Role of circadian activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase in chick pineal clock oscillation

A circadian pacemaker generates a rhythm with a period of similar to 24 hr even in the absence of environmental time cues. Several photosensitive neur onal tissues such as the retina and pineal gland contain the autonomous cir cadian pacemaker together with the photic-input pathway responsible for ent rainment of the pacemaker to the daily light/dark cycle. We show here that, in constant darkness, chick pineal mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) exhibited an in vivo circadian rhythm in tyrosine phosphorylation and in e nzymatic activity with a peak during subjective night. Phosphorylated and h ence activated MAPK was rapidly dephosphorylated after light illumination d uring the nighttime when light induces a phase-shift of the pacemaker. The circadian rhythmicity in MAPK phosphorylation was also observed in the cult ured pineal gland, and importantly, MAPK kinase inhibitor treatment during subjective night not only shifted the time-of-peak of MAPK phosphorylation but also induced a remarkable phase-delay of the circadian pacemaker. These results indicate an important role of MAPK for time keeping in circadian c lock systems.