Molecular machinery of lunar-synchronous spawning in the brain of a tropical fish

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 16K18753
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Aquatic life science
• Research Institution: University of the Ryukyus (2017); Waseda University (2016)
• Principal Investigator: TAKEUCHI Yuki 琉球大学, 理工学研究科, 博士研究員 (00754904)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): OKANO Toshiyuki 早稲田大学, 理工学術院, 教授 (40272471) ; TAKEMURA Akihiro 琉球大学, 理学部, 教授 (40222103)
• Project Period (FY): 2016-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: 月齢同調産卵 / ゴマアイゴ / 時計遺伝子 / Cryptochrome / 月周性

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Goldlined spinefoot, Siganus guttatus, inhabits tropical and subtropical waters. This fish exhibit lunar-synchronous spawning which is observed around the first quarter moon. In this study, we identified three Cry, two Per, two Clock, and two Bmal genes in S. guttatus and investigated the impact of moonlight on their expression in the diencephalon. Interruptions of moonlight for 1 lunar cycle beginning at the new moon significantly modified Cry3 expression levels in the diencephalon. Additionally, acute interruptions of moonlight around the waxing gibbous moon upregulated nocturnal expressions of Cry1b in the diencephalon. These resultssuggest that clock genes respond to moonlight likely contribute to lunar phase recognition by organizing an hourglass-like lunar timer system.

Free Research Field

魚類生理学