The neuronal network of the endogenous clock

作者：Helfrich Foerster Charlotte^*

来源：Neuroforum, 2010, 16(1): 151-156.

• circadian clock
• Drosophila
• period
• PDF
• neuronal network

The neuronal network of the endogenous clock
Endogenous clocks control the rhythm of many biological processes. Malfunction of endogenous clocks in humans can lead to various diseases as sleep disorders, depressions, the metabolic syndrome and cancer. All animals have a main clock in the brain. This clock comprises a network of clock neurons that communicate with each other. In each clock neuron, conserved clock genes and proteins interact in to generate a molecular oscillation. The molecular basis of this rhythm generation as well as the anatomy of the neuronal clock network is best investigated in the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster. In the little fly, clock genes can be shut down in specific clock neurons. Furthermore, specific clock neurons can be electrically silenced and the rhythmic behaviour of such manipulated flies can be studied. A flurry of recent studies has begun to identify the role of specific clock neurons in the clock network, and these findings are helping to understand the basic neuronal mechanisms of endogenous clocks.

• 出版日期2010-2