Oscillating perceptions: the ups and downs of the CLOCK protein in the mouse circadian system

J Genet. 2008 Dec;87(5):437-46. doi: 10.1007/s12041-008-0066-7.

Abstract

A functional mouse CLOCK protein has long been thought to be essential for mammalian circadian clockwork function, based mainly on studies of mice bearing a dominant negative, antimorphic mutation in the Clock gene. However, new discoveries using recently developed Clock-null mutant mice have shaken up this view. In this review, I discuss how this recent work impacts and alters the previous view of the role of CLOCK in the mouse circadian clockwork.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors / physiology
  • Biological Clocks / genetics*
  • CLOCK Proteins
  • Circadian Rhythm / genetics*
  • Gene Expression Regulation / physiology
  • Humans
  • Mice / genetics*
  • Mice / physiology
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Models, Biological
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / genetics
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / physiology
  • Trans-Activators / genetics*
  • Trans-Activators / physiology

Substances

  • Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • Npas2 protein, mouse
  • Trans-Activators
  • CLOCK Proteins
  • CLOCK protein, human
  • Clock protein, mouse