Genetics and functional significance of the understudied methamphetamine sensitive circadian oscillator (MASCO)

S. K.Tahajjul Taufique, David E. Ehichioya, Julie S. Pendergast, Shin Yamazaki

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

5 Scopus citations

Abstract

The last 50 years have witnessed extraordinary discoveries in the field of circadian rhythms. However, there are still several mysteries that remain. One of these chronobiological mysteries is the circadian rhythm that is revealed by administration of stimulant drugs to rodents. Herein we describe the discovery of this circadian rhythm and its underlying oscillator, which is frequently called the methamphetamine-sensitive circadian oscillator, or MASCO. This oscillator is distinct from canonical circadian oscillators because it controls robust activity rhythms independently of the suprachiasmatic nucleus and circadian genes are not essential for its timekeeping. We discuss these fundamental properties of MASCO and integrate studies of strain, sex, and circadian gene mutations on MASCO. The anatomical loci of MASCO are not known, so it has not been possible thus far to discover its novel molecular timekeeping mechanism or its functional significance. However, studies in mutant mice suggest that genetic approaches can be used to identify the neural network involved in the rhythm generation of MASCO. We also discuss parallels between human and rodent studies that support our working hypothesis that a function of MASCO may be to regulate sleep-wake cycles.

Original languageEnglish
Article number1018
JournalF1000Research
Volume11
DOIs
StatePublished - 2022

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
Copyright: © 2022 Taufique SKT et al.

Funding

Grant information: This work was supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) R01NS114527 and the National Science Foundation (NSF) IOS-1931115 awarded to SY. JSP was supported by NIH R01DK124774 and NSF CAREER IOS-2045267.

FundersFunder number
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney DiseasesR01DK124774
U.S. Department of Energy Chinese Academy of Sciences Guangzhou Municipal Science and Technology Project Oak Ridge National Laboratory Extreme Science and Engineering Discovery Environment National Science Foundation National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center National Natural Science Foundation of China2045267, IOS-1931115, IOS-2045267
Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke National Advisory Neurological Disorders and Stroke CouncilR01NS114527

    Keywords

    • ADHD
    • N24SWD
    • circadian
    • dopamine
    • infradian
    • psychostimulant
    • sleep
    • ultradian

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
    • General Immunology and Microbiology
    • General Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutics

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