Abstract
Ultradian genes are genes that transcribe with ultradian rhythmicity (more than one cycle in 24 hours), that is speculated to be independent of the Circadian Clock. Their expression can induce cyclic changes such as in behavior, gene expression and metabolism (1). They have no known internal regulators, and the regulation of their expression is not well understood in D. melanogaster. Our Goal is to determine if our candidate Ultradian Genes are indeed cycling with ultradian rhythmicity in Canton-S and per01 flies using real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) in LD. Canton-S and per01 flies were entrained in a 12hr L:D phase for 72 hrs and the expression of our targets were analyzed at12 timepoints in a 24hr cycle. We then compared our expression results to our Poly(A) RNAseq libraries to confirm the predicted oscillations of our targets in a day. Having assessed their rhythmic activity, we then observed the expression of our ultradian genes in per01 flies to determine their dependance on the circadian clock. Conclusively, four of the 14 targets we analyzed had an ultradian pattern of expression at the mRNA levels in CS flies and two of those maintain their rhythmic expression in per01 flies. Further studies are needed to understand the mechanism by which their rhythmic expression is generated.