Estudo de associações entre o gene PER3 e a sincronização de ritmos circadianos pelo claro/escuro

• Autor(a) principal: Pereira, Danyella Silva [UNIFESP]
• Data de Publicação: 2011
• Tipo de documento: Tese
• Idioma: por
• Título da fonte: Repositório Institucional da UNIFESP
• Texto Completo: https://repositorio.unifesp.br/handle/11600/9552
• topic: Latitude; Circadian rhythm; Polymorphism, genetic; Questionnaires; Humans; Mice; Animals; PER3 gene; Latitude; Ritmos circadianos; Sincronização; Gene PER3; Polimorfismo genético; Questionários; Humanos; Camundongos; Animais

Per3 gene is a component of the circadian molecular mechanism. Its function is not completely understood. One of the hypotheses is that Per3 gene may be involved in light synchronization mechanism. The aim of this project was investigate the association between Per3 gene and circadian rhythmicity dependent of the photophase duration in different light/dark cycle regimens. The experimental protocol was divided in two parts: 1. We investigated the possible mechanisms of association between Per3 gene and adaptation/duration of the photophase in Per3-/- mice by exposing the animals to different light/dark cycles with long or short photophases 2. Based on the results of experiment 1, we developed an experiment in humans in order to investigate if the results in mice were someway applicable to our population. Subjects from two locations with different latitudes were selected (Natal and São Paulo) and the experiment was carried out in two different seasons of the year to mimic photophase variation. The first part of our results suggested that Per3 gene is associated with sensitivity of masking by light. In the second part of the study, we found a phase delay in the circadian parameters analyzed (beginning and end of activity, markers of activity (M10) and temperature (M6)) in the PER35/5 group from Natal on November, when compared to the São Paulo group. Our data in mice point out a new hypothesis related to masking effect that may contribute to the understanding of Per3 gene function in the regulation of circadian rhythms and the human data show that it is possible to associate Per3 gene with the phase adjustments derived from specific characteristics of light/dark cycle in different latitudes.