Protein May Play Key Role in Fruit Fly’s Internal Clock

Scientists may have figured out how the fruit fly keeps its internal clock in sync with the 24-hour day, a finding that could eventually shed light on jet lag and sleep disorders. Researchers from Brandeis University report in Nature that a protein in the fruit fly brain called Tim disintegrates when flies are exposed to light. That could be key to resetting the fly’s internal clock, they said.

Tim binds to a second protein called Per, and these Tim-Per matchups appear to be an important part of the fly clock, researchers said. Once Tim is destroyed, Per falls apart too.