Synapses responsible for light entrainment of circadian clock

  • Datum: 05.08.2019
  • Uhrzeit: 09:30 - 10:30
  • Vortragende(r): Dr. Jin Bao
  • University of Science and Technology, School of Life Sciences, HEFEI, V.R.C.
  • Ort: Max-Planck-Institut für biophysikalische Chemie (MPIBPC)
  • Raum: Seminar Room, Department of Genes & Behavior
  • Gastgeber: Prof. Dr. Erwin Neher
  • Kontakt: iherfor1@mpibpc.mpg.de
Circadian rhythms involve gene expression, metabolism and behavior. The suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) in the hypothalamus is considered as the master clock for coordinating various biological oscillators in both the central nervous system and peripheral organs. To achieve a stable phase relationship between the master clock and circadian environmental cycles (e.g., light, food, activities, etc.), the environmental input to SCN is able to adjust the phase of the master oscillator, a process called entrainment. Behavioral studies have suggested that light is the most potent environmental cue to entrain the master clock, however, how photic signals compete with other non-photic signals remains elusive. We analyzed synaptic transmission between retinal ganglion cells and their targeted neurons in both SCN and the intergeniculate leaflet (IGL), a hub where photic and non-photic signals are held toconverge on. I will present a systematic comparison between synapses that transmit light information to SCN and IGL. Their functional implications in light entrainment of circadian clock will be discussed.
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