SAD Genes identified in the body

03/06/2010

Laboratory News, Laboratory News

New treatments for SAD - Seasonal Affective Disorder - may be on the cards thanks to research from Professor Andrew Loudon - University of Manchester and Professor Dave Burt -University of Edinburgh which discovered two genes that regulate the body clock.
The genes - TAC1 and EYA3 - are activated early when natural hormone levels rise due to longer days. The study suggests TAC1 will only work with EYA3. EYA3 regulates TAC1 by switching it on in response to an increasing day length.
Researchers studied genes in Soay sheep - a breed which dates back to the Bronze Age and is considered to be one of the most primative seasonal body clocks unaffected by cross breeding. They focused on the part of the brain that responds to melatonin, a hormone known to be involved in seasonal timing in mammals.
Scientists had speculated that a key molecule - tuberalin - was produced in the pituitary gland at the base of the brain and sent signals to release hormones involved in driving seasonal changes. But they had no idea about the nature of this molecule, how it works and how it is controlled.
As well as these two genes, the study revealed a candidate for tuberalin, which communicates within the pituitary gland to signal the release of prolactin when the days start getting longer,which helps animals adapt to seasonal changes in the environment.
"A lot of our behaviour is controlled by the seasons. This research sheds new light on how animals adapt to seasonal change, which impacts on factors including hibernation, fat deposition and reproduction as well as the ability to fight off diseases," said Professor Andrew Loudon.

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