CONSTITUTIVE ACTIVATION OF THE ERK-MAPK PATHWAY IN THE SUPRACHIASMATIC NUCLEI INHIBITS CIRCADIAN RESETTING

DIEGO ANDRES GOLOMBEK; G A, PIZZIO; C HAINICH, E

FEBS LETTERS

Año: 2006 vol. 580 p. 6665 - 6668

0014-5793

Circadian entrainment involves photic stimulation of the suprachiasmatic molecular oscillator, including activation of the ERK/MAP kinase, which is phosphorylated endogenously during the day and in response to light during the night. We aimed to disrupt the diurnal cycle of ERK phosphorylation by in vivo transfection of a constitutively active form of MEK, a MAPK kinase. This procedure did not affect normal circadian parameters, but completely inhibited light-induced phase advances. Therefore, circadian regulation of the ERK pathway is not essential for the normal mechanism of the biological clock, but it is fundamental as an interface with environmental entrainment by light.