The Journal of Neuroscience, August 20, 2003, 23(20):7543-7550
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Circadian Clock-Controlled Regulation of cGMP-Protein Kinase G in the Nocturnal Domain
Shelley A. Tischkau,1
E. Todd Weber,2
Sabra M. Abbott,2
Jennifer W. Mitchell,1 and
Martha U. Gillette1,2
Departments of 1Cell and Structural Biology and
2Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of
Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 60801
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Abstract
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The suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) circadian clock exhibits a recurrent
series of dynamic cellular states, characterized by the ability of exogenous
signals to activate defined kinases that alter clock time. To explore
potential relationships between kinase activation by exogenous signals and
endogenous control mechanisms, we examined clock-controlled protein kinase G
(PKG) regulation in the mammalian SCN. Signaling via the cGMP-PKG pathway is
required for light- or glutamate (GLU)-induced phase advance in late night.
Spontaneous cGMP-PKG activation occurred at the end of subjective night in
free-running SCN in vitro. Phasing of the SCN rhythm in
vitro was delayed by
3 hr after treatment with guanylyl cyclase (GC)
inhibitors, PKG inhibition, or antisense oligodeoxynucleotide (
ODN)
specific for PKG, but not PKA inhibitor or mismatched ODN. This sensitivity to
GC-PKG inhibition was limited to the same 2 hr time window demarcated by
clock-controlled activation of cGMP-PKG. Inhibition of the cGMP-PKG pathway at
this time caused delays in the phasing of four endogenous rhythms:
wheel-running activity, neuronal activity, cGMP, and Per1. Timing of
the cGMP-PKG-necessary window in both rat and mouse depended on clock phase,
established by the antecedent light/dark cycle rather than solar time. Because
behavioral, neurophysiological, biochemical, and molecular rhythms showed the
same temporal sensitivities and qualitative responses, we predict that
clock-regulated GC-cGMP-PKG activation may provide a necessary cue as to clock
state at the end of the nocturnal domain. Because sensitivity to phase advance
by light-GLU-activated GC-cGMP-PKG occurs in juxtaposition, these signals may
induce a premature shift to this PKG-necessary clock state.
Key words: protein kinase G (PKG); suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN); circadian; Per1; cGMP; oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN)
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Introduction
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Circadian timekeeping, even in complex nervous systems, is a property of
cells (Michel et al., 1993
;
Welsh et al., 1995
). Ordered,
clock-regulated changes in cellular processes partition clock functions into a
series of specific time domains that define time of day
(Gillette and Mitchell, 2002
).
The coordinated function of a core group of clock genes and their protein
products, articulated by a highly conserved transcriptional-translational
feedback loop, provides a framework for molecular definitions of time domains
(Okamura et al., 2002
).
Regulation of clock elements is mediated by complex cellular processes,
including post-translational modifications of proteins via phosphorylation
(Garceau et al., 1997
;
Merrow et al., 1997
;
Kloss et al., 2001
;
Lee et al., 2001
;
Lin et al., 2001
;
Ripperger and Schibler, 2001
;
Okamura et al., 2002
).
Hyperphosphorylation is characteristic of the Drosophila clock
elements, PERIOD (dPER) (Kloss et al.,
2001
) and TIMELESS (dTIM)
(Price et al., 1995
), as well
as the Neurospora clock protein, FREQUENCY (FRQ)
(Garceau et al., 1997
), during
restricted parts of their circadian cycles and is accomplished by specific
kinases. dPER is phosphorylated and destabilized by DOUBLETIME (DBL). The
effects of light on Drosophila
(Naidoo et al., 1999
) and
Neurospora (Yang et al.,
2001
) clock elements are also phosphorylation-dependent.
The type of molecular control of circadian timing exhibited by
Drosophila and Neurospora is conserved in the mammalian
clock in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN)
(Okamura et al., 2002
).
Transcripts of the mammalian homologs (Per1, Per2, Per3) of
dPer oscillate in the SCN
(Albrecht et al., 1997
;
Shearman et al., 1997
;
Shigeyoshi et al., 1997
;
Sun et al., 1997
;
Tei et al., 1997
).
Transcription of mPer1 is induced by light at night, much like
frq (Crosthwaite et al.,
1997
), whereas the pattern of expression of mPer2 is
reminiscent of dPer (Zeng et al.,
1994
; Albrecht et al.,
1997
; Okamura et al.,
2002
). Kinase-driven phosphorylation events, whose mediators
include casein kinase I
and glycogen synthase kinase orthologs of dDBL
and dSHAGGY, respectively (Kloss et al.,
1998
; Lowrey et al.,
2000
; Martinek et al.,
2001
), also regulate putative mammalian clock elements.
Additionally, circadian changes in the phosphorylation states of mPER1, mPER2,
CLOCK, and BMAL have been demonstrated
(Lee et al., 2001
).
Complementing the molecular genetic studies, experimental manipulation of
kinases alters rhythms in diverse circadian systems
(Eskin et al., 1984
;
Prosser and Gillette, 1989
;
Prosser et al., 1989
;
Liu and Gillette, 1996
;
Krucher et al., 1997
;
Liu et al., 1997
;
Comolli and Hastings, 1999
).
Clock sensitivity to cGMP-dependent pathways has emerged as a conserved
feature of the nocturnal domain (Eskin et
al., 1984
; Prosser and
Gillette, 1989
). Phase advance of the mammalian clock stimulated
by light (Weber et al., 1995
;
Mathur et al., 1996
) or
glutamate (GLU) (Ding et al.,
1998
) requires activation of a guanylyl cyclase (GC)-cGMP-protein
kinase G (PKG) signaling cascade during late night. If phase resetting occurs
immediately (Best et al.,
1999
), light-GLU would shift clock state ahead to the end of
subjective night. Thus, we hypothesized that light-GLU may prematurely
activate cellular events that are activated endogenously by clock-controlled
processes at a later time, concurrent with the waning of sensitivity to phase
resetting by these stimuli.
We tested this hypothesis by evaluating the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN)
of rat and mouse for evidence of endogenous activation of cGMP-PKG and clock
sensitivity to inhibiting this regulatory node. Herein, we report discovery of
a temporal window of spontaneous upregulation in cGMP levels and PKG activity
in the SCN at the end of subjective night. Inhibition of the PKG pathway
during this sensitive period delays behavioral (wheel-running), physiological
(SCN neuronal activity), biochemical (cGMP), and molecular (Per1)
oscillations. The magnitudes of the phase delays suggest dynamic altering of
clock state, back to the point of maximal sensitivity to phase advance induced
by light-GLU activation of GC-cGMP-PKG.
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Materials and Methods
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Animals and brain slice treatments. Seven- to 10-week-old
LE-BluGill rats (University of Illinois) were used for the in vitro
studies. Use of this inbred strain greatly reduces interexperimental variation
common to outbred animals and is important for achieving high statistical
significance with small sample sizes. Rats were provided food and water ad
libitum and were housed under a 12 hr light/dark (LD) schedule. Brain
slices were prepared between zeitgeber time 1 (ZT 1) and ZT 10, where ZT 0 is
defined as the time of the onset of the light phase in the LD cycle. Animals
from environments with lights on from either 7:00 A.M. to 7:00 P.M. or 2:00
P.M. to 2:00 A.M. were used to facilitate sampling and to demonstrate phase
control of the rhythms investigated. Brains were quickly removed, blocked, and
500 µm coronal hypothalamic slices containing the paired SCN were prepared.
Slices were studied for up to 3 d in vitro with continuous perfusion
of Earle's Essential Balanced Salt Solution (EBSS) (Invitrogen, Gaithersburg,
MD), supplemented with 24.6 mM glucose, 26.2 mM
NaHCO3, and 2.5 mg/l gentamycin, and saturated with 95%
O2 and 5% CO2 at 37°C, pH 7.4. Under these constant
conditions, the SCN generates stable, near 24 hr oscillations in neuronal
activity (Prosser and Gillette,
1989
) with a characteristic peak around mid-day (approximately
circadian time 7, CT 7) (Gillette and
Prosser, 1988
); measurement of time-of-peak provides an accurate
assessment of circadian phase (Gillette et
al., 1995
).
After equilibration in the brain slice chamber for at least 2 hr,
treatments were applied to the brain slice by stopping the perfusion and
replacing the medium bathing the slice with EBSS containing one of the
following reagents: specific PKG inhibitor, KT5823 (1.0 µM);
specific PKA inhibitor, KT5720 (100 nM); GC inhibitors, LY83583
(2.0 µM) and ODQ (20 nM); or PKG-specific
oligodeoxynucleotides (ODN) (10 µM).
Single-unit recordings of SCN neuronal activity. The method used
for extracellular recording from the ensemble of SCN neurons has been
described in detail previously and validated thoroughly
(Prosser and Gillette, 1989
).
A glass microelectrode filled with 5 M NaCl was lowered into the SCN until the
signal from a single cell was encountered. Cells, identified as electrical
signals exceeding twice the background level, were observed for stability and
counted for 4 min using LabView software. After sampling throughout the
rostrocaudal extent of the slice, the electrode was repositioned within the
SCN, and the procedure was repeated. Firing rates of individual neurons
(n = 45-212, depending on the duration of the experiment) recorded
during a single experiment were grouped into 2 hr running averages using 15
min lags. Time-of-peak was determined by visual inspection of the plot for the
symmetrically highest point. Phase shifts were determined by comparing the
mean time-of-peak from treatment groups to vehicle-treated controls. Effects
of pharmacological interventions were evaluated using ANOVA and
Student-Neuman-Keuls post hoc analysis or by Student's t
test.
Wheel-running activity and assessment of circadian rhythmicity in
vivo. Five-week-old B6129PF1/J mice (Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, ME) were
surgically implanted with a 26 gauge guide cannula (Plastics One, Inc.,
Roanoke, VA) aimed at the right SCN (anteroposterior -0.3; mediolateral -0.1;
dorsoventral -1.9 from bregma). After surgery, animals were individually
housed in cages equipped with a running wheel. Each rotation of the wheel
moved a magnet past a hermetically sealed reed switch, closing the circuit.
This information was transmitted to a computer equipped with Clocklab
Acquisition software (Actimetrics, Inc., Evanston, IL), where wheel-running
activity was stored in 6 min bins. Animals were housed on a 12 hr light/dark
schedule for at least 10 d after surgery and were released then to constant
darkness. After at least 10 d of free-running, animals were removed under dim
(<1 lux) red light, gently restrained, and a 33 gauge cannula (Plastics
One, Inc.) attached to a Hamilton syringe was inserted into the guide cannula.
We injected 300 nl of either 100 µM KT5823 or 0.9% saline over a
period of 30 sec. Mice were then returned to their home cage for at least 10 d
before receiving an additional injection. Mice were randomized so that half
received saline first, followed by KT5823 10 d later, whereas the other half
received KT5823 first. Because of differences in the endogenous periods
(
)of the outbred mice, injections took place at different times of day
but at the same circadian time. After the final round of injections, mice were
killed, and 300 nl of 0.1% thionin was injected into the guide cannula to mark
the injection site. Brains were removed, fixed in 4% paraformaldehyde, and
sliced for verification of the cannula placement. Only data from mice in which
the injection was directly into the SCN and for whom paired data were
available were used. Phase shifts were calculated using Clocklab Analysis
software (Actimetrics, Inc., Evanston, IL) by comparing the predicted onset of
activity to the actual observed onset.
PKG activity assay. The PKG activity assay in SCN reduced slices
has been previously validated (Liu et al.,
1997
) and was determined by in vitro phosphorylation of
the PKG specific substrate RKRSRAE (Glass
and Krebs, 1982
). Reduced slices, containing only the SCN and the
underlying optic chiasm, were prepared at ZT 5 and maintained under constant
conditions in the brain slice chamber. The SCN in reduced slices maintains a
normal circadian rhythm of neuronal activity
(Gillette and Reppert, 1987
).
CT was reckoned from the animal's previous LD cycle, because the SCN from
these inbred rats maintains a stable 24 hr rhythm for up to 3 d in
vitro (Prosser and Gillette,
1989
). Reduced slices were collected at CT 11, 18, and 23, and
frozen until assay. A 20 µl aliquot of assay buffer (50 mM
HEPES, 10 mM MgCl2, 50 µM IBMX, 1
µM EGTA, and 10 µM DTT, pH 7.4) containing
protease inhibitor cocktail (Sigma, St. Louis, MO) and 1.0 µM of
the specific PKA inhibitor, KT5720 (Calbiochem, La Jolla, CA), and RKRSRAE
(1.0 µg/ml; Peninsula Laboratories, Belmont, CA), was added to each reduced
slice. Background was established by addition of KT5823 (1.0 µM;
Calbiochem) to half of the samples. We added 5 µM ATP and 1
µCi 32P-ATP to initiate the reaction. The reaction was stopped
after 2 min at 37°C by acidification. Reaction mixtures were spotted and
dried on P81 filter paper (Millipore, Bedford, MA), washed three times with
0.5% phosphoric acid, and once with ethanol. Dried samples were counted in a
liquid scintillation counter. Specific PKG activity was calculated by
subtracting activity from background samples. Differences among groups were
evaluated statistically using ANOVA, with Student-Neuman-Keuls post
hoc analysis.
cGMP measurements. Reduced slices were prepared as for PKG
activity assays. Treatments were applied to the bath, as described above.
Samples (two reduced SCN slices per tube) were collected at appropriate
intervals before and after treatments. cGMP was assayed using a scintillation
proximity assay (SPA) (Amersham Biosciences, Arlington Heights, IL) according
to the acetylation protocol provided. Peak levels were determined by ANOVA
with Student-Newman-Keuls post hoc analysis. Differences in
time-of-peak caused by pharmacological interventions were determined by
Student's t test. Sample size was based on rigorous statistical
testing of the hypothesis.
In situ hybridization. In situ hybridization was performed as
previously described (Tischkau et al.,
1999
,
2000
). After treatment, brain
slices containing the SCN were fixed overnight in 4% paraformaldehyde. Slices
were transferred to 0.1 M PBS with 20% sucrose and maintained at
4°C until sectioning. 10 µm sections were cut at -17°C on a
cryostat. The template for the mPer1 probe was kindly provided by Dr.
U. Schibler (Balsalobre et al.,
1998
) and corresponded to nucleotides 660-780 of the published
sequence (Sun et al., 1997
).
Digoxygenin-labeled probes were generated by in vitro transcription.
Probe hybridization was visualized using an alkaline phosphatase-labeled
anti-digoxygenin antibody (1:100; Roche Products, Hertforshire, UK). Analysis
of mPer1-positive cells was made in a midcaudal section of the SCN by
an individual blind to the experimental design and identity of the
samples.
 |
Results
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Endogenous oscillations of cGMP levels and PKG activity
Spontaneous oscillations in cGMP levels and PKG activity were observed in
rat SCN maintained under constant conditions
(Fig. 1). To establish phase
control of the circadian cycle, animals from two different lighting schedules
(lights on from 2:00 P.M. to 2:00 A.M. (n = 4) or lights on from 7:00
A.M. to 7:00 P.M.) (n = 3) were used. Results from both lighting
schedules were identical; thus, data were pooled. Levels of cGMP were low
(
9 fmol/reduced slice) during subjective day and throughout most of
subjective night (Fig.
1A). However, a significant rise in endogenous cGMP
occurred at the end of subjective night. Levels of cGMP were 44% higher
(p < 0.05) at CT 22 (12.22 ± 0.54 fmol/reduced slice;
n = 7) compared with CT 20 (8.45 ± 0.36 fmol/reduced slice;
n = 7); by CT 24/0, cGMP levels (16.70 ± 0.88 fmol/reduced
slice; n = 7) were 74% higher than at CT 20 (p < 0.01).
cGMP returned to basal levels by CT 2 (8.48 ± 0.38 fmol/reduced slice;
n = 7).

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Figure 1. Relationships between oscillations in cGMP levels and PKG activity and the
phase response curve for GLU, which relates the time of GLU stimulation to the
resultant effect on clock phase observed in rat SCN maintained in
vitro. The horizontal gray bar indicates nighttime in the donor colony;
slices were maintained in constant light. A, cGMP levels undergo a
significant oscillation. Whereas cGMP levels were low during subjective day
and most of subjective night, cGMP was significantly higher (ANOVA) at CT 22
(p < 0.05) and CT 24 (p < 0.01) compared with all
other times. Data are presented as mean ± SEM for seven experiments.
Two rat SCN were pooled within each experiment for every time point. B, In
vitro phosphorylation of the specific PKG substrate RKRSRAE reflects the
endogenous PKG activity of rat SCN obtained at CT 18, 23, and 11. PKG activity
in samples containing 1.0 µM KT5823 was subtracted from activity
in uninhibited samples to yield specific PKG activity. PKG specific activity
(CPM per reduced slice) was significantly higher at CT 23 compared with CT 11
and 18 (ANOVA; p < 0.05). Data are means ± SEM for four
experiments. C, The phase response curve for the effect of GLU on the
timing of the oscillation in rat SCN neuronal activity, showing maximum
sensitivity to phase advance at CT 19-20 (redrawn from
Ding et al., 1994 ).
*Statistical significance, as determined by ANOVA and the
StudentNeuman-Keuls post hoc test, indicated by
*p < 0.05, **p < 0.01,
throughout, except Figure
5.
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Figure 5. Inhibition of PKG at the end of subjective night induces phase delays
in vivo in the mouse. A, B, Representative double-plotted
actograms depicting effects of intra-SCN injections at CT 0 of saline
(A) (0.3 µl, 0.9% NaCl) or KT5823 (B) (0.3 µl, 100
µM). Each horizontal line indicates 48 hr of data, with the last
24 hr of each line replotted as the first 24 hr of the following line.
Treatments are indicated with triangles, and vertical black lines indicate the
relative magnitude of running wheel activity. Diagonal lines have been drawn
to aid in visualization of the phase shifts. C, A bar graph depicting
average phase shifts ± SEM after indicated treatments. Shapes represent
individual subject's responses and are paired across treatment conditions.
Phase shifts were determined by calculating the difference in hours between
two regression lines; one plotted through the 5 d of activity onsets preceding
treatment, and the other plotted through the 5 d of activity after a return to
stable running-wheel patterns after treatment. There were five animals in each
treatment condition. Responses were determined to be significantly different
(p < 0.01) by Student's paired t test. D,
Representative histology of the intra-SCN injection site. The SCN have been
outlined with a dotted line, and arrows point to the location the cannula.
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The rise in cGMP levels was paralleled by a rise in PKG-specific activity
(Fig. 1B). Endogenous
PKG activity in rat SCN reduced slices was significantly higher (p
< 0.05) at the end of the night (CT 23; 3775 ± 362 cpm/reduced
slice; n = 4) compared with the end of subjective day (CT 11; 828
± 167 cpm/reduced slice; n = 4) or the middle of subjective
night (CT 18; 1374 ± 348 cpm/reduced slice; n = 4).
Interestingly, cGMP levels and PKG activity increase just as sensitivity of
the SCN to the cGMP-mediated, GLU-induced phase advance wanes at the end of
night (Fig. 1C).
Inhibition of cGMP production or PKG activation at the end of
subjective night delays the SCN neuronal activity rhythm
To determine whether this endogenous activation of PKG affects timekeeping,
the isoquinoline inhibitor of PKG, KT5823 (1.0 µM)
(Kase et al., 1987
;
Gadbois et al., 1992
;
Ding et al., 1998
), was applied
to rat SCN slices for 1 hr at various points in the circadian cycle. The
concentration of the PKG inhibitor used was based on a dose-response curve for
concentrations ranging between 0.05 and 1.0 µM, with a
half-maximal effect at
0.2 µM and a plateau above 1.0
µM (data not shown). In control slices, the electrical activity
of the ensemble of SCN neurons peaked near CT 7 (CT 6.88 ± 0.11;
n = 8) on the first and second days in vitro
(Fig. 2A,E).
Inhibition of PKG had no effect on the timing of the rhythm when applied at
four different time points during subjective day
(Fig. 2B,E) or at
three points from early to midsubjective night
(Fig. 2C,E). However,
application of KT5823 at CT 23, the time corresponding to the endogenous
increase in PKG activity in the SCN, caused a 2.96 ± 0.24 hr
(n = 4; p < 0.01) phase delay in the timing of the
electrical activity rhythm (Fig.
2D,E). The phase response curve revealed a very narrow
window of sensitivity (Fig.
2E); only treatments between CT 22 and 24 induced
significant phase delays. Maximal phase delays were observed after treatment
with KT5823 at CT 22 (3.46 ± 0.24 hr; n = 6; p <
0.01).

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Figure 2. Inhibition of PKG causes a significant phase delay in the electrical
activity rhythm of the rat SCN in vitro. The horizontal gray bar
indicates nighttime in the donor colony; slices were maintained in constant
light. Vertical bars indicate the time and duration of treatment. A,
A representative single-unit recording from the ensemble of SCN neurons shows
an endogenous electrical activity rhythm with a peak at CT 7 on both day
one and day two in vitro. Mean time-of-peak for control experiments
(n = 8) was CT 6.88 ± 0.11. B, A 1 hr bath
application of the specific PKG inhibitor, KT5823 (1.0 µM), at
CT 6 had no effect on the time-of-peak of the SCN electrical activity rhythm
on the subsequent day. Data shown are from a representative experiment. The
average time-of-peak was CT 6.99 ± 0.23 (n = 3), which is not
significantly different from control (Student's t test). C,
A 1 hr bath application of KT5823 (1.0 µM) at CT 18 had no
effect on the time-of-peak of the SCN electrical activity rhythm on the
subsequent day. Data shown are from a representative experiment. The average
time-of-peak was CT 6.90 ± 0.45 (n = 3), which was not
significantly different from control (Student's t test). D,
A 1 hr bath application of KT5823 (1.0 µM) at CT 23 induced a
significant phase delay in the SCN electrical activity rhythm (p <
0.01; Student's t test). Data shown are from a representative
experiment. The mean time-of-peak was delayed by 3 hr, shifting from CT 6.88
± 0.11 (n = 7) to CT 9.83 ± 0.24 (n = 4).
E, The effects of PKG inhibition are temporally restricted to a
narrow window of sensitivity during the late night/predawn period. KT5823 was
applied to the bath for 1 hr at 11 different points on the circadian cycle (CT
2, CT 6, CT 10, CT 11, CT 14, and CT 18-23). Each bar represents the mean
± SEM of 3-6 experiments. Sensitivity to phase delay induced by KT5823
was restricted to the end of subjective night. Significant phase delays were
observed when the inhibitor was applied at CT 22 (-3.46 ± 0.24;
n = 6; p < 0.01), CT 23 (-2.96 ± 0.24; n
= 4; p < 0.01), and CT 24 (-1.38 ± 0.14; n = 3;
p < 0.05).
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To determine if the observed phase delays were specific for inhibition of
the cGMP-PKG signaling pathway, several other experiments were performed. An
additional isoquinoline inhibitor, KT5720 (100 nM), similar in
structure to KT5823 but having higher affinity for PKA
(Kase et al., 1987
;
Gadbois et al., 1992
), had no
effect on the electrical activity rhythm of rat SCN slices when applied at CT
23 (mean time-of peak CT 6.68 ± 0.33; n = 3)
(Fig. 3), which indicates that
phase delays associated with KT5823 are not caused by inhibition of PKA.
Similar to the effects of PKG inhibition, GC inhibitors induced phase delays
in SCN electrical activity rhythms when applied to rat SCN slices at CT 22;
LY83583 (2 µM) induced a 3.2 ± 0.32 hr (n = 3;
p < 0.01) (Fig. 3)
delay, whereas ODQ (20 nM) treatment caused a delay of 3.88
± 0.45 hr (n = 3; p < 0.01)
(Fig. 3). Furthermore, 4 hr
treatment of antisense oligonucleotides (
ODN) generated against the
first 18 nucleotides of PKG caused a 3.12 ± 0.25 hr (n = 4;
p < 0.01) phase delay of rat SCN slices
(Fig. 4C,D). Notably,
the magnitude of this delay was not different than the effects observed with
KT5823. PKG
ODN bearing three mismatched nucleotides had no effect on
the timing of the electrical activity rhythm (time-of-peak = 6.75 ±
0.14; n = 3) (Fig.
4B,D). Scrambled PKG ODN and PKG
ODN bearing 1
mismatched nucleotide also had no effect (data not shown). Collectively, these
data indicate a specific role for PKG in mediating clock timing at the end of
subjective night.

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Figure 3. Sensitivity to phase delay at the end of subjective night is selective for
inhibition of the GC-cGMP-PKG-dependent pathway. Similar to the effects of
KT5823 (replotted from Fig. 2),
the GC inhibitors LY83583 and ODQ caused phase delays of rat SCN electrical
activity rhythms when applied at CT 22. LY83583 (2 µM) induced a
3.2 ± 0.32 hr (n = 3; p < 0.01) delay, whereas the
delay induced by ODQ (20 nM) was 3.88 ± 0.45 hr (n
= 3; p < 0.01). The PKA inhibitor KT5720 (100 nM) had
no effect on the electrical activity rhythm when applied at CT 23 (mean
time-of-peak, CT 6.68 ± 0.33; n = 3). Duration of each
treatment was 1 hr.
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Inhibition of PKG at the end of subjective night delays the
wheel-running activity rhythm
To evaluate the importance of PKG in integrated circadian rhythmicity, PKG
inhibition studies were performed in vivo using the mouse model.
Intra-SCN injection of KT5823 (100 µM) at CT 0 caused a
significant phase delay in wheel-running activity onset compared with saline
injections (p < 0.01, Student's t test)
(Fig. 5). Injection of KT5823
at four time points (n = 26) ranging from 2.5 hr earlier to 2 hr
later in the circadian cycle, or injection of vehicle alone, was without
significant effect. These data demonstrate that the same temporal window of
sensitivity to PKG inhibition is present both in vitro and in
vivo. Furthermore, nocturnal PKG sensitivity is not species-dependent:
inhibition of PKG at the end of the night delays circadian rhythms in both
rats and mice.
PKG inhibition shifts the phase of the cGMP oscillation
To assess an independent measure of the circadian state during the
phase-delay induced by KT5823, cGMP levels were measured in rat SCN reduced
slices collected over a 40 hr period. This period extended from 4 hr before to
36 hr after brief application of the inhibitor at CT 22 on the first day
in vitro. A significant oscillation of cGMP levels was observed after
inhibiting PKG, however, the phase of the rhythm was delayed
(Fig. 6). Careful examination
of the unperturbed cGMP profile shows that levels were near the daily nadir at
CT 18 and CT 20 (Fig.
6A). At CT 22, cGMP was significantly higher (p
< 0.05) than at CT 18 or CT 20. In untreated slices, cGMP levels continued
to rise after CT 22, peaked at CT 24/0 (p < 0.01), and dropped
back to basal levels by CT 2 (Fig.
6A). However, after a 15 min application of KT5823 at CT
22, cGMP levels dropped within 1 hr to the low levels observed at CT 18 and CT
20 in untreated slices. Then, levels of cGMP rose and peaked at CT 4
(p < 0.05; ANOVA), a significant 4 hr phase delay compared with
untreated slices (p < 0.05; Student's t test)
(Fig. 6B). Levels of
cGMP peaked again 24 hr later at CT 4 on the next day, demonstrating both the
circadian nature of the cGMP rhythm and stable nature of the phase shift
induced by KT5823. KT5823 application at CT 22 also delayed the phase of the
endogenous cAMP oscillation by 4 hr (data not shown). However, KT5823
treatment at CT 10 did not affect the temporal profile of the cGMP oscillation
(Fig. 6C) or the cAMP
oscillation. These data are the first to demonstrate resetting of an SCN
biochemical rhythm with similar rate and amplitude as the electrical activity
rhythm.

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Figure 6. Inhibition of PKG at the end of subjective night induces phase delays in
the rat cGMP oscillation. A, cGMP levels in SCN slices maintained
in vitro oscillate with a peak at CT 24. These data are
double-plotted for reference of the basal rhythms over 2 d (data from
Fig. 1). *p
< 0.05 and **p < 0.01 indicate samples that are
statistically different compared with CT 20 values. Significance was
determined by ANOVA and Student-Neuman-Keuls test. B, A 15 min bath
application of KT5823 at CT 22 causes cGMP levels to return to basal (CT 20)
levels within 1 hr and causes a significant (p < 0.01; Student's
t test) phase delay in the cGMP oscillation. The shift in cGMP
persists for 2 d in vitro. Data are means ± SEM for four
separate experiments. C, KT5823 had no effect on the cGMP oscillation
when applied for 15 min to the bath at CT 10. Individual data points are means
± SEM for four separate experiments.
|
|
PKG inhibition shifts the phase of the mPer1
oscillation
To examine the effect of PKG inhibition on the molecular clockwork, the
rhythm of Per1 mRNA was assessed aftera1hr KT5823 pulse at CT 22
(Fig. 7). In controls,
Per1 mRNA displayed a characteristic oscillation with a peak at CT 4
in rat SCN slices (ANOVA; p < 0.05). After KT5823 treatment,
Per1 mRNA levels remained low at CT 4, but rose and peaked at CT 8
(ANOVA; p < 0.05). At CT 4, Per mRNA was significantly
higher in controls compared with KT5823-treated slices (Student's t
test; p < 0.01). At CT 8 and CT 12, Per1 mRNA was
significantly higher in KT5823-treated slices than in controls (Student's
t test; p < 0.05). This 4 hr phase delay is similar to
the effects on the electrical activity and cGMP rhythms. These data suggest
that a PKG-dependent event may be required for the normal timing of
transcriptional activation of Per1, so that impeding PKG at this time
delays the molecular clockwork.

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|
Figure 7. Inhibition of PKG at the end of subjective night alters the expression
pattern of Per1 mRNA in the rat SCN. A, Representative
in situ hybridization histochemistry. In control slices, a
significant increase in Per1 mRNA was observed with a peak at CT 4.
After KT5823 treatment for 1 hr at CT 22, the endogenous rise in Per1
was delayed by 4 hr; PKG-treated slices showed peak Per1 expression
at CT 8. Magnification, 200x. B, Quantitation of A.
Per1-positive cells were counted by an experimenter blind to the
experimental treatments. Data represent the mean ± SEM of four
independent experiments. Statistical analysis (ANOVA with Student-Neuman-Keuls
post hoc analysis; p < 0.01) revealed a significant
increase in Per1 mRNA at CT 4 and CT 8 in control slices, with a peak
at CT 4. In KT5823-treated slices, a significant increase was observed at CT 8
and CT 12 with a peak at CT 8. CT 4 controls had significantly more
Per1-positive cells than CT 4-treated slices (p < 0.01;
Student's t test). Treated slices had significantly more
Per1-positive cells at CT 8 (p < 0.05) and CT 12
(p < 0.01), compared with time-matched controls.
|
|
 |
Discussion
|
|---|
Contemporary understanding of circadian time keeping indicates a clock
comprised of dynamic temporal domains dominated by the sequential activities
of specific molecular and biochemical elements. Temporal domains, which are
defined by differential sensitivities to resetting stimuli over a 24 hr cycle
(Gillette et al., 1995
;
Gillette, 1996
;
Merrow et al., 1997
), differ
in (1) sensitivities to activation of cell signaling pathways, (2) biochemical
and molecular elements, their activities, and subcellular localizations, and
(3) transitional sequences, during which one set of elements and processes is
replaced with another. Whereas a role for kinases in clock regulation has been
established, this study is the first to carefully examine kinase-mediated
regulation of a time domain transition.
SCN sensitivity to resetting during the second half of subjective night is
dominated by cGMP-dependent signaling events. Exogenous PKG stimulation,
initiated by light pulses to the eyes
(Weber et al., 1995
;
Mathur et al., 1996
) or in the
SCN slice by exogenous application of GLU (Ding et al.,
1994
,
1998
) or membrane-soluble
analogs of cGMP (Prosser and Gillette,
1989
), advances the clock toward a biochemical transitional state
in which nighttime processes are replaced with daytime processes. This state
change is the biological equivalent of dawn in the natural world. Our studies
identify clock-driven changes in the cGMP-PKG system at this transition point.
An endogenous rise in cGMP levels and PKG activity in rat SCN maintained
in vitro occurs juxtaposed to the termination of sensitivity to phase
advances via exogenous cGMP-PKG-activation. This endogenous increase coincides
with the appearance of a 2 hr window of sensitivity to phase delay by PKG
inhibition at the end of subjective night of the rat SCN. Transient inhibition
of this endogenous rise in cGMP or activation of PKG at the end of the night
phase delays clock phase by similar degrees or 3.5 hr. This suggests that
PKG-mediated processes perform a necessary function at this clock time.
The temporal relationship between phase shifting by exogenous PKG
activation and endogenous clock-controlled PKG-activation is striking
(Fig. 8). The unperturbed clock
naturally progresses through the entire nocturnal domain toward the time of
endogenous accumulation of cGMP and consequent activation of PKG that marks
the end of night. Directly before reaching the point of cGMP accumulation, the
clock is sensitive to phase advance via light-GLU activating cGMP-dependent
signal transduction events (Weber et al.,
1995
; Mathur et al.,
1996
; Ding et al.,
1998
). Because of this juxtaposition, we hypothesize that these
exogenous stimuli prematurely activate a process that occurs normally in the
subsequent temporal domain, caused by the endogenous rise in cGMP. This event
would effectively signal a transition from one temporal domain into another.
When unperturbed until late night, cGMP accumulation-PKG activation under
endogenous clock control would initiate the changes, thereby terminating
sensitivity to nocturnal phase resetting agents. These changes would end the
nocturnal state and initiate transition into the clock state defined as
morning. A similar model may also explain night-to-day transitions in other
circadian systems. For example, the window of sensitivity to a depolarizing
stimulus applied to basal retinal neurons in the Bulla eye, which
mimics light-induced phase shifts, is followed immediately by a period of
endogenous depolarization (McMahon et al.,
1984
). Inhibition of spontaneous depolarization at the dawn
transition by a pulse of low-calcium or hyperpolarization phase delays the
Bulla pacemaker (Khalsa and Block,
1988
,
1990
).

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|
Figure 8. Model of circadian clock regulation by cGMP-PKG at the end of subjective
night. The SCN is sensitive to phase resetting by stimuli dependent on cGMP
and PKG activation during the last half of subjective night. These stimuli
cause phase advances that may be manifested as shifting clock state forward
several hours to the end of the night (solid arrow). The domain of endogenous
rise in cGMP and PKG activity (gradient gray) is a narrow window of time that
is coincident with the waning of sensitivity to phase advance stimulated by
light-GLU via cGMP-PKG-dependent mechanisms. Inhibiting PKG activity during
this time causes a 3 hr phase delay. This may be a dynamic process that shifts
the clock back in time, into the domain of sensitivity to phase resetting by
exogenous stimuli that activate the cGMP-PKG pathway (dashed arrow). The tight
temporal relationship between exogenous sensitivity and endogenous activation
of cGMP-PKG suggests that light-GLU may prematurely stimulate a system poised
to respond 3.5 hr later to clock-controlled processes. The
clock-controlled rise in cGMP levels and concomitant activation of PKG at the
end of the night comprise a critical event in this time domain.
|
|
The data presented herein are consonant with our hypothetical model. When
the endogenous rise in PKG activity is blocked transiently by exposure to
KT5823, significant phase delays in electrical activity, cGMP, and
Per1 oscillations in the SCN slice from rat are observed. The data
suggest that inhibition of the endogenous rise in PKG activity effectively
interrupts clock progression. Within 1 hr of PKG inhibition at CT 22, cGMP
returns to low levels typically observed between CT 18 and CT 20
(Fig. 6). Accumulation of cGMP
begins again, so that it peaks
4 hr later. Subsequent peaks in
Per1 and spontaneous neuronal activity are delayed similarly, given
the limits of our resolution. The immediate drop in cGMP and 4 hr delay in
return to the peak cGMP level suggest that PKG activation state feeds back on
the system that regulates it, and that the clock mechanism is acutely
sensitive to cGMP-PKG state at this point in the night. The 4 hr delay in the
cGMP peak and attendant PKG activation could account entirely for the phase
delay in firing rate and Per1 oscillations, which are delayed by the
same amount but peak later.
Wheel-running activity in mice is also significantly delayed. The magnitude
of this behavioral phase delay is, not surprisingly, somewhat smaller than the
delays of rhythms in the SCN slice. Phase shifts in vivo are commonly
smaller than those observed in vitro in brain slices
(Ding et al., 1994
). This
likely reflects the increased complexity of feedback information encountered
in the behaving animal as well as limitations incurred by the experimental
design. Notably, mice were used for the wheel-running experiments, whereas
rats were used for all slice experiments. Thus, differences in the magnitude
of the phase shift may also reflect innate differences in the circadian
rhythmicity of the two species as well as differences in their abilities to
adjust their clock in response to input. For example, phase delays and phase
advances in response to light are similar in rats, with peak responses
occurring at CT 14 and CT 19-20, respectively. In contrast, mice display large
phase delays with maximal sensitivity at CT 14 (G. F. Buchanan and M. U.
Gillette, unpublished observations), but relatively small phase advances with
a maximal effect at CT 22 (0.5 hr). Unilateral injection of KT5823 into only
one of the paired SCN may have impeded total PKG inhibition.
Nevertheless, four independent measures of phase, oscillations in cGMP
concentration, mPer1 levels, neuronal activity, and wheel-running
activity, are delayed in parallel, suggesting coupling of these processes. The
fact that multiple circadian output pathways are affected by inhibition of the
endogenous activation of PKG suggests that the normal clock-controlled
upregulation of cGMP-PKG is either an input signal or is directly coupled to
core elements of the molecular clockwork. The order in which the delayed
oscillations peak, from cGMP to Per1 to electrical activity, reflects
normal phase relationships driven by the clock rather than acute changes
induced by PKG inhibition. Importantly, the amplitude of the delay does not
directly reflect the duration of PKG inhibition. Rather, inhibition is rapidly
reversed after removal of KT5823 such that sensitivity to GLU stimulation
reemerges within 15 min; the amplitude of phase advance inducible by GLU after
KT5823 treatment is concordant with resumption of a CT 20-like state (S. A.
Tischkau and M. U. Gillette, unpublished observations).
The nature of biochemical events that require activation of PKG at the end
of the night is unknown. Changes in the levels, activation states, and/or
subcellular localization of temporal regulators at this time may require
PKG-mediated phosphorylation before the clock transits from the nighttime
domain. A substrate of PKG phosphorylation may be necessary to sustain the
rise of cGMP because cGMP levels drop rapidly after PKG inhibition. This
demonstrates integrated regulation of the pathway such that inhibition of the
kinase immediately feeds back to downregulate its activator, cGMP. Thus, the
delay likely represents the time required to restore element or elements
downstream from PKG, which may be vulnerable to degradation in an
unphosphorylated state, but are required during the clock state at the end of
the night.
Critical elements at the end of subjective night may include activators of
transcription. Preliminary studies indicate that light-GLU-induced phase
advances cause phosphorylation of the transcription factor CREB in the SCN
(Ginty et al., 1993
;
Ding et al., 1997
) and require
subsequent activation of transcription at CRE-mediated sites
(Tischkau et al., 2003
). PKG
activation may mediate CREB phosphorylation
(Gudi et al., 2000
) (Tischkau
and Gillette, unpublished results). Transcription of a number of genes,
including the immediate early genes c-fos and junB
(Guido et al., 1999
) and the
circadian clock gene, Per1 (Sun
et al., 1997
; Tei et al.,
1997
), is initiated near dawn in the SCN, immediately after the
endogenous rise in cGMP-PKG. The phase delay in the Per1 oscillation
induced by PKG inhibition at the end of subjective night we report suggests
involvement of PKG-dependent processes in initiation of endogenous
Per1 transcription.
Although the importance of kinases in regulating clock function is well
established, our results provide evidence of a direct temporal relationship
between specific kinase activity necessary for accomplishing an exogenously
stimulated phase shift and for key events within a defined state of the
circadian clock. They identify cGMP-PKG-regulated changes as requisite at the
end of the nighttime domain. Endogenous processes that activate the cGMP-PKG
pathway at the end of night are unknown, but may be predicted to bear some
relation to the exogenous activators. The clock-controlled nature of these
temporally restricted spheres of kinase influence suggests that PKG may
mediate post-translational effects common both to light-induced phase advance
and to clock timekeeping. By comparing PKG substrates critical to both
processes and cellular mechanisms by which they regulate time domain
transitions, insights as to temporal convergence of these dynamic clock states
should emerge.
 |
Footnotes
|
|---|
Received May. 8, 2003;
revised Jun. 27, 2003;
accepted Jul. 2, 2003.
This work was supported by National Institutes of Health (NIH) Grants
NS22155, HL67007, and a University Scholar award (M.U.G.), NIH Grant NS10170
(S.A.T.), NIH Grant GM07143 (S.M.A.), and NIH Grant NS11158 (J.W.M.). We thank
U. Schibler for mPer1 probe and S. Baker for manuscript
preparation.
Correspondence should be addressed to Dr.M.U.Gillette, Department of Cell
and Structural Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, B107
Chemical and Life Sciences Laboratory, 601 South Goodwin Avenue, Urbana, IL
60801. E-mail:
mgillett{at}life.uiuc.edu.
S. A. Tischkau's present address: Department of Veterinary Biosciences,
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 3615 VMBSB, 2001 South Lincoln
Avenue, Urbana, IL 60801.
E. T. Weber's present address: Department of Biology, Rider University,
2083 Lawrenceville Road, Lawrenceville, NJ 08648.
Copyright © 2003 Society for Neuroscience
0270-6474/03/237543-08$15.00/0
 |
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280(1):
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[Full Text]
[PDF]
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M. Ikeda
Calcium Dynamics and Circadian Rhythms in Suprachiasmatic Nucleus Neurons
Neuroscientist,
August 1, 2004;
10(4):
315 - 324.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
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