Navigation Links
Protein shown to rally biological clock

A biologist at Washington University in St. Louis and his collaborators have identified the factor in mammalian brain cells that keeps cells in synchrony so that functions like the wake-sleep cycle, hormone secretion and loco motor behaviors are coordinated daily over a 24-hour period.

Erik Herzog, Ph.D., Washington University associate professor of Biology in Arts & Sciences, Sara Aton, Ph.D., a graduate student in Herzog’s lab who is now a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Pennsylvania, James Huettner, Ph.D., associate professor in cell biology and physiology at the Washington

University School of Medicine, and Martin Straume, a biostatistician, have determined that VIP ¬?vasoactive intestinal polypeptide ?is the rallying protein that signals the brain’s biological clock to coordinate daily rhythms in behavior and physiology.

The finding clarifies the roles that both VIP and a neurotransmitter GABA play in synchronizing biological clocks, and sheds light on how mammals, in this case mice and rats. regulate circadian rhythm. Results were published in the Nov. 27- Dec. 1 online issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Neurons in the biological clock, an area called the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), located at the base of the brain right across the optic nerve, keep 24-hour time and are normally highly synchronized. The SCN is composed of 10,000 neurons on one side of the hypothalamus, and 10,000 on the other. Together these neurons are intrinsic clocks in communication with each other to keep 24-hour time.

It had been thought that GABA was the prime candidate for the rallying role. All SCN neurons make this inhibitory neurotransmitter, and it had been shown that giving GABA daily at 8 a.m. to SCN cells synchronizes them.

“The surprise was that GABA was not needed,?said Herzog. “VIP synchronizes even when we block all GABA signaling. When we blocked GABA, synchrony
'"/>

Source:Washington University in St. Louis


Page: 1 2

Related biology news :

1. Quantum Dots Research Leads to New Knowledge about Protein Binding in Plants
2. Protein discovery could unlock the secret to better TB treatment
3. Researchers Uncover Key Step In Manufacture of Memory Protein
4. An HIV Protein Plays a Surprising Role in Gene Activation
5. Protein Packages Found To Activate Genes; May Be What Regulates Development And Disease
6. New SARS Protein Linked To Important Cell Doorway
7. The Shapes Of Life: NIGMS Project Yields More Than 1,000 Protein Structures
8. PANTHER Protein Classification System Database 5.0
9. Duke Chemists Isolating Individual Molecules Of Toxic Protein In Alzheimers, Parkinsons Disease
10. Newly Discovered Compound Blocks Known Cancer-Causing Protein
11. UF Researchers Map Bacterial Proteins That Cause Tooth Loss
Post Your Comments:
*Name:
*Comment:
*Email:
TAG: Protein shown rally biological clock

(Date:12/4/2009)CORVALLIS, Ore. According to an analysis of statewide data taken from 1998-2001, women in Oregon who made less than $50,000 a year were more than three times likely to report they were discriminated
(Date:12/4/2009)Scientists from the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and the Natural History Museum believe that carnivorous behaviour in plants is far more widespread than previously thought, with many commonly grown plan
(Date:12/4/2009)This release is available in German . , A new study of the Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing could help to understand the positive effect of dietary restriction on healthy ageing. Previou
Breaking Biology News(10 mins):Lower income women report more insurance-based discrimination during pregnancy, delivery 2Scientists think 'killer petunias' should join the ranks of carnivorous plants 2How nutrition affects healthy aging 2Cynvec to Present at the 11th Annual Shanghai International Forum on Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Industry 12429 1Cynvec to Present at the 11th Annual Shanghai International Forum on Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Industry 12429 2Pharmasset to Present at Goldman Sachs and Needham Healthcare Conferences 4524 1Pharmasset to Present at Goldman Sachs and Needham Healthcare Conferences 4524 2Pharmasset to Present at Goldman Sachs and Needham Healthcare Conferences 4524 3Malaria Vaccine Developer Sanaria Inc Receives 2009 Vaccine Industry Excellence Award for Best Early Stage Vaccine Biotech 4522 1Malaria Vaccine Developer Sanaria Inc Receives 2009 Vaccine Industry Excellence Award for Best Early Stage Vaccine Biotech 4522 2
...ion, Matches with Watch-list Databases and Reports...ch 9 Neurotechnology, a provider of high-precisio...ounced the availability of VeriLook Surveillance S...identification using live video streams from high-...riLook 3.2 SDK and other facial recognition system...
...ch 12 (OTC Bulletin Board: CICI) Communication In... a leading supplier of electronic signature soluti...al industry* and the recognized leader** in biomet...ancial results for the fourth quarter and the year...the three months ended December 31, 2008 were $843...
...tion growth in southern Nevada has placed increasi...80% of the state,s residents lived in southern Nev...eople. The dual concerns of this population boom a... conditions has created an urgent demand for offic... meet resident and visitor demand., Las Vegas oper...
Other Biology News:VeriLook Surveillance SDK Provides Real-Time Face Identification Using Video Surveillance Cameras 2VeriLook Surveillance SDK Provides Real-Time Face Identification Using Video Surveillance Cameras 3Communication Intelligence Corporation Reports Fourth Quarter and Fiscal 2008 Results 2Communication Intelligence Corporation Reports Fourth Quarter and Fiscal 2008 Results 3Communication Intelligence Corporation Reports Fourth Quarter and Fiscal 2008 Results 4Communication Intelligence Corporation Reports Fourth Quarter and Fiscal 2008 Results 5Communication Intelligence Corporation Reports Fourth Quarter and Fiscal 2008 Results 6Keeping golf courses green when fresh water is limited 2Keeping golf courses green when fresh water is limited 3
(Date:12/2/2009)MANILA, Philippines, Dec. 2 Spectrum Blue Steel is emerging as one of the fastest growing green energy companies on the planet. Through the efforts of True Green Energy Group and True Green Planet,s
(Date:12/2/2009)NEW YORK, Dec. 2 Nearly 600 medical research executives, scientists, policy makers, and funders today convened to explore novel development approaches and innovative funding strategies at the inaugur
(Date:12/2/2009)LIBREVILLE, Gabon, December 2 , - "Bolstering Biodiversity in Africa: Everyone,s Problem and Heritage" , Coinciding with the International Year of Biodiversity, 2-3 June 2010 the,Gabonese Rep
(Date:12/2/2009)SINGAPORE, Dec. 2 S*BIO Pte Ltd today announced data presentations on its novel oral JAK2 inhibitor, SB1518, at The American Society of Hematology 51st Annual Meeting and Exposition in New Orleans. ,
Breaking Biology Technology:Spectrum Blue Steel partners with Famous Chemists for Procuring Profitable Applications from Garbage Using the Biosphere MKV and Electrostatic Precipitators 2Spectrum Blue Steel partners with Famous Chemists for Procuring Profitable Applications from Garbage Using the Biosphere MKV and Electrostatic Precipitators 3Medical Research Leaders Explore Novel Strategies to Expedite the Search for Cures 2Libreville International Conference 2-3 June 2010 2S*BIO Novel Oral JAK2 Inhibitor SB1518 Demonstrates Safety and Tolerability in Phase 1 Studies for the Treatment of Myeloproliferative and Other Hematological Disorders 2S*BIO Novel Oral JAK2 Inhibitor SB1518 Demonstrates Safety and Tolerability in Phase 1 Studies for the Treatment of Myeloproliferative and Other Hematological Disorders 3S*BIO Novel Oral JAK2 Inhibitor SB1518 Demonstrates Safety and Tolerability in Phase 1 Studies for the Treatment of Myeloproliferative and Other Hematological Disorders 4S*BIO Novel Oral JAK2 Inhibitor SB1518 Demonstrates Safety and Tolerability in Phase 1 Studies for the Treatment of Myeloproliferative and Other Hematological Disorders 5
...within government channels, WEST PORT, Conn., and...c. (ABH) and Regenesis Biomedical, Inc. announced ...magraft(R) within the United,States (US) governmen...Regenesis will provide its specialized sales force...eran,s Administration (VA), Department of Defense,...
...ical,Services, Inc. (NYSE: WST ) today announced ...er 2008 cash dividend of $0.14 per share. The,divi...s of record on July,23, 2008., About West Pharmac...ces, Inc. is a global manufacturer of,components a... stoppers and,seals for vials, and closures and di...
...l/Mixed tropic HIV patients with ...May 7 Pathway Diagnostics announces,nationwide av...ular,SensiTrop(TM) II assay, combining the sensiti...) technology with the specificity of molecular,seq...atus of HIV infected,patients. Pathway performs th...
Other Biology Technology:Advanced BioHealing and Regenesis Biomedical Form Co-Promotion Alliance for Dermagraft(R) 2Advanced BioHealing and Regenesis Biomedical Form Co-Promotion Alliance for Dermagraft(R) 3Pathway Diagnostics Announces Commercial Availability of Second Generation SensiTrop(TM) II Molecular HIV Co-receptor Tropism Assay 2
Anti-Histone H2B, acetyl (Lys20) Antibody, Unconjugated from Cell Signaling Technology
Rhodamine-B-isothiocyanate from Research Organics, Inc.
Rabbit Anti-Human MMP-7, aminoterminal end active enzyme, Antibody, Unconjugated from CEDARLANE Laboratories Limited
Mouse Anti-CD42d Monoclonal Antibody, Unconjugated, Clone CLB-SW16 (formerly 708) from Abcam
Biology Products: