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 organismsNovel techniques for identifying clock genes by mutagenesis and mircroarraysProcedures for isolation, extraction, and analysis of RNAProcedures for extraction, fractionation, and purification of proteinsDetailed in vitro protocols for circadian researchMethods for microscopy analysis in circadian biology

PrefaceContributorsI. Overviews.1. Light, photoreceptors and circadian clocksRussell G. Foster, Mark W. Hankins and Stuart N. Peirson2. Statistical analysis of biological rhythm dataHarold B. DowseII. Rhythmic Readouts.3. Rhythmic conidiation in Neurospora crassa.Cas Kramer4. Monitoring and analyzing Drosophila circadian locomotor activity.Mauro A. Zordan, Clara Benna and Gabriella Mazzotta.5. Automated video image analysis of larval zebrafish locomotor rhythms.Gregory M. Cahill6. Locomotor activity in rodents.Gianluca Tosini7. Analysis of circadian leaf movement rhythms in Arabidopsis thaliana.Kieron D. Edwards and Andrew J. Millar8. Detection of rhythmic bioluminescence from luciferase reporters in cyanobacteria.Shannon R. Canales, Jayna L. Ditty, Eugenia M. Clerico and Susan S. Golden9. Analysis of rhythmic gene expression in adult Drosophila using the firefly-luciferase reporter gene.Ralf Stanewsky10. Monitoring circadian rhythms in Arabidopsis thaliana using luciferase reporter genes.Anthony Hall and Paul BrownIII. Identification of Clock Genes.11. Specialized techniques for site directed mutagenesis in cyanobacteriaEugenia M. Clerico, Jayna L. Ditty and Susan S. Golden12. Novel strategies for the identification of clock genes in Neurospora with insertional mutagenesisKruno Sveric, Moyra Mason, Till Roenneberg and Martha Merrow13. Mutagenesis with DrosophilaPatrick Emery14. Mutagenesis in Arabidopsis.Jodi Maple and Simon G. Møller15. Yeast-two-hybrid screening.Jodi Maple and Simon G. Møller16. Microarrays: quality control and hybridization protocol.Ken-ichiro Uno and Hiroki R. Ueda17. Microarrays:statistical methods for circadian rhythms.Rikuhiro Yamada and Hiroki R. Ueda18. Identification of clock genes using difference gel electrophoresis (DIGE).Natasha A. Karp and Kathryn S. LilleyIV. Gene Expression: RNA.19. Isolation of total RNA from Neurospora mycelium.Cas Kramer20. RNA extraction from Drosophila heads.Patrick Emery21. Extraction of plant RNA.Michael G. Salter and Helen E. Conlon22. RNA Extraction from mammalian tissues.Stuart N. Peirson and Jason N. Butler23. Northern analysis of sense and antisense frequency RNA in Neurospora crassa.Cas Kramer24. RNase protection assay.Patrick Emery25. Quantitative PCR.Stuart N. Peirson and Jason N. ButlerV. Gene Expression: Proteins.26. Protein extraction, fractionation and purification from cyanobacteria.Natalia B. Ivleva and Susan S. Golden27. Protein extraction from Drosophila heads.Patrick Emery28. Plant protein extraction.Helen E. Conlon and Michael G. Salter29. Protein extraction from mammalian tissues.Choogon Lee30. Western blotting.Choogon Lee31. Co-immunoprecipitation (coIP) assay.Choogon Lee32. In vitro phosphorylation and kinase assays in Neurospora crassa.Lisa Franchi, Giuseppe MacinoVI. In vitro Systems.33. Basic protocols for Drosophila S2 cell line: maintenance and transfectionM. Fernanda Ceriani34. Co-immunoprecipitation on Drosophila cells in cultureM. Fernanda Ceriani35. Basic protocols for zebrafish cell lines: maintenance and transfection.Daniela Vallone, Cristina Santoriello, Srinivas Babu Gondi and Nicholas S. Foulkes36. Manipulation of mammalian cell lines for circadian studies.Filippo Tamani