock gene Period 2 (Per2) in the SCN of Cx36-deficient mice using luminometry and singl

SUBMITTER: Diemer T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5556374 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature