Integration of photoperiod and time-restricted feeding on the circadian gene rhythms in juvenile salmon

Abstract The circadian clock has evolved to synchronize animal behaviour and physiology with the external environment. Present in almost all cells, the clock is made up of a transcription-translation feedback loop that is responsive to cues such as light/dark cycles (photoperiod) and the time of fee...

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Main Authors: Maryam Thraya, Aaryan Patel, Kaitlyn Stewart, Heidi Abou-Akl, Dane Roberts, Daniel Heath, Trevor E. Pitcher, Vania Carmona-Alcocer, Phillip Karpowicz
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-05-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-01069-0
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author Maryam Thraya
Aaryan Patel
Kaitlyn Stewart
Heidi Abou-Akl
Dane Roberts
Daniel Heath
Trevor E. Pitcher
Vania Carmona-Alcocer
Phillip Karpowicz
author_facet Maryam Thraya
Aaryan Patel
Kaitlyn Stewart
Heidi Abou-Akl
Dane Roberts
Daniel Heath
Trevor E. Pitcher
Vania Carmona-Alcocer
Phillip Karpowicz
author_sort Maryam Thraya
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The circadian clock has evolved to synchronize animal behaviour and physiology with the external environment. Present in almost all cells, the clock is made up of a transcription-translation feedback loop that is responsive to cues such as light/dark cycles (photoperiod) and the time of feeding. Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) is a fish species whose clock is thought to be adapted in natural populations according to their latitude, where photoperiod variation can be extreme in northern spring/summer conditions. Here, we probed for the expression of circadian clock genes in four tissues of juvenile Chinook salmon under different environmental conditions. We find that the circadian clock is optimal when photoperiod is coupled with regular feeding during daylight hours. We further tested the effects of constant light and time-restricted feeding, environmental factors that are known to affect daily gene expression rhythms, on the expression of clock genes, appetite-regulating hormones, and metabolic regulators in the intestine of juvenile Chinook. We find that overall constant light is chrono-disruptive irrespective of the timing of food. The resulting disruption in gene expression produces aberrant rhythms, and affects glucose homeostasis, despite an increase in growth. Our data suggests photoperiod and time-restricted feeding could be optimized in Chinook aquaculture and raise the question of whether and how photoperiod changes are compensated in northern-adapted populations.
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spelling doaj-art-2c5ff3952a4a4cb2bab9909085de14ba2025-08-20T01:49:36ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-05-0115111710.1038/s41598-025-01069-0Integration of photoperiod and time-restricted feeding on the circadian gene rhythms in juvenile salmonMaryam Thraya0Aaryan Patel1Kaitlyn Stewart2Heidi Abou-Akl3Dane Roberts4Daniel Heath5Trevor E. Pitcher6Vania Carmona-Alcocer7Phillip Karpowicz8Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of WindsorDepartment of Biomedical Sciences, University of WindsorDepartment of Biomedical Sciences, University of WindsorDepartment of Biomedical Sciences, University of WindsorDepartment of Integrative Biology, University of WindsorDepartment of Integrative Biology, University of WindsorDepartment of Integrative Biology, University of WindsorDepartment of Biomedical Sciences, University of WindsorDepartment of Biomedical Sciences, University of WindsorAbstract The circadian clock has evolved to synchronize animal behaviour and physiology with the external environment. Present in almost all cells, the clock is made up of a transcription-translation feedback loop that is responsive to cues such as light/dark cycles (photoperiod) and the time of feeding. Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) is a fish species whose clock is thought to be adapted in natural populations according to their latitude, where photoperiod variation can be extreme in northern spring/summer conditions. Here, we probed for the expression of circadian clock genes in four tissues of juvenile Chinook salmon under different environmental conditions. We find that the circadian clock is optimal when photoperiod is coupled with regular feeding during daylight hours. We further tested the effects of constant light and time-restricted feeding, environmental factors that are known to affect daily gene expression rhythms, on the expression of clock genes, appetite-regulating hormones, and metabolic regulators in the intestine of juvenile Chinook. We find that overall constant light is chrono-disruptive irrespective of the timing of food. The resulting disruption in gene expression produces aberrant rhythms, and affects glucose homeostasis, despite an increase in growth. Our data suggests photoperiod and time-restricted feeding could be optimized in Chinook aquaculture and raise the question of whether and how photoperiod changes are compensated in northern-adapted populations.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-01069-0Circadian rhythmsSalmonPhotoperiodCircadian entrainment
spellingShingle Maryam Thraya
Aaryan Patel
Kaitlyn Stewart
Heidi Abou-Akl
Dane Roberts
Daniel Heath
Trevor E. Pitcher
Vania Carmona-Alcocer
Phillip Karpowicz
Integration of photoperiod and time-restricted feeding on the circadian gene rhythms in juvenile salmon
Scientific Reports
Circadian rhythms
Salmon
Photoperiod
Circadian entrainment
title Integration of photoperiod and time-restricted feeding on the circadian gene rhythms in juvenile salmon
title_full Integration of photoperiod and time-restricted feeding on the circadian gene rhythms in juvenile salmon
title_fullStr Integration of photoperiod and time-restricted feeding on the circadian gene rhythms in juvenile salmon
title_full_unstemmed Integration of photoperiod and time-restricted feeding on the circadian gene rhythms in juvenile salmon
title_short Integration of photoperiod and time-restricted feeding on the circadian gene rhythms in juvenile salmon
title_sort integration of photoperiod and time restricted feeding on the circadian gene rhythms in juvenile salmon
topic Circadian rhythms
Salmon
Photoperiod
Circadian entrainment
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-01069-0
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