This is an in-depth examination of circadian biology, presented by leading researchers in the field. Methods for analysis of rhythmic readouts in select model organisms are included. This cutting-edge collection of protocols is adaptable for research at every level, and represents the huge strides that chronobiologists have made over the past two decades. Circadian biologists at all research levels will realize tremendous benefit from this extraordinary collection.

Methods for analysis of rhythmic readouts in select model organisms

Overviews.- Light, Photoreceptors, and Circadian Clocks.- Statistical Analysis of Biological Rhythm Data.- Rhythmic Readouts.- Rhythmic Conidiation in Neurospora crassa.- Monitoring and Analyzing Drosophila Circadian Locomotor Activity.- Automated Video Image Analysis of Larval Zebrafish Locomotor Rhythms.- Locomotor Activity in Rodents.- Analysis of Circadian Leaf Movement Rhythms in Arabidopsis thaliana.- Detection of Rhythmic Bioluminescence From Luciferase Reporters in Cyanobacteria.- Analysis of Rhythmic Gene Expression in Adult Drosophila Using the Firefly Luciferase Reporter Gene.- Monitoring Circadian Rhythms in Arabidopsis thaliana Using Luciferase Reporter Genes.- Identification of Clock Genes.- Specialized Techniques for Site-Directed Mutagenesis in Cyanobacteria.- Novel Strategies for the Identification of Clock Genes Neurospora With Insertional Mutagenesis.- Mutagenesis With Drosophila.- Mutagenesis in Arabidopsis.- Yeast Two-Hybrid Screening.- Microarrays.- Microarrays.- Identification of Clock Genes Using Difference Gel Electrophoresis.- Gene Expression: RNA.- Isolation of Total RNA From Neurospora Mycelium.- RNA Extraction From Drosophila Heads.- Extraction of Plant RNA.- RNA Extraction From Mammalian Tissues.- Northern Analysis of Sense and Antisense frequency RNA in Neurospora crassa.- RNase Protection Assay.- Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction.- Gene Expression: Proteins.- Protein Extraction, Fractionation, and Purification From Cyanobacteria.- Protein Extraction From Drosophila Heads.- Plant Protein Extraction.- Protein Extraction From Mammalian Tissues.- Western Blotting.- Coimmunoprecipitation Assay.- In Vitro Phosphorylation and Kinase Assays in Neurospora crassa.- In Vitro Systems.- Basic Protocols for Drosophila S2 Cell Line.- Coimmunoprecipitation on Drosophila Cells in Culture.- Basic Protocols for Zebrafish Cell Lines.- Manipulation of Mammalian Cell Lines for Circadian Studies.- Reporter Assays.- Use of Firefly Luciferase Activity Assays to Monitor Circadian Molecular Rhythms In Vivo and In Vitro.- Suprachiasmatic Nucleus Cultures That Maintain Rhythmic Properties In Vitro.- Microscopy Analysis.- RNA In Situ Hybridizations on Drosophila Whole Mounts.- In Situ Hybridization of Suprachiasmatic Nucleus Slices.- Immunohistochemistry in Drosophila.- Immunocytochemistry on Suprachiasmatic Nucleus Slices.- Immunofluorescence Analysis of Circadian Protein Dynamics in Cultured Mammalian Cells.