Loss of ZBTB20 impairs circadian output and leads to unimodal behavioral rhythms

Zhipeng Qu, Hai Zhang, Moli Huang, Guangsen Shi, Zhiwei Liu, Pancheng Xie, Hui Li, Wei Wang, Guoqiang Xu, Yang Zhang, Ling Yang, Guocun Huang, Joseph S. Takahashi, Weiping J. Zhang, Ying Xu

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

18 Scopus citations

Abstract

Many animals display morning and evening bimodal activities in the day/night cycle. However, little is known regarding the potential components involved in the regulation of bimodal behavioral rhythms in mammals. Here, we identified that the zinc finger protein gene Zbtb20 plays a crucial role in the regulation of bimodal activities in mice. Depletion of Zbtb20 in nerve system resulted in the loss of early evening activity, but the increase of morning activity. We found that Zbtb20-deficient mice exhibited a pronounced decrease in the expression of Prokr2 and resembled phenotypes of Prok2 and Prokr2-knockout mice. Injection of adeno-associated virus-double-floxed Prokr2 in suprachiasmatic nucleus could partly restore evening activity in Nestin-Cre; Zbtb20fl/fl(NS-ZB20KO) mice. Furthermore, loss of Zbtb20 in Foxg1 loci, but intact in the suprachiasmatic nucleus, was not responsible for the unimodal activity of NS-ZB20KO mice. Our study provides evidence that ZBTB20-mediated PROKR2 signaling is critical for the evening behavioral rhythms.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article numbere17171
JournaleLife
Volume5
Issue numberSeptember
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 22 2016

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Immunology and Microbiology
  • General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
  • General Neuroscience

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