Project description:As the primary source of norepinephrine (NE) in the brain, the locus coeruleus (LC) regulates both arousal and stress responses1,2. However, how local neuromodulatory inputs contribute to LC function remains unresolved. Here we identify a network of transcriptionally and functionally diverse GABAergic neurons in the LC dendritic field that integrate distant inputs and modulate modes of LC firing to control arousal. We define peri-LC anatomy using viral tracing and combine single-cell RNA sequencing and spatial transcriptomics to molecularly define both LC and peri-LC cell types. We identify several cell types which underlie peri-LC functional diversity using a series of complementary approaches in behaving mice. Our findings indicate that LC and peri-LC neurons comprise transcriptionally and functionally heterogenous neuronal populations, alongside anatomically segregated features which coordinate specific influences on behavioral arousal and avoidance states. Defining the molecular, cellular and functional diversity in the LC provides a road map for understanding the neurobiological basis of arousal alongside hyperarousal-related neuropsychiatric phenotypes.
Project description:Mammalian circadian clocks precisely control the rhythms of behavior and physiology, and can be reset by various environmental signals. While the light-dark (LD) cycle resets the master clock, timed food intake is a potent synchronizer of peripheral clocks. As the largest metabolic organ, the liver sensitively responds to the food signals and secrets hepatokines, leading to the robust regulation of metabolic and clock processes. However, it remains unknown which hepatokine mediates the food-driven resetting of the liver clock independent of the master clock. In our current study, we clustered high-throughput RNA sequencing results to screen out candidate genes that mediate the food-driven resetting of the liver clock
Project description:The plant circadian clock exerts a critical role in the regulation of multiple biological processes including responses to biotic and abiotic stresses. It is estimated that the clock regulates up to 80% of the transcriptome in Arabidopsis, thus understanding the molecular mechanisms that control this rhythmic transcriptome requires identification of the targets of each clock component. The Arabidopsis core clock is partially comprised of a transcriptional regulatory loop between the MYB domain containing transcription factors CIRCADIAN CLOCK ASSOCIATED1 (CCA1) and LATE ELONGATED HYPOCOTYL (LHY), and TIMING OF CAB EXPRESSION1 (TOC1). As a key component of the clock, CCA1 is able to initiate and set the phase of clock-controlled rhythms. CCA1 regulates the transcription of several genes by directly binding to the evening element (EE) motif primarily found in the promoters of evening expressed genes. Using a genome-wide approach we have identified direct targets of CCA1 in plants grown in constant (LL) and driven conditions (LD). These CCA1 targets are enriched for a myriad of biological processes and stress responses. While many of these target genes are evening phased and contain the EE in their promoter regions, a significant subset is morning phased and lack an EE. Furthermore, several CCA1 targets do not cycle in either LL or LD or both. Expression analysis in CCA1 overexpressing plants confirms CCA1 regulation of analyzed targets. Our results emphasize an expanded role for the circadian clock in regulation of key pathways in Arabidopsis, and provide a comprehensive and solid resource for future functional studies. ChIP-Seq of CCA1-GFP plants under control of the CCA1 promoter in continuous light and diel conditions
Project description:The plant circadian clock exerts a critical role in the regulation of multiple biological processes including responses to biotic and abiotic stresses. It is estimated that the clock regulates up to 80% of the transcriptome in Arabidopsis, thus understanding the molecular mechanisms that control this rhythmic transcriptome requires identification of the targets of each clock component. The Arabidopsis core clock is partially comprised of a transcriptional regulatory loop between the MYB domain containing transcription factors CIRCADIAN CLOCK ASSOCIATED1 (CCA1) and LATE ELONGATED HYPOCOTYL (LHY), and TIMING OF CAB EXPRESSION1 (TOC1). As a key component of the clock, CCA1 is able to initiate and set the phase of clock-controlled rhythms. CCA1 regulates the transcription of several genes by directly binding to the evening element (EE) motif primarily found in the promoters of evening expressed genes. Using a genome-wide approach we have identified direct targets of CCA1 in plants grown in constant (LL) and driven conditions (LD). These CCA1 targets are enriched for a myriad of biological processes and stress responses. While many of these target genes are evening phased and contain the EE in their promoter regions, a significant subset is morning phased and lack an EE. Furthermore, several CCA1 targets do not cycle in either LL or LD or both. Expression analysis in CCA1 overexpressing plants confirms CCA1 regulation of analyzed targets. Our results emphasize an expanded role for the circadian clock in regulation of key pathways in Arabidopsis, and provide a comprehensive and solid resource for future functional studies.
Project description:Circadian clocks drive ~24 hr rhythms in tissue physiology. They rely on transcriptional/translational feedback loops driven by interacting networks of clock complexes.To gain insights into the role of the mammary clock, circadian time-series microarrays were performed to identify rhythmic genes in vivo. Breast tissues were isolated at 4 hr intervals for two circadian (24 hourly) cycles, from mice kept under constant darkness to avoid any light- or dark-driven genes.