Your browser version may not work well with NCBI's Web applications. More information here...
1: Science. 2007 Jun 29;316(5833):1898-900.
Related Articles, Links
Click here to read Click here to read
Comment in:
A molecular basis for natural selection at the timeless locus in Drosophila melanogaster.

Sandrelli F, Tauber E, Pegoraro M, Mazzotta G, Cisotto P, Landskron J, Stanewsky R, Piccin A, Rosato E, Zordan M, Costa R, Kyriacou CP.

Department of Biology, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy.

Diapause is a protective response to unfavorable environments that results in a suspension of insect development and is most often associated with the onset of winter. The ls-tim mutation in the Drosophila melanogaster clock gene timeless has spread in Europe over the past 10,000 years, possibly because it enhances diapause. We show that the mutant allele attenuates the photosensitivity of the circadian clock and causes decreased dimerization of the mutant TIMELESS protein isoform to CRYPTOCHROME, the circadian photoreceptor. This interaction results in a more stable TIMELESS product. These findings reveal a molecular link between diapause and circadian photoreception.

Publication Types:
PMID: 17600216 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]