scholarly journals Core circadian clock and light signalling genes brought into genetic linkage across the green lineage

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Todd P Michael

The circadian clock ensures that biological processes are phased to the correct time of day. In plants the circadian clock is conserved at both the level of transcriptional networks as well as core genes. In the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana, the core circadian singleMYB (sMYB) genes CCA1 and RVE4 are in genetic linkage with the PSEUDO-RESPONSE REGULATOR (PRR) genes PRR9 and PRR7 respectively. Leveraging chromosome-resolved plant genomes and syntenic ortholog analysis it was possible to trace this genetic linkage back to the basal angiosperm Amborella and identify an additional evolutionarily conserved genetic linkage between PIF3 and PHYA. The LHY/CCA1-PRR5/9, RVE4/8-PRR3/7 and PIF3-PHYA genetic linkages emerged in the bryophyte lineage and progressively moved within several genes of each other across an array of higher plant families representing distinct whole genome duplication and fractionation events. Soybean maintains all but two genetic linkages, and expression analysis revealed the PIF3-PHYA linkage overlapping with the E4 maturity group locus was the only pair to robustly cycle with an evening phase in contrast to the sMYB-PRR morning and midday phase. While most monocots maintain the genetic linkages, they have been lost in the economically important grasses (Poaceae) such as maize where the genes have been fractionated to separate chromosomes and presence/absence variation results in the segregation of PRR7 paralogs across heterotic groups. The evolutionary conservation of the genetic linkage as well as its loss in the grasses provides new insight in the plant circadian clock, which has been a critical target of breeding and domestication.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Todd P. Michael ◽  
Evan Ernst ◽  
Nolan Hartwick ◽  
Philomena Chu ◽  
Douglas Bryant ◽  
...  

AbstractWolffia is the fastest growing plant genus on Earth with a recorded doubling time of less than a day. Wolffia has a dramatically reduced body plan, primarily growing through a continuous, budding-type asexual reproduction with no obvious phase transition. Most plants are bound by the 24-hour light-dark cycle with the majority of processes such as gene expression partitioned or phased to a specific time-of-day (TOD). However, the role that TOD information and the circadian clock plays in facilitating the growth of a fast-growing plant is unknown. Here we generated draft reference genomes for Wolffia australiana (Benth.) Hartog & Plas to monitor gene expression over a two-day time course under light-dark cycles. Wolffia australiana has the smallest genome size in the genus at 357 Mb and has a dramatically reduced gene set at 15,312 with a specific loss of root (WOX5), vascular (CASP), circadian (TOC1), and light-signaling (NPH3) genes. Remarkably, it has also lost all but one of the NLR genes that are known to be involved in innate immunity. In addition, only 13% of its genes cycle, which is far less than in other plants, with an overrepresentation of genes associated with carbon processing and chloroplast-related functions. Despite having a focused set of cycling genes, TOD cis-elements are conserved in W. australiana, consistent with the overall conservation of transcriptional networks. In contrast to the model plants Arabidopsis thaliana and Oryza sativa, the reduction in cycling genes correlates with fewer pathways under TOD control in Wolffia, which could reflect a release of functional gating. Since TOD networks and the circadian clock work to gate activities to specific times of day, this minimization of regulation may enable Wolffia to grow continuously with optimal economy. Wolffia is an ideal model to study the transcriptional control of growth and the findings presented here could serve as a template for plant improvement.


2019 ◽  
Vol 116 (11) ◽  
pp. 5102-5107 ◽  
Author(s):  
Percy Griffin ◽  
Julie M. Dimitry ◽  
Patrick W. Sheehan ◽  
Brian V. Lananna ◽  
Chun Guo ◽  
...  

Circadian dysfunction is a common attribute of many neurodegenerative diseases, most of which are associated with neuroinflammation. Circadian rhythm dysfunction has been associated with inflammation in the periphery, but the role of the core clock in neuroinflammation remains poorly understood. Here we demonstrate that Rev-erbα, a nuclear receptor and circadian clock component, is a mediator of microglial activation and neuroinflammation. We observed time-of-day oscillation in microglial immunoreactivity in the hippocampus, which was disrupted in Rev-erbα−/− mice. Rev-erbα deletion caused spontaneous microglial activation in the hippocampus and increased expression of proinflammatory transcripts, as well as secondary astrogliosis. Transcriptomic analysis of hippocampus from Rev-erbα−/− mice revealed a predominant inflammatory phenotype and suggested dysregulated NF-κB signaling. Primary Rev-erbα−/− microglia exhibited proinflammatory phenotypes and increased basal NF-κB activation. Chromatin immunoprecipitation revealed that Rev-erbα physically interacts with the promoter regions of several NF-κB–related genes in primary microglia. Loss of Rev-erbα in primary astrocytes had no effect on basal activation but did potentiate the inflammatory response to lipopolysaccharide (LPS). In vivo, Rev-erbα−/− mice exhibited enhanced hippocampal neuroinflammatory responses to peripheral LPS injection, while pharmacologic activation of Rev-erbs with the small molecule agonist SR9009 suppressed LPS-induced hippocampal neuroinflammation. Rev-erbα deletion influenced neuronal health, as conditioned media from Rev-erbα–deficient primary glial cultures exacerbated oxidative damage in cultured neurons. Rev-erbα−/− mice also exhibited significantly altered cortical resting-state functional connectivity, similar to that observed in neurodegenerative models. Our results reveal Rev-erbα as a pharmacologically accessible link between the circadian clock and neuroinflammation.


2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 11-12
Author(s):  
K Parasram ◽  
D Bachetti ◽  
P Karpowicz

Abstract Background The circadian clock is a 24-hour feedback loop that drives rhythms in behaviours and physiological processes. This molecular timekeeper consists of the transcription factors, Clock-Cycle, that drive expression of thousands of clock-controlled genes, with two of these, Period and Timeless, acting as negative regulators of Clock-Cycle. This fundamental mechanism was initially characterized in the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster (Nobel Prize in Physiology & Medicine, 2017), and is highly conserved in humans. The intestine, or midgut, of Drosophila, is also similar to the human small intestine consisting of similar cellular lineage, signaling pathways, and physiological functions. The lineage of the Drosophila intestine contains the same four cell types as humans: intestinal stem cells (ISCs), progenitors called enteroblasts, enterocytes and enteroendocrine cells. This simplified lineage as well as the genetic tools available, make Drosophila an ideal model for intestinal regeneration in health and disease. We have previously shown that the circadian clock is active in ISCs, EBs and ECs during both homeostatic and regenerating conditions. Furthermore, the circadian clock regulates the mitosis of ISCs under regenerating conditions. Aims We sought to uncover if Jak/STAT signaling, one of the key pathways involved in ISC proliferation in the Drosophila intestine, shows a circadian rhythm and if there is a time-of-day difference in the regenerative response. Methods To test whether the clock regulates Jak/STAT during acute injury, we developed an irradiation assay that does not affect survival but acutely disrupts intestinal barrier function. Results Using a dynamic reporter of Jak/STAT activity we show that Period circadian clock mutants have low Jak/STAT signaling and a leaky gut phenotype. Wildtype controls show time-dependent gut leakiness upon irradiation, which is higher and time-independent in Period mutants. The level of Jak/STAT response differs depending on the time of irradiation in the controls, but is higher at all times in the mutants. Conclusions The Jak/Stat pathway regulates intestinal immunity and epithelial cell proliferation in humans, thus playing a role in colorectal cancer and inflammatory bowel disease. Our results suggest Jak/Stat is controlled by the circadian clock, which has implications for intestinal recovery following medical treatments, including radiation therapy. Funding Agencies NRC


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alekhya Puppala ◽  
Sourbh Rankawat ◽  
Sandipan Ray

Background: Intrinsic rhythms in host and cancer cells play an imperative role in tumorigenesis and anticancer therapy. Circadian medicine in cancer is principally reliant on the control of growth and development of cancer cells or tissues by targeting the molecular clock and implementing time-of-day-based anticancer treatments for therapeutic improvements. In recent years, based on extensive high-throughput studies, we witnessed the arrival of several drugs and drug-like compounds that can modulate circadian timekeeping for therapeutic gain in cancer management. Objective: This perspective article intends to illustrate the current trends in circadian medicine in cancer, focusing on clock-modulating pharmacological compounds and circadian regulation of anticancer drug metabolism and efficacy. Scope and Approach: Considering the critical roles of the circadian clock in metabolism, cell signaling, and apoptosis, chronopharmacology research is exceedingly enlightening for understanding cancer biology and improving anticancer therapeutics. In addition to reviewing the relevant literature, we investigated the rhythmic expression of molecular targets for many anticancer drugs frequently used to treat different cancer types. Key Findings and Conclusion: There are adequate empirical pieces of evidence supporting circadian regulation of drug metabolism, transport, and detoxification. Administration of anticancer drugs at specific dosing times can improve their effectiveness and reduce the toxic effects. Moreover, pharmacological modulators of the circadian clock could be used for targeted anticancer therapeutics such as boosting circadian rhythms in the host can markedly reduce the growth and viability of tumors. All in all, precision chronomedicine can offer multiple advantages over conventional anticancer therapy.


2017 ◽  
Vol 55 (3) ◽  
pp. 2565-2576 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mustafa Caglar Beker ◽  
Berrak Caglayan ◽  
Esra Yalcin ◽  
Ahmet Burak Caglayan ◽  
Seyma Turkseven ◽  
...  

Planta ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 218 (1) ◽  
pp. 159-162 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria E. Eriksson ◽  
Shigeru Hanano ◽  
Megan M. Southern ◽  
Anthony Hall ◽  
Andrew J. Millar

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kenya Tanaka ◽  
Ginga Shimakawa ◽  
Shuji Nakanishi

AbstractAs an adaptation to periodic fluctuations of environmental light, photosynthetic organisms have evolved a circadian clock. Control by the circadian clock of many cellular physiological functions, including antioxidant enzymes, metabolism and the cell cycle, has attracted attention in the context of oxidative stress tolerance. However, since each physiological function works in an integrated manner to deal with oxidative stress, whether or not cell responses to oxidative stress are under circadian control remains an open question. In fact, circadian rhythms of oxidative stress tolerance have not yet been experimentally demonstrated. In the present work, we applied an assay using methyl viologen (MV), which generates reactive oxygen species (ROS) under light irradiation, and experimentally verified the circadian rhythms of oxidative stress tolerance in photosynthetic cells of the cyanobacterium Synechococcus elongatus PCC7942, a standard model species for investigation of the circadian clock. Here, we report that ROS generated by MV treatment causes damage to stroma components and not to the photosynthetic electron transportation chain, leading to reduced cell viability. The degree of decrease in cell viability was dependent on the subjective time at which oxidative stress was applied. Thus, oxidative stress tolerance was shown to exhibit circadian rhythms. In addition, the rhythmic pattern of oxidative stress tolerance disappeared in mutant cells lacking the essential clock genes. Notably, ROS levels changed periodically, independent of the MV treatment. Thus, we demonstrate for the first time that in cyanobacterial cells, oxidative stress tolerance shows circadian oscillation.


2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. 2001-2008 ◽  
Author(s):  
Norman Atkins ◽  
Shifang Ren ◽  
Nathan Hatcher ◽  
Penny W. Burgoon ◽  
Jennifer W. Mitchell ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
Vol 48 (1) ◽  
pp. 128-139
Author(s):  
Yu-E DING ◽  
Wenkai HUANG ◽  
Bo SHU ◽  
Ying-Ning ZOU ◽  
Qiang-Sheng WU ◽  
...  

Circadian clock is usually involved in many physiological processes of plants, including responses to abiotic stress, whilst pseudo-response regulator 7 (PRR7) gene is the main component of the circadian clock. In this study, the cDNA of the PRR7 gene was obtained from trifoliate orange (Poncirus trifoliata). Based on the sequence analysis, the PtPRR7 gene had an open reading frame of 2343 bp, encoded 780 amino acids, and contained proteins of the REC and CCT domains. Subcellular localization indicated that PtPRR7 was mainly localized in the nucleus and a small amount of cytoplasm. qRT-PCR analysis revealed the highest expression level of PtPRR7 in roots than in both shoots and leaves. The PtPRR7 gene during 24 hours of soil water deficit exhibited a circadian rhythmic expression pattern: the expression peak at 9:00 am in leaves and at 21:00 pm in roots. Drought treatment affected PtPRR7 gene expression. Such data provide important references for understanding the characteristics of PtPRR7 gene in citrus plants.


2020 ◽  
Vol 35 (3) ◽  
pp. 227-234 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pyonghwa Kim ◽  
Brianna Porr ◽  
Tetsuya Mori ◽  
Yong-Sung Kim ◽  
Carl H. Johnson ◽  
...  

The circadian clock is a timekeeping system in most organisms that keeps track of the time of day. The rhythm generated by the circadian oscillator must be constantly synchronized with the environmental day/night cycle to make the timekeeping system truly advantageous. In the cyanobacterial circadian clock, quinone is a biological signaling molecule used for entraining and fine-tuning the oscillator, a process in which the external signals are transduced into biological metabolites that adjust the phase of the circadian oscillation. Among the clock proteins, the pseudo-receiver domain of KaiA and CikA can sense external cues by detecting the oxidation state of quinone, a metabolite that reflects the light/dark cycle, although the molecular mechanism is not fully understood. Here, we show the antagonistic phase shifts produced by the quinone sensing of KaiA and CikA. We introduced a new cyanobacterial circadian clock mixture that includes an input component in vitro. KaiA and CikA cause phase advances and delays, respectively, in this circadian clock mixture in response to the quinone signal. In the entrainment process, oxidized quinone modulates the functions of KaiA and CikA, which dominate alternatively at day and night in the cell. This in turn changes the phosphorylation state of KaiC—the central oscillator in cyanobacteria—ensuring full synchronization of the circadian clock. Moreover, we reemphasize the mechanistic input functionality of CikA, contrary to other reports that focus only on its output action.


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