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Vincent Cassone

Research Interests:
Chronobiology
Neuroscience
Microbiome
Education

BA in English and Biology, Colby College, 1975 MS in Biobehavioral Sciences, University of Connecticut, 1977 Ph.D. University of Oregon., 1983

Research

Chronobiology and Neuroscience

Research in the Cassone laboratory is directed at the mechanisms and neuroendocrine pathways by which the biological clock regulates physiology and behavior in  vertebrates, especially in birds. All eukaryotic and at least some prokaryotic organisms express a temporal organization as well as a spatial organization such that many molecular, physiological and behavioral events are strictly timed. This temporal organization reflects a biological clock derived primarily from endogenous cellular oscillators that are somehow coupled or entrained to the prevailing environmental cycles. Recently, we have become interested inmechanisms by which the circadian clock regulates gastrointestinal function. Part of this research has revealed an enteric bacterium, Klebsiella aerogenes,  that exhibits a circadian rhythm in swarming behavior and gene expression. We are investigating the mechanisms that generate circadian rhythms in this bacterial organism. Students in the laboratory are encouraged to develop independent projects based upon scientific questions within the framework of the laboratory's mission. Weekly lab meetings and personal supervision of laboratory projects help to integrate technically diverse but philosophically intimate graduate and undergraduate research.

Functional Genomics of the Avian Circadian Clock: The avian pineal gland is a circadian oscillator and photoreceptor, which regulates birds' physiology and behavior via the secretion of the hormone melatonin. While the molecular mechanisms underlying melatonin biosynthesis have been largely worked out, the molecular clockworks regulating circadian rhythms, the photoentrainment of these rhythms to environmental light cycles and the link of the oscillators and photoreceptors to rhythmic outputs. We are studying the mechanisms by which molecular clockworks regulate these physiological outputs ranging from metabolism to complex behavior.

Circadian and Seasonal Regulation of Bird Song: Bird song is one of the few non-human forms of syntactical and contextual of animal communication. Bird song is regulated by a complex of brain structures collectively called the "song control system". We have found that song control brain structures express melatonin receptors and that bird song behavior and bird song control structures are regulated on a daily and seasonal basis by pineal melatonin. We are studying the mechanisms by which melatonin and the circadian system synchronizes bird song to the time of day and the time of year. We are also interested in mechanisms by which bird song itself may feed back on circadian sleep/wake cycles in birds.

Circadian Regulation of Gastrointestinal Function: We have established that there is a semi-independent circadian oscillator within the gastrointestinal system. This system is synchronized to external time through the action of the hypothalamic suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN) , which communicate to peripheral organs through the sympathetic autonomic nervous system. Our current interests involve investigations of other modulators of gastrointestinal rhythmicity and of the impact of circadian clocks on diseased states and normal aging.

Circadian Clocks in a Gastrointestinal Bacterium: We have discovered a human gastrointestyinal commensal bacterium that is sensitive to the hormone melatonin and that expresses a circadian rhythm in swarming behavior and gene expression. The circadian rhythm of this bacterium can be entrained to the very small 1 degree fluctuations in body temperature and is synchronized by the presence of melatonin. We are studying the molecular mechanisms of this prokaryote clock in vitro and in situ within the gastrointestinal tract of laboratory mice.

PubMed Publications*: 
  • KB Graniczkowska; CL Shaffer; VM Cassone"Transcriptional effects of melatonin on the gut commensal bacterium Klebsiella aerogenes."Genomics114.2(2022):110321.Details. Full text
  • VM Cassone; G Tosini"Obituary: Michael Menaker, PhD. (1934-2021)."Journal of pineal research(2021):e12729.Details.
  • JK Paulose; CV Cassone; KB Graniczkowska; VM Cassone"Entrainment of the Circadian Clock of the Enteric Bacterium Klebsiella aerogenes by Temperature Cycles."iScience19.(2019):1202-1213.Details. Full text
  • JK Paulose; CV Cassone; VM Cassone"Aging, melatonin biosynthesis, and circadian clockworks in the gastrointestinal system of the laboratory mouse."Physiological genomics51.1(2019):1-9.Details. Full text
  • T Rodrigo-Peiris; L Xiang; VM Cassone"A Low-Intensity, Hybrid Design between a "Traditional" and a "Course-Based" Research Experience Yields Positive Outcomes for Science Undergraduate Freshmen and Shows Potential for Large-Scale Application."CBE life sciences education17.4(2018):ar53.Details. Full text
  • Y Li; VM Cassone"Clock-Controlled Regulation of the Acute Effects of Norepinephrine on Chick Pineal Melatonin Rhythms."Journal of biological rhythms30.6(2015):519-32.Details. Full text
  • Y Li; VM Cassone"A simple, specific high-throughput enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for quantitative determination of melatonin in cell culture medium."International immunopharmacology28.1(2015):230-4.Details. Full text
  • VM Cassone"Avian circadian organization: a chorus of clocks."Frontiers in neuroendocrinology35.1(2014):76-88.Details. Full text
  • VM Cassone; DF Westneat"The bird of time: cognition and the avian biological clock."Frontiers in molecular neuroscience5.(2012):32.Details. Full text
  • JN Malloy; JK Paulose; Y Li; VM Cassone"Circadian rhythms of gastrointestinal function are regulated by both central and peripheral oscillators."American journal of physiology. Gastrointestinal and liver physiology303.4(2012):G461-73.Details. Full text
  • WA Hoogerwerf; VB Shahinian; G Cornélissen; F Halberg; J Bostwick; J Timm; PA Bartell; VM Cassone"Rhythmic changes in colonic motility are regulated by period genes."American journal of physiology. Gastrointestinal and liver physiology298.2(2010):G143-50.Details. Full text
  • EM Clerico; VM Cassone; SS Golden"Stability and lability of circadian period of gene expression in the cyanobacterium Synechococcus elongatus."Microbiology (Reading, England)155.Pt 2(2009):635-641.Details. Full text
  • JK Paulose; JL Peters; SP Karaganis; VM Cassone"Pineal melatonin acts as a circadian zeitgeber and growth factor in chick astrocytes."Journal of pineal research46.3(2009):286-94.Details. Full text
  • SP Karaganis; PA Bartell; VR Shende; AF Moore; VM Cassone"Modulation of metabolic and clock gene mRNA rhythms by pineal and retinal circadian oscillators."General and comparative endocrinology161.2(2009):179-92.Details. Full text
  • X Qu; RP Metz; WW Porter; VM Cassone; DJ Earnest"Disruption of period gene expression alters the inductive effects of dioxin on the AhR signaling pathway in the mouse liver."Toxicology and applied pharmacology234.3(2009):370-7.Details. Full text
  • WA Hoogerwerf; M Sinha; A Conesa; BA Luxon; VB Shahinian; G Cornélissen; F Halberg; J Bostwick; J Timm; VM Cassone"Transcriptional profiling of mRNA expression in the mouse distal colon."Gastroenterology135.6(2008):2019-29.Details. Full text
  • SP Karaganis; Kumar V; PD Beremand; MJ Bailey; TL Thomas; VM Cassone"Circadian genomics of the chick pineal gland in vitro."BMC genomics9.(2008):206.Details. Full text
  • VM Cassone; PA Bartell; BJ Earnest; Kumar V"Duration of melatonin regulates seasonal changes in song control nuclei of the house sparrow, Passer domesticus: independence from gonads and circadian entrainment."Journal of biological rhythms23.1(2008):49-58.Details. Full text
  • GJ Menger; GC Allen; N Neuendorff; SS Nahm; TL Thomas; VM Cassone; DJ Earnest"Circadian profiling of the transcriptome in NIH/3T3 fibroblasts: comparison with rhythmic gene expression in SCN2.2 cells and the rat SCN."Physiological genomics29.3(2007):280-9.Details. Full text
  • WA Hoogerwerf; HL Hellmich; G Cornélissen; F Halberg; VB Shahinian; J Bostwick; TC Savidge; VM Cassone"Clock gene expression in the murine gastrointestinal tract: endogenous rhythmicity and effects of a feeding regimen."Gastroenterology133.4(2007):1250-60.Details. Full text
  • SS Golden; VM Cassone; A LiWang"Shifting nanoscopic clock gears."Nature structural & molecular biology14.5(2007):362-3.Details. Full text
  • X Qu; RP Metz; WW Porter; VM Cassone; DJ Earnest"Disruption of clock gene expression alters responses of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor signaling pathway in the mouse mammary gland."Molecular pharmacology72.5(2007):1349-58.Details. Full text
  • EL Cantwell; VM Cassone"Chicken suprachiasmatic nuclei: I. Efferent and afferent connections."The Journal of comparative neurology496.1(2006):97-120.Details. Full text
  • EL Cantwell; VM Cassone"Chicken suprachiasmatic nuclei: II. Autoradiographic and immunohistochemical analysis."The Journal of comparative neurology499.3(2006):442-57.Details. Full text
  • D Bell-Pedersen; VM Cassone; DJ Earnest; SS Golden; PE Hardin; TL Thomas; MJ Zoran"Circadian rhythms from multiple oscillators: lessons from diverse organisms."Nature reviews. Genetics6.7(2005):544-56.Details. Full text
  • MJ Bailey; VM Cassone"Melanopsin expression in the chick retina and pineal gland."Brain research. Molecular brain research134.2(2005):345-8.Details. Full text
  • JL Peters; BJ Earnest; RB Tjalkens; VM Cassone; MJ Zoran"Modulation of intercellular calcium signaling by melatonin in avian and mammalian astrocytes is brain region-specific."The Journal of comparative neurology493.3(2005):370-80.Details. Full text
  • JL Peters; VM Cassone; MJ Zoran"Melatonin modulates intercellular communication among cultured chick astrocytes."Brain research1031.1(2005):10-9.Details. Full text
  • JL Peters; VM Cassone"Melatonin regulates circadian electroretinogram rhythms in a dose- and time-dependent fashion."Journal of pineal research38.3(2005):209-15.Details. Full text
  • GJ Menger; K Lu; T Thomas; VM Cassone; DJ Earnest"Circadian profiling of the transcriptome in immortalized rat SCN cells."Physiological genomics21.3(2005):370-81.Details. Full text
  • MJ Bailey; PD Beremand; R Hammer; E Reidel; TL Thomas; VM Cassone"Transcriptional profiling of circadian patterns of mRNA expression in the chick retina."The Journal of biological chemistry279.50(2004):52247-54.Details. Full text
  • MJ Bailey; VM Cassone"Opsin photoisomerases in the chick retina and pineal gland: characterization, localization, and circadian regulation."Investigative ophthalmology & visual science45.3(2004):769-75.Details. Full text
  • MJ Bailey; PD Beremand; R Hammer; D Bell-Pedersen; TL Thomas; VM Cassone"Transcriptional profiling of the chick pineal gland, a photoreceptive circadian oscillator and pacemaker."Molecular endocrinology (Baltimore, Md.)17.10(2003):2084-95.Details. Full text
  • VM Cassone; FK Stephan"Central and peripheral regulation of feeding and nutrition by the mammalian circadian clock: implications for nutrition during manned space flight."Nutrition (Burbank, Los Angeles County, Calif.)18.10(2002):814-9.Details. Full text
  • A Adachi; AK Natesan; MG Whitfield-Rucker; SE Weigum; VM Cassone"Functional melatonin receptors and metabolic coupling in cultured chick astrocytes."Glia39.3(2002):268-78.Details. Full text
  • EL Cantwell; VM Cassone"Daily and circadian fluctuation in 2-deoxy (14)C -glucose uptake in circadian and visual system structures of the chick brain: effects of exogenous melatonin."Brain research bulletin57.5(2002):603-11.Details. Full text
  • MJ Bailey; NW Chong; J Xiong; VM Cassone"Chickens' Cry2: molecular analysis of an avian cryptochrome in retinal and pineal photoreceptors."FEBS letters513.2-3(2002):169-74.Details. Full text
  • G Allen; J Rappe; DJ Earnest; VM Cassone"Oscillating on borrowed time: diffusible signals from immortalized suprachiasmatic nucleus cells regulate circadian rhythmicity in cultured fibroblasts."The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience21.20(2001):7937-43.Details. Full text
  • VM Cassone"The self-same beat of time's wide wings."Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America97.22(2000):11677-9.Details. Full text
  • WQ Wu; JM McGoogan; VM Cassone"Circadian regulation of visually evoked potentials in the domestic pigeon, Columba livia."Journal of biological rhythms15.4(2000):317-28.Details. Full text
  • M Whitfield-Rucker; VM Cassone"Photoperiodic regulation of the male house sparrow song control system: gonadal dependent and independent mechanisms."General and comparative endocrinology118.1(2000):173-83.Details. Full text
  • JM McGoogan; VM Cassone"Circadian regulation of chick electroretinogram: effects of pinealectomy and exogenous melatonin."The American journal of physiology277.5(1999):R1418-27.Details. Full text
  • DJ Earnest; FQ Liang; M Ratcliff; VM Cassone"Immortal time: circadian clock properties of rat suprachiasmatic cell lines."Science (New York, N.Y.)283.5402(1999):693-5.Details. Full text
  • A Morien; VM Cassone; PJ Wellman"Diurnal changes in paraventricular hypothalamic alpha1 and alpha2-adrenoceptors and food intake in rats."Pharmacology, biochemistry, and behavior63.1(1999):33-8.Details. Full text
  • NW Chong; VM Cassone; M Bernard; DC Klein; PM Iuvone"Circadian expression of tryptophan hydroxylase mRNA in the chicken retina."Brain research. Molecular brain research61.1-2(1998):243-50.Details. Full text
  • VM Cassone"Melatonin's role in vertebrate circadian rhythms."Chronobiology international15.5(1998):457-73.Details. Full text
  • JM Salter; VM Cassone; MK Wilkerson; MD Delp"Ocular and regional cerebral blood flow in aging Fischer-344 rats."Journal of applied physiology (Bethesda, Md. : 1985)85.3(1998):1024-9.Details. Full text
  • VM Cassone; AK Natesan"Time and time again: the phylogeny of melatonin as a transducer of biological time."Journal of biological rhythms12.6(1997):489-97.Details. Full text
  • M Bernard; PM Iuvone; VM Cassone; PH Roseboom; SL Coon; DC Klein"Avian melatonin synthesis: photic and circadian regulation of serotonin N-acetyltransferase mRNA in the chicken pineal gland and retina."Journal of neurochemistry68.1(1997):213-24.Details. Full text
  • MG Whitfield-Rucker; VM Cassone"Melatonin binding in the house sparrow song control system: sexual dimorphism and the effect of photoperiod."Hormones and behavior30.4(1996):528-37.Details. Full text
  • SM Reppert; DR Weaver; VM Cassone; C Godson; Kolakowski LF Jr"Melatonin receptors are for the birds: molecular analysis of two receptor subtypes differentially expressed in chick brain."Neuron15.5(1995):1003-15.Details. Full text
  • WS Warren; VM Cassone"The pineal gland: photoreception and coupling of behavioral, metabolic, and cardiovascular circadian outputs."Journal of biological rhythms10.1(1995):64-79.Details. Full text
  • J Lü; MJ Zoran; VM Cassone"Daily and circadian variation in the electroretinogram of the domestic fowl: effects of melatonin."Journal of comparative physiology. A, Sensory, neural, and behavioral physiology177.3(1995):299-306.Details.
  • WS Warren; TH Champney; VM Cassone"The suprachiasmatic nucleus controls the circadian rhythm of heart rate via the sympathetic nervous system."Physiology & behavior55.6(1994):1091-9.Details. Full text
  • D Janik; VM Cassone; GE Pickard; M Menaker"Retinohypothalamic projections and immunocytochemical analysis of the suprachiasmatic region of the desert iguana Dipsosaurus dorsalis."Cell and tissue research275.3(1994):399-406.Details.
  • DS Brooks; VM Cassone"Daily and circadian regulation of 2- 125I iodomelatonin binding in the chick brain."Endocrinology131.3(1992):1297-304.Details. Full text
  • VM Cassone"Effects of melatonin on vertebrate circadian systems."Trends in neurosciences13.11(1990):457-64.Details. Full text
  • VM Cassone; AM Forsyth; GL Woodlee"Hypothalamic regulation of circadian noradrenergic input to the chick pineal gland."Journal of comparative physiology. A, Sensory, neural, and behavioral physiology167.2(1990):187-92.Details.
  • SA Rivkees; VM Cassone; DR Weaver; SM Reppert"Melatonin receptors in chick brain: characterization and localization."Endocrinology125.1(1989):363-8.Details. Full text
  • S Shibata; VM Cassone; RY Moore"Effects of melatonin on neuronal activity in the rat suprachiasmatic nucleus in vitro."Neuroscience letters97.1-2(1989):140-4.Details. Full text
  • L Smale; VM Cassone; RY Moore; LP Morin"Paraventricular nucleus projections mediating pineal melatonin and gonadal responses to photoperiod in the hamster."Brain research bulletin22.2(1989):263-9.Details. Full text
  • VM Cassone"Circadian variation of 14C 2-deoxyglucose uptake within the suprachiasmatic nucleus of the house sparrow, Passer domesticus."Brain research459.1(1988):178-82.Details. Full text
  • VM Cassone; MH Roberts; RY Moore"Effects of melatonin on 2-deoxy- 1-14C glucose uptake within rat suprachiasmatic nucleus."The American journal of physiology255.2 Pt 2(1988):R332-7.Details. Full text
  • MJ Chesworth; VM Cassone; SM Armstrong"Effects of daily melatonin injections on activity rhythms of rats in constant light."The American journal of physiology253.1 Pt 2(1987):R101-7.Details. Full text
  • VM Cassone; MH Roberts; RY Moore"Melatonin inhibits metabolic activity in the rat suprachiasmatic nuclei."Neuroscience letters81.1-2(1987):29-34.Details. Full text
  • VM Cassone; RY Moore"Retinohypothalamic projection and suprachiasmatic nucleus of the house sparrow, Passer domesticus."The Journal of comparative neurology266.2(1987):171-82.Details. Full text
  • VM Cassone; JS Takahashi; CD Blaha; RF Lane; M Menaker"Dynamics of noradrenergic circadian input to the chicken pineal gland."Brain research384.2(1986):334-41.Details. Full text
  • VM Cassone; M Menaker"Is the avian circadian system a neuroendocrine loop?"The Journal of experimental zoology232.3(1984):539-49.Details.
  • VM Cassone; RF Lane; M Menaker"Daily rhythms of serotonin metabolism in the medial hypothalamus of the chicken: effects of pinealectomy and exogenous melatonin."Brain research289.1-2(1983):129-34.Details. Full text
  • VM Cassone; M Menaker"Sympathetic regulation of chicken pineal rhythms."Brain research272.2(1983):311-7.Details. Full text
  • VM Cassone; MJ Chesworth; SM Armstrong"Dose-dependent entrainment of rat circadian rhythms by daily injection of melatonin."Journal of biological rhythms1.3(1969):219-29.Details. Full text
  • WS Warren; DB Hodges; VM Cassone"Pinealectomized rats entrain and phase-shift to melatonin injections in a dose-dependent manner."Journal of biological rhythms8.3(1969):233-45.Details. Full text
  • HI Swanson; OP Sarge; T Rodrigo-Peiris; L Xiang; VM Cassone"Development of a Course-Based Undergraduate Research Experience to Introduce Drug-Receptor Concepts."Journal of medical education and curricular development3.(1969):Details. Full text
  • AK Natesan; VM Cassone"Melatonin receptor mRNA localization and rhythmicity in the retina of the domestic chick, Gallus domesticus."Visual neuroscience19.3(1969):265-74.Details. Full text
  • VM Cassone; JC Speh; JP Card; RY Moore"Comparative anatomy of the mammalian hypothalamic suprachiasmatic nucleus."Journal of biological rhythms3.1(1969):71-91.Details. Full text
  • VM Cassone"The pineal gland influences rat circadian activity rhythms in constant light."Journal of biological rhythms7.1(1969):27-40.Details. Full text
  • PM Iuvone; M Bernard; A Alonso-Gomez; P Greve; VM Cassone; DC Klein"Cellular and molecular regulation of serotonin N-acetyltransferase activity in chicken retinal photoreceptors."Biological signals6.4-6(1969):217-24.Details.
  • VM Cassone"Circadian organization and photoreception in an Australian dasyurid marsupial (Sminthopsis macroura)."Journal of biological rhythms2.4(1969):261-8.Details. Full text
  • VM Cassone; DS Brooks; TA Kelm"Comparative distribution of 2 125I iodomelatonin binding in the brains of diurnal birds: outgroup analysis with turtles."Brain, behavior and evolution45.5(0):241-56.Details. Full text
  • DJ Earnest; VM Cassone"Cell culture models for oscillator and pacemaker function: recipes for dishes with circadian clocks?"Methods in enzymology393.(0):558-78.Details. Full text
  • GC Allen; Y Farnell; D Bell-Pedersen; VM Cassone; DJ Earnest"Effects of altered Clock gene expression on the pacemaker properties of SCN2.2 cells and oscillatory properties of NIH/3T3 cells."Neuroscience127.4(0):989-99.Details. Full text
  • JK Paulose; C Wang; BF O'Hara; VM Cassone"The effects of aging on sleep parameters in a healthy, melatonin-competent mouse model."Nature and science of sleep11.(0):113-121.Details. Full text
  • JM McGoogan; WQ Wu; VM Cassone"Inter-ocular interference and circadian regulation of the chick electroretinogram."Vision research40.20(0):2869-79.Details. Full text
  • AF Moore; VM Cassone; KD Alloway; PA Bartell"The premammillary nucleus of the hypothalamus is not necessary for photoperiodic timekeeping in female turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo)."PloS one13.2(0):e0190274.Details. Full text
  • DC Klein; SL Coon; PH Roseboom; JL Weller; M Bernard; JA Gastel; M Zatz; PM Iuvone; IR Rodriguez; Bégay V; J Falcón; GM Cahill; VM Cassone; R Baler"The melatonin rhythm-generating enzyme: molecular regulation of serotonin N-acetyltransferase in the pineal gland."Recent progress in hormone research52.(0):307-57; discussion 357-8.Details.
  • JK Paulose; JM Wright; AG Patel; VM Cassone"Human Gut Bacteria Are Sensitive to Melatonin and Express Endogenous Circadian Rhythmicity."PloS one11.1(0):e0146643.Details. Full text
  • VM Cassone; DF Westneat"The bird of time: cognition and the avian biological clock."Frontiers in molecular neuroscience5.(0):32.Details. Full text
  • JK Paulose; 3rd EB; VM Cassone"Toward the beginning of time: circadian rhythms in metabolism precede rhythms in clock gene expression in mouse embryonic stem cells."PloS one7.11(0):e49555.Details. Full text
  • VM Cassone; WS Warren; DS Brooks; J Lü"Melatonin, the pineal gland, and circadian rhythms."Journal of biological rhythms8 Suppl.(0):S73-81.Details.
  • VM Cassone"Melatonin: time in a bottle."Oxford reviews of reproductive biology12.(0):319-67.Details.
  • VM Cassone; MJ Chesworth; SM Armstrong"Entrainment of rat circadian rhythms by daily injection of melatonin depends upon the hypothalamic suprachiasmatic nuclei."Physiology & behavior36.6(0):1111-21.Details. Full text
  • SM Armstrong; VM Cassone; MJ Chesworth; Redman JR; RV Short"Synchronization of mammalian circadian rhythms by melatonin."Journal of neural transmission. Supplementum21.(0):375-94.Details.
  • VM Cassone; RF Lane; M Menaker"Melatonin-induced increases in serotonin concentrations in specific regions of the chicken brain."Neuroendocrinology42.1(0):38-43.Details. Full text
* Publications are automatically pulled from pubmed.gov based on a user-specific query. Results may include incorrect citations. See: Tutorial on improving PubMed results.