A role for Drosophila ATX2 in activation of PER translation and circadian behavior.

Abstract

A negative transcriptional feedback loop generates circadian rhythms in Drosophila. PERIOD (PER) is a critical state-variable in this mechanism, and its abundance is tightly regulated. We found that the Drosophila homolog of ATAXIN-2 (ATX2)--an RNA-binding protein implicated in human neurodegenerative diseases--was required for circadian locomotor behavior. ATX2 was necessary for PER accumulation in circadian pacemaker neurons and thus determined period length of circadian behavior. ATX2 was required for the function of TWENTY-FOUR (TYF), a crucial activator of PER translation. ATX2 formed a complex with TYF and promoted its interaction with polyadenylate-binding protein (PABP). Our work uncovers a role for ATX2 in circadian timing and reveals that this protein functions as an activator of PER translation in circadian neurons.

• Authors: Yong Zhang, Jinli Ling, Chunyan Yuan, Raphaëlle Dubruille, Patrick Emery
• Journal: Science (New York, N.Y.) (Science) Vol. 340 Issue 6134 Pg. 879-82 (May 17 2013) ISSN: 1095-9203 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 23687048 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural)

Chemical References

• Ataxins
• Drosophila Proteins
• Nerve Tissue Proteins
• PER protein, Drosophila
• Pabp protein, Drosophila
• Period Circadian Proteins
• Poly(A)-Binding Proteins
• tyf protein, Drosophila

Topics

• Animals
• Ataxins
• Circadian Rhythm
• Drosophila Proteins (biosynthesis, genetics, metabolism)
• Drosophila melanogaster (genetics, metabolism, physiology)
• Mutation
• Nerve Tissue Proteins (genetics, physiology)
• Neurons (metabolism)
• Period Circadian Proteins (biosynthesis)
• Poly(A)-Binding Proteins (metabolism)
• Protein Biosynthesis
• RNA Interference