Clock genes regulate mitochondrial dynamics and energy production in Drosophila

Shuo-Chen Wukuan (巫管碩宸) 1,3, Hong-Guan Tee (鄭鴻源) 1,3, Chih-Fei Kao (高智飛) 3, Chun-Hong Chen (陳俊宏) 1,2

1National Institute of Infectious Diseases and Vaccinology, National Health Research Institutes.

2National Mosquito-Borne Diseases Control Research Center, National Health Research Institutes.

3Department of Biological Science and Technology, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University

Four core molecular components of the circadian clock in Drosophila: period (Per), timeless (Tim), cycle (Cyc), and clock (Clk), are predicted to show importance in regulating mitochondrial mechanism. We examined the flies' locomotor activity and found that it differed in the global mutant background of these clock genes, which can closely tied to its energy production, such as adenosine triphosphate (ATP) that is produced by mitochondria. Furthermore, we observed changes in mitochondrial morphology in the muscle tissue of mutant flies, which can possibly related to mitochondrial dynamics. Thus, we think flies’ locomotor activity may be associated with the changing of mitochondrial morphology.