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Journal article

Lack of Calbindin-D28k alters response of the murine circadian clock to light

  • Stadler, Frédéric Department of Medicine, Unit of Biochemistry, University of Fribourg, Switzerland
  • Schmutz, Isabelle Department of Medicine, Unit of Biochemistry, University of Fribourg, Switzerland
  • Schwaller, Beat Department of Medicine, Unit of Anatomy, University of Fribourg, Switzerland
  • Albrecht, Urs Department of Medicine, Unit of Biochemistry, University of Fribourg, Switzerland
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    2010
Published in:
  • Chronobiology International. - 2010, vol. 27, no. 1, p. 68-82
Circadian rhythm
Entrainment
Signaling
SCN
CalB
Calb1
Light
Clock genes
English A strong stimulus adjusting the circadian clock to the prevailing light-dark cycle is light. However, the circadian clock is reset by light only at specific times of the day. The mechanisms mediating such gating of light input to the CNS are not well understood. There is evidence that Ca²⁺ ions play an important role in intracellular signaling mechanisms, including signaling cascades stimulated by light. Therefore, Ca²⁺ is hypothesized to play a role in the light-mediated resetting of the circadian clock. Calbindin-D28k (CB; gene symbol: Calb1) is a Ca²⁺ binding protein implicated in Ca²⁺ homeostasis and sensing. The absence of this protein influences Ca²⁺ buffering capacity of a cell, alters spatio-temporal aspects of intracellular Ca²⁺ signaling, and hence might alter transmission of light information to the circadian clock in neurons of the suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN). We tested mice lacking a functional Calb1 gene (Calb1−/−) and found an increased phase-delay response to light applied at circadian time (CT) 14 in these animals. This is accompanied by elevated induction of Per2 gene expression in the SCN. Period length and circadian rhythmicity were comparable between Calb1−/− and wild-type animals. Our findings indicate an involvement of CB in the signaling pathway that modulates the behavioral and molecular response to light.
Faculty
Faculté des sciences et de médecine
Department
Département de Biologie, Département de Médecine
Language
  • English
Classification
Biological sciences
License
License undefined
Identifiers
Persistent URL
https://folia.unifr.ch/unifr/documents/301419
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