This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Dowse, H.B. Articles by Ringo, J.M. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Dowse, H.B. Articles by Ringo, J.M. Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

Further Evidence that the Circadian Clock in Drosophila is a Population of Coupled Ultradian Oscillators

Department of Zoology, University of Maine, Orono, Maine 04469

J.M. Ringo

Department of Zoology, University of Maine, Orono, Maine 04469

We hypothesize that ultradian oscillators are coupled to yield a composite circadian clock in Drosophila. In such a system, period would be a function of the tightness of coupling of these oscillators, increasing as coupling loosens. Ultradian oscillations would become appar ent under weak coupling or in the absence of coupling. A new technique for calculating signal- to-noise ratio (SNR) for biological rhythms to characterize their precision has yielded support for this hypothesis. SNR of rhythms of the allelic series of mutations at the period ( per) locus of Drosophila melanogaster were compared. per⁰ was the noisiest, grading through per^L, per⁺ , and per^s, the least noisy. SNR decreases significantly with increasing period in per^s, per⁺, and per^L; per^o typically has multiple ultradian oscillations and the lowest SNR. At least 70% of per^L individuals also exhibit ultradian periodicities.

Journal of Biological Rhythms, Vol. 2, No. 1, 65-76 (1987)
DOI: 10.1177/074873048700200106


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				T. Roenneberg and M. Merrow Life before the Clock: Modeling Circadian Evolution J Biol Rhythms, December 1, 2002; 17(6): 495 - 505. [Abstract] [PDF]

				P. H. Taghert, R. S. Hewes, J. H. Park, M. A. O'Brien, M. Han, and M. E. Peck Multiple Amidated Neuropeptides Are Required for Normal Circadian Locomotor Rhythms in Drosophila J. Neurosci., September 1, 2001; 21(17): 6673 - 6686. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. Helfrich-Forster, M. Tauber, J. H. Park, M. Muhlig-Versen, S. Schneuwly, and A. Hofbauer Ectopic Expression of the Neuropeptide Pigment-Dispersing Factor Alters Behavioral Rhythms in Drosophila melanogaster J. Neurosci., May 1, 2000; 20(9): 3339 - 3353. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. Andretic, S. Chaney, and J. Hirsh Requirement of Circadian Genes for Cocaine Sensitization in Drosophila Science, August 13, 1999; 285(5430): 1066 - 1068. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				M. J. Hamblen, N. E. White, P. T. J. Emery, K. Kaiser, and J. C. Hall Molecular and Behavioral Analysis of Four period Mutants in Drosophila melanogaster Encompassing Extreme Short, Novel Long, and Unorthodox Arrhythmic Types Genetics, May 1, 1998; 149(1): 165 - 178. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. D. Plautz, M. Straume, R. Stanewsky, C. F. Jamison, C. Brandes, H. B. Dowse, J. C. Hall, and S. A. Kay Quantitative Analysis of Drosophila period Gene Transcription in Living Animals J Biol Rhythms, June 1, 1997; 12(3): 204 - 217. [Abstract] [PDF]

				R. Stanewsky, B. Frisch, C. Brandes, M. J. Hamblen-Coyle, M. Rosbash, and J. C. Hall Temporal and Spatial Expression Patterns of Transgenes Containing Increasing Amounts of the Drosophila Clock Gene period and a lacZ Reporter: Mapping Elements of the PER Protein Involved in Circadian Cycling J. Neurosci., January 15, 1997; 17(2): 676 - 696. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. M. Power, J. M. Ringo, and H. B. Dowse The Effects of Period Mutations and Light on the Activity Rhythms of Drosophila melanogaster J Biol Rhythms, September 1, 1995; 10(3): 267 - 280. [Abstract] [PDF]

				R. J. Konopka, M. J. Hamblen-Coyle, C. F. Jamison, and J. C. Hall An Ultrashort Clock Mutation at the period Locus of Drosophila melanogaster That Reveals Some New Features of the Fly's Circadian System J Biol Rhythms, December 1, 1994; 9(3-4): 189 - 216. [Abstract] [PDF]

				M. Vitaterna, D. King, A. Chang, J. Kornhauser, P. Lowrey, J. McDonald, W. Dove, L. Pinto, F. Turek, and J. Takahashi Mutagenesis and mapping of a mouse gene, Clock, essential for circadian behavior Science, April 29, 1994; 264(5159): 719 - 725. [Abstract] [PDF]

				D. A. Wheeler, M. J. Hamblen-Coyle, M. S. Dushay, and J. C. Hall Behavior in Light-Dark Cycles of Drosophila Mutants That Are Arrhythmic, Blind, or Both J Biol Rhythms, April 1, 1993; 8(1): 67 - 94. [Abstract] [PDF]

				M. S. Dushay, M. Rosbash, and J. C. Hall The disconnected Visual System Mutations in Drosophila melanogaster Drastically Disrupt Circadian Rhythms J Biol Rhythms, March 1, 1989; 4(1): 1 - 27. [Abstract] [PDF]

				J. C. Hall and M. Rosbash Genetic and Molecular Analysis of Biological Rhythms J Biol Rhythms, September 1, 1987; 2(3): 153 - 178. [PDF]