当期文章

果蝇昼夜节律的分子机制与神经环路研究进展

许午言, 乔春雪, 李飞祥, 马定邦^*

中国科学院上海有机化学研究所，生物与化学交叉研究中心，上海 201210

摘要

昼夜节律是生物体在长期进化过程中为适应地球周期性自转所形成的核心调控机制，广泛存在于从单细胞生物到高等多细胞生物的生命体中。昼夜节律在代谢调控、免疫反应以及睡眠-觉醒等关键生理过程和行为调节中发挥重要作用，其紊乱与多种疾病的发生密切相关。过去数十年，通过果蝇和小鼠的遗传学研究，昼夜节律的机制研究已取得重要进展，鉴定出了调控昼夜节律的关键保守基因，并揭示了基于转录-翻译负反馈环路的分子调控机制。此外，大脑中的节律神经元通过复杂的神经环路与不同层级的神经元网络相互作用，精确调控昼夜节律相关的生理和行为节律。本文将重点探讨果蝇大脑中节律神经元的神经环路机制研究进展。未来的研究拟进一步推动昼夜节律调控机制的临床转化，特别是在时间医学和精准治疗领域。

关键词： 昼夜节律; 神经环路; 节律神经元

Advances in molecular mechanisms and neuronal circuits underlying circadian rhythms in Drosophila

XU Wu-Yan, QIAO Chun-Xue, LI Fei-Xiang, MA Ding-Bang^*

Interdisciplinary Research Center on Biology and Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201210, China

Abstract

Circadian rhythms are core regulatory mechanisms that evolved to align biological functions with the Earth's rotation. These rhythms are conserved across organisms from unicellular life to multicellular species and play essential roles in metabolism, immune responses, and sleep-wake cycle. Circadian disruptions are strongly associated with various diseases. Over the past decades, genetic studies in Drosophila and mice have identified key conserved clock genes and uncovered transcription-translation feedback loops governing circadian regulation. Additionally, rhythmic neurons in the brain integrate complex neural circuits to precisely regulate physiological and behavioral rhythms. This review highlights recent advances in understanding the neuronal circuit mechanisms of rhythmic neurons in the Drosophila brain and discusses future directions for translating circadian rhythm research into chronomedicine and precision therapies.

Key words: Circadian rhythm; neural circuits; circadian neurons

收稿日期：　　录用日期：

通讯作者：马定邦　　E-mail:

DOI: 10.13294/j.aps.2025.0066

引用本文：

许午言, 乔春雪, 李飞祥, 马定邦. 果蝇昼夜节律的分子机制与神经环路研究进展[J]. 生理学报 2025; 77 (4): 627-640.

XU Wu-Yan, QIAO Chun-Xue, LI Fei-Xiang, MA Ding-Bang. Advances in molecular mechanisms and neuronal circuits underlying circadian rhythms in Drosophila. Acta Physiol Sin 2025; 77 (4): 627-640 (in Chinese with English abstract).