A Conserved Bicycle Model for Circadian Clock Control of Membrane Excitability

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

8-17-2015

Abstract

Summary Circadian clocks regulate membrane excitability in master pacemaker neurons to control daily rhythms of sleep and wake. Here, we find that two distinctly timed electrical drives collaborate to impose rhythmicity on Drosophila clock neurons. In the morning, a voltage-independent sodium conductance via the NA/NALCN ion channel depolarizes these neurons. This current is driven by the rhythmic expression of NCA localization factor-1, linking the molecular clock to ion channel function. In the evening, basal potassium currents peak to silence clock neurons. Remarkably, daily antiphase cycles of sodium and potassium currents also drive mouse clock neuron rhythms. Thus, we reveal an evolutionarily ancient strategy for the neural mechanisms that govern daily sleep and wake.

Identifier

84939246366 (Scopus)

Publication Title

Cell

External Full Text Location

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2015.07.036

e-ISSN

10974172

ISSN

00928674

PubMed ID

26276633

First Page

836

Last Page

848

Issue

4

Volume

162

Grant

CA060553

Fund Ref

National Institutes of Health

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