NU 2008-105

Inventors

Seung-Hee Yoo

Joseph S. Takahashi*

Abstract

Circadian rhythms are a popular area of research, and a number of proteins involved in the process have already been identified 'Äì including the PERIOD2 protein. Northwestern investigators have developed a mouse strain expressing a luciferase reporter gene fused to the C-terminus of the mouse Period 2 (Per2) gene to create a PER2::LUCIFERASE fusion protein. This fusion gene replaces the endogenous Per2 gene and enables scientists to follow the level of the PERIOD2 protein by performing luciferase assays. The protein can be followed in vivo in mice, from tissues taken from mice and explanted in culture, and from cells prepared from mouse tissues, such as mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) and skin fibroblasts. Circadian rhythms can subsequently be measured from mice, tissue explants, or cells using bioluminescent recordings or imaging.

Applications

• Research tool for the study of circadian rhythms
• System to study expression profile of PERIOD2 protein

Advantages

• Allows for in vivo and ex vivo study
• Imaging or bioluminescent data can be collected from samples

Publications

Yoo SH, Yamazaki S, Lowrey P, Shimomura K, Ko C, Buhr E, Siepka S, Hong H, Oh W, Yoo O, Menaker M, Takahashi J. (2004) PERIOD2::LUCIFERASE real-time reporting of circadian dynamics reveals persistent circadian oscillations in mouse peripheral tissues. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 101(15): 5339-5346.