Tein levels of GCLc did not appear rhythmic, while variations in the GCLm protein levels were significant but modest. Nevertheless, we detected a significant daily rhythm in GCL activity. There are many factors that affect the GCL enzyme activity, among which are the relative proportions of GCLc and GCLm proteins, their posttranslational modifications, as well as substrate levels [19,35,36,45]. The GCLc/GCLm ratio showed a trend toward a daily rhythm, which could contribute to the observed changes in GCL enzyme activity. Previous in vitro studies suggested that GCL 11967625 BI 78D3 web activity is inhibited by GSH in both mammals and Drosophila [35?7]. Remarkably, our in vivo study determined that GCL enzymatic activity and GSH levels oscillate in phase with each other such that the highest levels of GCL activity overlap with elevated GSH in the early morning. Thus, our in vivo study may uncover new layers of physiological regulation involving these key redox components. Rhythm in GSH biosynthesis could be important for many aspects of clock-controlled cellular homeostasis since this prevalent endogenous compound acts as a major antioxidant, regulates activity of detoxification enzymes, and mediates redox-sensitive signaling. GSH functions in the central nervous system also include maintenance of neurotransmitters, and membrane protection [46,47]. Our previous study suggested that ROS and oxidative damage levels fluctuate in heads of wild type flies [15] raising a possibility that GSH rhythms may be linked to these phenotypes. However, the mechanism remains to be elucidated as GSH does not directly react with peroxides. The removal of hydrogen peroxide and other peroxides occurs in high-turnover reactions catalyzed by glutathione peroxidases and peroxiredoxins [48?0]. Interestingly, some of these enzymes display circadian oxidation-reduction cycles in model organisms across phyla, including Drosophila [51]. An important function of GSH is in phase II detoxification, in which GSH is conjugated with xenobiotics and metabolic byproducts in reactions catalyzed by glutathione S-transferases [52,53]. We report here that mRNA levels of GstD1, a known 256373-96-3 antioxidant and detoxification response gene in Drosophila [38,39,54] is expressed rhythmically in heads of wild type flies. This is consistent with previous microarray-based analyses which suggested that GstD1 and several other GSTs are expressed rhythmically in the adult Drosophila head [40,55,56]. Interestingly, GstD1 expression peaks in mid-day, when GSH levels become significantly reduced (compare Fig. 1 and 7). Other GSTs also peak at this time [40], suggesting a scenario where GSH is depleted due to conjugation and then replenished later in the circadian cycle. It has been hypothesized that the clock may coordinate redox responses as part of a strategy to increase the potential for neutralization of toxins during the morning when flies are active [40]. In agreement with this view, we showed that the circadian clock regulates susceptibility to pesticides as well as expression of specific genes that control xenobiotic metabolism [12,13]. Although a significant rhythm in the GSH levels and GCL activity was detected in flies with an intact clock, the rhythm was not apparent in clock mutants. Instead, both of these parameters remained relatively elevated around the clock, more similar to the peak rather than the trough levels of the control (Fig. 1B 6B). It is conceivable that this enhanced constitutive GSH produc.Tein levels of GCLc did not appear rhythmic, while variations in the GCLm protein levels were significant but modest. Nevertheless, we detected a significant daily rhythm in GCL activity. There are many factors that affect the GCL enzyme activity, among which are the relative proportions of GCLc and GCLm proteins, their posttranslational modifications, as well as substrate levels [19,35,36,45]. The GCLc/GCLm ratio showed a trend toward a daily rhythm, which could contribute to the observed changes in GCL enzyme activity. Previous in vitro studies suggested that GCL 11967625 activity is inhibited by GSH in both mammals and Drosophila [35?7]. Remarkably, our in vivo study determined that GCL enzymatic activity and GSH levels oscillate in phase with each other such that the highest levels of GCL activity overlap with elevated GSH in the early morning. Thus, our in vivo study may uncover new layers of physiological regulation involving these key redox components. Rhythm in GSH biosynthesis could be important for many aspects of clock-controlled cellular homeostasis since this prevalent endogenous compound acts as a major antioxidant, regulates activity of detoxification enzymes, and mediates redox-sensitive signaling. GSH functions in the central nervous system also include maintenance of neurotransmitters, and membrane protection [46,47]. Our previous study suggested that ROS and oxidative damage levels fluctuate in heads of wild type flies [15] raising a possibility that GSH rhythms may be linked to these phenotypes. However, the mechanism remains to be elucidated as GSH does not directly react with peroxides. The removal of hydrogen peroxide and other peroxides occurs in high-turnover reactions catalyzed by glutathione peroxidases and peroxiredoxins [48?0]. Interestingly, some of these enzymes display circadian oxidation-reduction cycles in model organisms across phyla, including Drosophila [51]. An important function of GSH is in phase II detoxification, in which GSH is conjugated with xenobiotics and metabolic byproducts in reactions catalyzed by glutathione S-transferases [52,53]. We report here that mRNA levels of GstD1, a known antioxidant and detoxification response gene in Drosophila [38,39,54] is expressed rhythmically in heads of wild type flies. This is consistent with previous microarray-based analyses which suggested that GstD1 and several other GSTs are expressed rhythmically in the adult Drosophila head [40,55,56]. Interestingly, GstD1 expression peaks in mid-day, when GSH levels become significantly reduced (compare Fig. 1 and 7). Other GSTs also peak at this time [40], suggesting a scenario where GSH is depleted due to conjugation and then replenished later in the circadian cycle. It has been hypothesized that the clock may coordinate redox responses as part of a strategy to increase the potential for neutralization of toxins during the morning when flies are active [40]. In agreement with this view, we showed that the circadian clock regulates susceptibility to pesticides as well as expression of specific genes that control xenobiotic metabolism [12,13]. Although a significant rhythm in the GSH levels and GCL activity was detected in flies with an intact clock, the rhythm was not apparent in clock mutants. Instead, both of these parameters remained relatively elevated around the clock, more similar to the peak rather than the trough levels of the control (Fig. 1B 6B). It is conceivable that this enhanced constitutive GSH produc.
