麦戈文脑科学研究所学术报告
Topic: Synchronization of the Drosophila circadian clock by the daily cycles of light and temperature
Speaker: Prof.Ralf Stanewskey
University of Münster
Institute of Neuro- and Behavioural Biology
Time: 13:00-14:30, Oct. 22, 2019
Venue: Room B101，Lui Che Woo Building
Host: Prof. Donggen Luo
Abstract:
Circadian clocks orchestrate the timing of behavioural patterns and physiological processes with the natural daily fluctuations of light and temperature. They thereby contribute to the fitness of organisms, as exemplified by their importance for regulating predator avoidance and economical use of energy. Molecularly, circadian clocks consist of transcriptional and translational feedback loops of clock genes expressed throughout the body. In the brain of the fruit fly, a network of about 150 specialized ‘clock neurons’, defined by the expression of clock genes and organized in seven anatomically distinct clusters, regulate the daily rhythms of locomotor activity and sleep.
In our group we are interested in how daily light and temperature cycles synchronize clock gene expression within the brain clock neurons and the behavioural rhythms controlled by these neurons. I will present some recent findings about a several membrane proteins involved in behavioural and neuronal responses to light. In the second part, I will discuss recent findings about how temperature sensors, located in the peripheral nervous system, contribute to temperature resetting of clock neurons in the brain. Interestingly, the neuronal clusters targeted by light and temperature seem to be partially distinct, pointing to the mode by which the clock neuronal network may integrate light and temperature information to generate properly timed behavioural activity rhythms.
欢迎各位老师同学积极参加！