Chronobiological Analysis of a New Clock Mutant, Toki, in Drosophila Melanogaster

Abstract

We have isolated a new semidominant clock mutant Toki on the second chromosome in Drosophila melanogaster. This mutant differs from the wild-type Canton-S in several properties as follows. Larger values are obtained in the phase angle difference (ψ, the time from lights-off in a 24-hr light-dark cycle to an activity offset), the ratio of activity time to rest time (α/ρ) and the activity level. The free-running period (τ) is 25.3 hr, one hour longer than in the wild-type. In the phase response curve (PRC), the ratio between the delay and the advance portion is larger and the cross-over point occurs later, although there is no difference in amplitude of the mutant's PRC (Type I). The rhythm is more sensitive to the light intensity, becoming obscure in darker condition. Toki interacts with other clock mutations, per^S, per^L and And, in such a way that τ s associated with these three X-linked mutations are lengthened and ψ values become smaller.

Key Words:

• Circadian rhythms
• mutagenesis
• locomotor activity
• light-intensity dependency
• phase response curve