Casein kinase I-epsilon and circadian photic entrainment in hamsters.

AGOSTINO, PV; HARRINGTON, ME; RALPH, MR; GOLOMBEK, DA

CHRONOBIOLOGY INTERNATIONAL

TAYLOR & FRANCIS INC

Año: 2009 vol. 26 p. 1 - 8

0742-0528

Circadian rhythms rely on the interaction of highly conserved transcription-translation loops. Casein kinase I epsilon (CK1å) post-transcriptionally regulates circadian rhythms by phosphorylating clock genes, and the tau mutation, an arginine to cysteine substitution at residue 128, results in a short circadian period, abnormal entrainment to light cycles, and potentiated resetting responses to light. Each of these effects could be attributed to changes in the regulation of the core molecular circadian loops.  We now demonstrate that the mutation results in a heightened sensitivity to light, suggesting that CK1å also regulates the photic entrainment pathway. (Email correspondence: dgolombek@unq.edu.ar)