Dual roles of FBXL3 in the mammalian circadian feedback loops are important for period determination and robustness of the clock

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2013 Mar 19;110(12):4750-5. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1302560110. Epub 2013 Mar 5.

Abstract

The mammalian circadian clock is composed of interlocking feedback loops. Cryptochrome is a central component in the core negative feedback loop, whereas Rev-Erbα, a member of the nuclear receptor family, is an essential component of the interlocking loop. To understand the roles of different clock genes, we conducted a genetic interaction screen by generating single- and double-mutant mice. We found that the deletion of Rev-erbα in F-box/leucine rich-repeat protein (Fbxl3)-deficient mice rescued its long-circadian period phenotype, and our results further revealed that FBXL3 regulates Rev-Erb/retinoic acid receptor-related orphan receptor-binding element (RRE)-mediated transcription by inactivating the Rev-Erbα:histone deacetylase 3 corepressor complex. By analyzing the Fbxl3 and Cryptochrome 1 double-mutant mice, we found that FBXL3 also regulates the amplitudes of E-box-driven gene expression. These two separate roles of FBXL3 in circadian feedback loops provide a mechanism that contributes to the period determination and robustness of the clock.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Circadian Rhythm / physiology*
  • Cryptochromes / genetics
  • Cryptochromes / metabolism*
  • F-Box Proteins / genetics
  • F-Box Proteins / metabolism*
  • Gene Expression Regulation / physiology*
  • Gene Products, rev / genetics
  • Gene Products, rev / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Response Elements / physiology
  • Thyroid Hormone Receptors alpha / genetics
  • Thyroid Hormone Receptors alpha / metabolism

Substances

  • Cry1 protein, mouse
  • Cryptochromes
  • F-Box Proteins
  • Fbxl3 protein, mouse
  • Gene Products, rev
  • Thyroid Hormone Receptors alpha