Flies and Fish: Birds of a Feather

• Published in: Journal of neuroendocrinology Vol. 15; no. 4; pp. 344 - 349
• Main Authors: Katherine Tamai, T., Vardhanabhuti, V., Arthur, S., Foulkes, N. S., Whitmore, D.
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Science, Ltd 01.04.2003; Blackwell Science; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Animals; Animals, Genetically Modified; Biological and medical sciences; Biological Clocks - genetics; Biological Clocks - radiation effects; Cell Line - physiology; Cell Line - radiation effects; Cells, Cultured - physiology; Cells, Cultured - radiation effects; Circadian Rhythm - genetics; Circadian Rhythm - radiation effects; CLOCK Proteins; Drosophila; Drosophila - physiology; entrainment; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gene Expression Regulation - physiology; Gene Expression Regulation - radiation effects; glucocorticoid; Light; Liver - physiology; Mammals - physiology; Mice; peripheral circadian clock; Photoperiod; Rats; Species Specificity; Suprachiasmatic Nucleus - physiology; Tissue Distribution - genetics; Trans-Activators - genetics; zebrafish; Zebrafish - physiology
• ISSN: 0953-8194; 1365-2826
• DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2826.2003.00974.x

The identification of specific clock‐containing structures has been a major endeavour of the circadian field for many years. This has lead to the identification of many key components of the circadian system, including the suprachiasmatic nucleus in mammals, and the eyes and pineal glands in lower vertebrates. However, the idea that these structures represent the only clocks in animals has been challenged by the discovery of peripheral pacemakers in most organs and tissues, and even a number of cell lines. In Drosophila, and vertebrates such as the zebrafish, these peripheral clocks appear to be highly autonomous, being set directly by the environmental light/dark cycle. However, a hierarchy of clocks may still exist in mammals. In this review, we examine some of the current views regarding peripheral clocks, their organization and how they are entrained.