Maternal Feeding Controls Fetal Biological Clock

BACKGROUND: It is widely accepted that circadian physiological rhythms of the fetus are affected by oscillators in the maternal brain that are coupled to the environmental light-dark (LD) cycle. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: To study the link between fetal and maternal biological clocks, we investigated the effects of cycles of maternal food availability on the rhythms of Per1 gene expression in the fetal suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) and liver using a transgenic rat model whose tissues express luciferase in vitro. Although the maternal SCN remained phase-locked to the LD cycle, maternal restricted feeding phase-advanced the fetal SCN and liver by 5 and 7 hours respectively within the 22-day pregnancy. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Our results demonstrate that maternal feeding entrains the fetal SCN and liver independently of both the maternal SCN and the LD cycle. This indicates that maternal-feeding signals can be more influential for the fetal SCN and particular organ oscillators than hormonal signals controlled by the maternal SCN, suggesting the importance of a regular maternal feeding schedule for appropriate fetal molecular clockwork during pregnancy

F-type complete mitochondrial genomes of two Hyriposis species, H. schlegelii and H. cumingii (Bivalvia; Unionoida; Unionidae) from Lake Kasumigaura, Japan, and its phylogenetic analysis

We have sequenced the female type (F-type) complete mitochondrial genomes of two Hyriposis species, H. schlegelii and H. cumingii (Gonideinae, Unionidae, Unionida, Bivalvia) from Lake Kasumigaura, Japan, and inferred the Unioninae phylogeny. Complete mitochondrial genomes (H. schlegelii, 15,954 bp, LC498622; H. cumingii, 15,961 bp, LC498621) contain 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 2 rRNA genes, and 22 tRNA genes. Molecular phylogenetic analyses using the 13 PCGs including the two species were performed. This study should be basic data to investigate the evolution of Gonideinae and genetic diversity of Hyriposis species in local populations

The complete mitochondrial genome of freshwater mussel Nodularia douglasiae (Unionidae) from Lake Kasumigaura, Japan, and its phylogenetic analysis

We have sequenced the female type (F-type) mitochondrial genome of Nodularia douglasiae (Unioninae, Unionidae, Unionida, Bivalvia) from Lake Kasumigaura, Japan, and inferred the Unioninae phylogeny using complete mitochondrial genome sequences. The complete F-type mitochondrial genome (15,779 bp; LC496352) contains 13 protein-coding genes, 2 rRNA genes, and 22 tRNA genes. Molecular phylogenetic analyses using complete F-type mitochondrial genomes from 15 Unioninae species including N. douglasiae from China and Korea were performed. This study should be basic data to investigate the genetic diversity of freshwater mussel N. douglasiae

The complete mitochondrial genome of freshwater mussel Pronodularia japanensis (Gonideinae, Unionidae, Unionida) from Tochigi Prefecture, Japan, and its phylogenetic analysis

We have sequenced the female-type (F-type) complete mitochondrial genome of Pronodularia japanensis (Gonideinae, Unionidae, Unionida, Bivalvia) from Tochigi Prefecture, Japan. The complete F-type mitochondrial genome (16,803 bp; LC505454) contains 13 protein-coding genes, 2 rRNA genes, and 22 tRNA genes. Molecular phylogenetic analyses using complete F-type mitochondrial genomes of 56 Unionida species revealed the phylogenetic position of P. japanensis in Unionidae. This study should be basic data to investigate the genetic diversity in this species