Dynamic interactions mediated by non-redundant signaling mechanisms couple circadian clock neurons

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Creator	Leise, Tanya L.
Creator	Castanon-Cervantes, Oscar
Creator	Davidson, Alec J.
Creator	Evans, Jennifer A.
Title	Dynamic interactions mediated by non-redundant signaling mechanisms couple circadian clock neurons
Abstract	Interactions among suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) neurons are required for robust circadian rhythms entrained to local time. To investigate these signaling mechanisms, we developed a functional coupling assay that uniquely captures the dynamic process by which SCN neurons interact. As a population, SCN neurons typically display synchronized rhythms with similar peak times, but will peak 6-12 hr apart after in vivo exposure to long days. Once they are removed from these conditions, SCN neurons resynchronize through a phase-dependent coupling process mediated by both vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) and GABAA signaling. Notably, GABAA signaling contributes to coupling when the SCN network is in an antiphase configuration, but opposes synchrony under steady-state conditions. Further, VIP acts together with GABAA signaling to couple the network in an antiphase configuration, but promotes synchrony under steady-state conditions by counteracting the actions of GABAA signaling. Thus, SCN neurons interact through nonredundant coupling mechanisms influenced by the state of the network.
Publication Date	November 20, 2013
Identifier (DOI)	10.1016/j.neuron.2013.08.022
Citation	Leise, Tanya L., et al. "Dynamic Interactions Mediated by Nonredundant Signaling Mechanisms Couple Circadian Clock Neurons." Neuron 80.4 (2013): 973–983.
Languages	English
Edition	Published Version
Genre	Articles
Subject	Circadian rhythms
Subject	Neurons
Part of	The Amherst College Octagon
Repository	The Amherst College Octagon
Access and Use	Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives license (CC BY NC ND 4.0)