Peripheral clocks Drosophila

Pando MP, Morse D, Cermakian N, Sassone-Corsi P 2002 Phenotypic rescue of a peripheral clock genetic defect via SCN hierarchical dominance. Cell 110 107—117 Plautz JD, Kaneko M, Hall JC, Kay SA 1997 Independent photoreceptive circadian clocks throughout Drosophila. Science 278 1632-1635... 

The relationship between central and peripheral oscillators is different in flies and mammals. In mammals, these oscillators form a hierarchy in which the central oscillator, which resides in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), functions as a master clock that is entrained by photic signals from the eye, and in turn drives subservient peripheral oscillators via humoral signals (Moore et al 1995, Yamazaki et al 2000, Kramer et al 2001, Cheng et al 2002). In contrast, both central and peripheral oscillators operate autonomously and are directly entrainable by light in Drosophila (Plautz et al 1997), thus obviating the need for a hierarchical system. Our results support the concept of independent oscillators in flies since central (sUN ) oscillators are not necessary for olfaction rhythms and local oscillators in antennae appear to be sufficient. 

Ivanchenko M, Stanewsky R, Giebultowicz JM 2001 Circadian photoreception in Drosophila-, functions of cryptochrome in peripheral and central clocks. J Biol Rhythms 16 205-215... 

Cermakian I have a general question. In the Drosophila system can we really talk about peripheral and central oscillators, or should we consider the lateral neurons as one clock among many other clocks that are fairly independent ... 

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