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XB-ART-17290
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 1996 Dec 10;9325:14884-8. doi: 10.1073/pnas.93.25.14884.
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Identification of a novel vertebrate circadian clock-regulated gene encoding the protein nocturnin.

Green CB , Besharse JC .


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Photoreceptors of the Xenopus laevis retina are the site of a circadian clock. As part of a differential display screen for rhythmic gene products in this system, we have identified a photoreceptor-specific mRNA expressed in peak abundance at night. cDNA cloning revealed an open reading frame encoding a putative 388 amino acid protein that we have named "nocturnin" (for night-factor). This protein has strong sequence similarity to the C-terminal domain of the yeast transcription factor, CCR4, as well as a leucine zipper-like dimerization motif. Nocturnin mRNA levels exhibit a high amplitude circadian rhythm and nuclear run-on analysis indicates that it is controlled by the retinal circadian clock at the level of transcription. Our observations suggest that nocturnin may function through protein-protein interaction either as a component of the circadian clock or as a downstream effector of clock function.

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Species referenced: Xenopus laevis
Genes referenced: ccr4 clock noct

References [+] :
Besharse, Circadian clock in Xenopus eye controlling retinal serotonin N-acetyltransferase. , Pubmed, Xenbase