Inoue, S., Shimoda, M., Nishinokubi, I., Siomi, M.C., Okamura, M., Nakamura, A., Kobayashi, S., Ishida, N., Siomi, H. (2002). A role for the Drosophila fragile X-related gene in circadian output.  Curr. Biol. 12(15): 1331--1335.

FBrf0151838

Research paper

Mutations that abolish expression of an X-linked gene, FMR1, result in the pathogenesis of fragile X syndrome, the most common form of inherited mental retardation. To understand the normal function of the FMR1 protein, we have produced fly strains bearing deletions in a Drosophila homolog of FMR1 (dfmr1). Since fragile X patients show a number of abnormal behaviors including sleep problems, we investigated whether a loss-of-function mutation of dfmr1 affect circadian behavior. Here we show that under constant darkness (DD), a lack of dfmr1 expression causes arrhythmic locomotor activity, but in light:dark cycles, their behavioral rhythms appear normal. In addition, the clock-controlled eclosion rhythm is normal in DFMR1-deficient flies. These results suggest that DFMR1 plays a critical role in the circadian output pathway regulating locomotor activity in Drosophila.