Event Title

Expression of Melatonin and Cryptochrome in Crustaceans

Location

Parker-Reed, SSWAC

Start Date

30-4-2015 9:00 AM

End Date

30-4-2015 10:55 AM

Project Type

Poster

Description

Circadian rhythms are endogenously-driven biological cycles with periods of approximately 24 hours and influence many systems and processes in the body of an organism. Many circadian rhythm components, like the proteins timeless (TIM), crytopchrome (CRY), and clock (CLK), are phylogenetically conserved in organisms as diverse as Drosophila and humans. Drosophila has been studied extensively, with the best-characterized clock mechanisms. Crustacean circadian rhythms have not been studied extensively, and the molecular underpinnings are largely unknown. Cells from various lobes of the brain were cultured for a minimum of 24 hours before fixing. Whole brains were also examined. Initial results indicate putative CLK immunolabeling occurs prominently in Cluster 6 of the fiddler crab brain, a region implicated in the regulation of crustacean circadian rhythms. We are currently studying the timing differences in the presence of the other circadian proteins including TIM and CLK. Additionally, we are interested in measuring the effects of melatonin and various agonists and antagonists on Fiddler Crab neurons.

Sponsoring Department

Colby College. Biology Dept.

CLAS Field of Study

Natural Sciences

Event Website

http://www.colby.edu/clas

ID

1167

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Apr 30th, 9:00 AM Apr 30th, 10:55 AM

Expression of Melatonin and Cryptochrome in Crustaceans

Parker-Reed, SSWAC

Circadian rhythms are endogenously-driven biological cycles with periods of approximately 24 hours and influence many systems and processes in the body of an organism. Many circadian rhythm components, like the proteins timeless (TIM), crytopchrome (CRY), and clock (CLK), are phylogenetically conserved in organisms as diverse as Drosophila and humans. Drosophila has been studied extensively, with the best-characterized clock mechanisms. Crustacean circadian rhythms have not been studied extensively, and the molecular underpinnings are largely unknown. Cells from various lobes of the brain were cultured for a minimum of 24 hours before fixing. Whole brains were also examined. Initial results indicate putative CLK immunolabeling occurs prominently in Cluster 6 of the fiddler crab brain, a region implicated in the regulation of crustacean circadian rhythms. We are currently studying the timing differences in the presence of the other circadian proteins including TIM and CLK. Additionally, we are interested in measuring the effects of melatonin and various agonists and antagonists on Fiddler Crab neurons.

https://digitalcommons.colby.edu/clas/2015/program/1