Anatomical and Behavioral Investigation of C1ql3 in the Mouse Suprachiasmatic Nucleus. (June 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Chew, Kylie S.; Fernandez, Diego C.; Hattar, Samer; Südhof, Thomas C.; Martinelli, David C.
• Is Part Of: Journal of biological rhythms. Volume 32:Number 3(2017:Jun.)
• Page Start: 222
• Page End: 236
• Publication Date: 2017-06
• Subjects: rhythms -- circadian -- aftereffects -- suprachiasmatic nucleus -- synapse -- SCN -- C1ql -- C1q-like -- C1ql3; Biological rhythms -- Periodicals; Circadian rhythms -- Periodicals; 571.77
• DOI: 10.1177/0748730417704766
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0748-7304

Abstract

Many biochemical, physiological, and behavioral processes such as glucose metabolism, body temperature, and sleep-wake cycles show regular daily rhythms. These circadian rhythms are adjusted to the environmental light-dark cycle by a central pacemaker located in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) in order for the processes to occur at appropriate times of day. Here, we investigated the expression and function of a synaptic organizing protein, C1QL3, in the SCN. We found that C1ql3 is robustly expressed in the SCN. C1ql3 knockout mice have a reduced density of excitatory synapses in the SCN. In addition, these mice exhibited less consolidated activity to the active portions of the day and period lengthening following a 15-minute phase-delaying light pulse. These data identify C1QL3 as a signaling molecule that is highly expressed in SCN neurons, where it contributes to the formation and/or maintenance of glutamatergic synapses and plays a role in circadian behaviors, which may include circadian aftereffects.