{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,17]],"date-time":"2026-06-17T09:55:53Z","timestamp":1781690153545,"version":"3.54.5"},"reference-count":48,"publisher":"Oxford University Press (OUP)","issue":"6","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,9]],"date-time":"2026-02-09T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1770595200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/academic.oup.com\/journals\/pages\/open_access\/funder_policies\/chorus\/standard_publication_model"}],"funder":[{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100001809","name":"National Science Foundation of China","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["32260906"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["32260906"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100001809","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]},{"name":"Young Graduate Tutors of Gansu Agricultural University","award":["GAU-QDFC-2025-19"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["GAU-QDFC-2025-19"]}]},{"name":"Longyuan Youth Talent Project","award":["LYYC-2024-01"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["LYYC-2024-01"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":[],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,15]]},"abstract":"<jats:title>Abstract<\/jats:title>\n                  <jats:p>The Bactrian camel is an essential livestock species in arid desert regions, but its unique reproductive pattern results in low fertility. Its estrus period primarily occurs during winter to adapt to harsh climatic conditions; however, the specific mechanisms underlying its seasonal reproduction remain unclear. In this study, the expression and distribution of circadian clock protein cryptochrome 1 (Cry1), melatonin receptors (MT1\/MT2), and estrogen receptor alpha (ER\u03b1) in the ovary and uterus of the Bactrian camel were investigated. Using cultured Bactrian camel ovarian granulosa cells, the cells were treated with melatonin (Mel) or overexpressed Cry to assess the expression of estradiol (E2) and the genes related to the MEK\/ERK\u2013ER\u03b1 signaling pathway, aiming to elucidate the regulatory roles of Cry and Mel in reproduction. The results showed that these proteins were widely expressed in the corpus luteum, granulosa cell layer, follicular fluid, and uterine endometrial epithelial and stromal cells, indicating their involvement in estrogen secretion and uterine function. In vitro experiments demonstrated that Mel treatment or Cry overexpression enhanced E2 secretion, reduced cAMP levels, upregulated Raf, and activated the MEK\/ERK\u2013ER\u03b1 pathway. Moreover, Mel and MT increased Cry expression, while Cry overexpression also upregulated MT. Cry1-induced activation of the MEK\/ERK\u2013ER\u03b1 pathway was dependent on MT1\/MT2, whereas Cry2-mediated activation was independent of MT1\/MT2. Dual-luciferase reporter assays revealed that Cry regulates MT1 transcriptionally. Suggesting that Cry and MT synergistically regulate the estrogen signaling pathway. This study provides foundational insight into the regulation of seasonal reproduction in Bactrian camels.<\/jats:p>\n                  <jats:p>Highlights \u00a0Melatonin treatment or overexpression Cry promotes the secretion of E2.Melatonin activates the MEK\/ERK-ER\u03b1 signaling pathway.Cry1 upregulates the expression of MT1\/2.Cry does not fully depend on MT1\/2 to activate the MEK\/ERK-ER\u03b1 pathway.Cry binding to the MT1 promoter affects MT1 transcription.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1093\/biolre\/ioag034","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,5]],"date-time":"2026-02-05T12:41:54Z","timestamp":1770295314000},"page":"1898-1908","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":1,"title":["The regulatory mechanism of circadian clock gene\n                    <i>Cry<\/i>\n                    on estrogen secretion in Bactrian camels"],"prefix":"10.1093","volume":"114","author":[{"given":"Shipeng","family":"Wu","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"College of Life Science and Technology, Gansu Agricultural University , Lanzhou ,","place":["China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Shuqin","family":"Zhao","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Laboratory and Base Management Center, Gansu Agricultural University , Lanzhou ,","place":["China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Shuai","family":"Ji","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"College of Life Science and Technology, Gansu Agricultural University , Lanzhou ,","place":["China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Jianfei","family":"Li","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"College of Life Science and Technology, Gansu Agricultural University , Lanzhou ,","place":["China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Yuan","family":"Gao","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"College of Life Science and Technology, Gansu Agricultural University , Lanzhou ,","place":["China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Jibao","family":"Hou","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"College of Life Science and Technology, Gansu Agricultural University , Lanzhou ,","place":["China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Yuting","family":"Fang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"College of Life Science and Technology, Gansu Agricultural University , Lanzhou ,","place":["China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"286","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,9]]},"reference":[{"key":"2026061705223302000_ref1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"13240","DOI":"10.3390\/ijms222413240","article-title":"Melatonin, clock genes, and mammalian reproduction: what is the link?","volume":"22","author":"Amnon","year":"2021","journal-title":"Int J Mol 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