scholarly journals Accurate timekeeping is controlled by a cycling activator in Arabidopsis

eLife ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
Author(s):  
Polly Yingshan Hsu ◽  
Upendra K Devisetty ◽  
Stacey L Harmer
Keyword(s):  
Regulatory Network ◽  
Clock Gene ◽  
Regulatory Mechanism ◽  
Clock Genes ◽  
Feedback Loops ◽  
Transcriptional Repressors ◽  
Gene Transcripts ◽  
And Control ◽  
Complex Regulatory Network ◽  
Transcriptional Feedback

Transcriptional feedback loops are key to circadian clock function in many organisms. Current models of the Arabidopsis circadian network consist of several coupled feedback loops composed almost exclusively of transcriptional repressors. Indeed, a central regulatory mechanism is the repression of evening-phased clock genes via the binding of morning-phased Myb-like repressors to evening element (EE) promoter motifs. We now demonstrate that a related Myb-like protein, REVEILLE8 (RVE8), is a direct transcriptional activator of EE-containing clock and output genes. Loss of RVE8 and its close homologs causes a delay and reduction in levels of evening-phased clock gene transcripts and significant lengthening of clock pace. Our data suggest a substantially revised model of the circadian oscillator, with a clock-regulated activator essential both for clock progression and control of clock outputs. Further, our work suggests that the plant clock consists of a highly interconnected, complex regulatory network rather than of coupled morning and evening feedback loops.

PREMONition: An algorithm for predicting the circadian clock-regulated molecular network

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jasper Bosman ◽  
Zheng Eelderink-Chen ◽  
Emma Laing ◽  
Martha Merrow
Keyword(s):  
Circadian Clock ◽  
Clock Gene ◽  
Clock Genes ◽  
Circadian Clocks ◽  
Model Systems ◽  
Functional Relationships ◽  
Growth Assay ◽  
Living Organisms ◽  
Clock Mechanism ◽  
Transcriptional Feedback

AbstractA transcriptional feedback loop is central to clock function in animals, plants and fungi. The clock genes involved in its regulation are specific to - and highly conserved within - the kingdoms of life. However, other shared clock mechanisms, such as phosphorylation, are mediated by proteins found broadly among living organisms, performing functions in many cellular sub-systems. Use of homology to directly infer involvement/association with the clock mechanism in new, developing model systems, is therefore of limited use. Here we describe the approach PREMONition,PREdictingMolecularNetworks, that uses functional relationships to predict molecular circadian clock associations. PREMONition is based on the incorporation of proteins encoded by known clock genes (when available), rhythmically expressed clock-controlled genes and non-rhythmically expressed but interacting genes into a cohesive network. After tuning PREMONition on the networks derived for human, fly and fungal circadian clocks, we deployed the approach to predict a molecular clock network forSaccharomyces cerevisiae, for which there are no readily-identifiable clock gene homologs. The predicted network was validated using gene expression data and a growth assay for sensitivity to light, a zeitgeber of circadian clocks of most organisms. PREMONition may be used to identify candidate clock-regulated processes and thus candidate clock genes in other organisms.

scholarly journals Expression Patterns of Clock Gene mRNAs and Clock Proteins in Human Psoriatic Skin Samples

2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 121
Author(s):  
Viktória Németh ◽  
Szabina Horváth ◽  
Ágnes Kinyó ◽  
Rolland Gyulai ◽  
Zsuzsanna Lengyel
Keyword(s):  
Clock Gene ◽  
Clock Genes ◽  
Expression Patterns ◽  
Psoriatic Skin ◽  
Healthy Skin ◽  
Lesional Skin ◽  
Clock Proteins ◽  
Gene Transcripts ◽  
Skin Biopsies ◽  
Inflammatory Skin Disorder

Psoriasis is a systemic inflammatory skin disorder that can be associated with sleep disturbance and negatively influence the daily rhythm. The link between the pathomechanism of psoriasis and the circadian rhythm has been suggested by several previous studies. However, there are insufficient data on altered clock mechanisms in psoriasis to prove these theories. Therefore, we investigated the expression of the core clock genes in human psoriatic lesional and non-lesional skin and in human adult low calcium temperature (HaCaT) keratinocytes after stimulation with pro-inflammatory cytokines. Furthermore, we examined the clock proteins in skin biopsies from psoriatic patients by immunohistochemistry. We found that the clock gene transcripts were elevated in psoriatic lesions, especially in non-lesional psoriatic areas, except for rev-erbα, which was consistently downregulated in the psoriatic samples. In addition, the REV-ERBα protein showed a different epidermal distribution in non-lesional skin than in healthy skin. In cytokine-treated HaCaT cells, changes in the amplitude of the bmal1, cry1, rev-erbα and per1 mRNA oscillation were observed, especially after TNFα stimulation. In conclusion, in our study a perturbation of clock gene transcripts was observed in uninvolved and lesional psoriatic areas compared to healthy skin. These alterations may serve as therapeutic targets and facilitate the development of chronotherapeutic strategies in the future.

scholarly journals Control of tissue homeostasis, tumorigenesis, and degeneration by coupled bidirectional bistable switches

2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (11) ◽  
pp. e1009606
Author(s):  
Diego Barra Avila ◽  
Juan R. Melendez-Alvarez ◽  
Xiao-Jun Tian
Keyword(s):  
Regulatory Network ◽  
Physiological State ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Feedback Loops ◽  
Tissue Homeostasis ◽  
State Transitions ◽  
Stochastic Fluctuations ◽  
The One ◽  
Theoretical Analyses ◽  
Complex Regulatory Network

The Hippo-YAP/TAZ signaling pathway plays a critical role in tissue homeostasis, tumorigenesis, and degeneration disorders. The regulation of YAP/TAZ levels is controlled by a complex regulatory network, where several feedback loops have been identified. However, it remains elusive how these feedback loops contain the YAP/TAZ levels and maintain the system in a healthy physiological state or trap the system in pathological conditions. Here, a mathematical model was developed to represent the YAP/TAZ regulatory network. Through theoretical analyses, three distinct states that designate the one physiological and two pathological outcomes were found. The transition from the physiological state to the two pathological states is mechanistically controlled by coupled bidirectional bistable switches, which are robust to parametric variation and stochastic fluctuations at the molecular level. This work provides a mechanistic understanding of the regulation and dysregulation of YAP/TAZ levels in tissue state transitions.

scholarly journals Circadian disruption alters mouse lung clock gene expression and lung mechanics

2012 ◽  
Vol 113 (3) ◽  
pp. 385-392 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hélène Hadden ◽  
Steven J. Soldin ◽  
Donald Massaro
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Clock Gene ◽  
Clock Genes ◽  
Circadian Disruption ◽  
Lung Mechanics ◽  
Mouse Lung ◽  
Clock Gene Expression ◽  
Light Regimen ◽  
And Behavior ◽  
And Control

Most aspects of human physiology and behavior exhibit 24-h rhythms driven by a master circadian clock in the brain, which synchronizes peripheral clocks. Lung function and ventilation are subject to circadian regulation and exhibit circadian oscillations. Sleep disruption, which causes circadian disruption, is common in those with chronic lung disease, and in the general population; however, little is known about the effect on the lung of circadian disruption. We tested the hypothesis circadian disruption alters expression of clock genes in the lung and that this is associated with altered lung mechanics. Female and male mice were maintained on a 12:12-h light/dark cycle (control) or exposed for 4 wk to a shifting light regimen mimicking chronic jet lag (CJL). Airway resistance (Rn), tissue damping (G), and tissue elastance (H) did not differ between control and CJL females. Rn at positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) of 2 and 3 cmH2O was lower in CJL males compared with controls. G, H, and G/H did not differ between CJL and control males. Among CJL females, expression of clock genes, Bmal1 and Rev-erb alpha, was decreased; expression of their repressors, Per2 and Cry 2, was increased. Among CJL males, expression of Clock was decreased; Per 2 and Rev-erb alpha expression was increased. We conclude circadian disruption alters lung mechanics and clock gene expression and does so in a sexually dimorphic manner.

scholarly journals FarRRegulates the farAB-Encoded Efflux Pump of Neisseriagonorrhoeae via an MtrR RegulatoryMechanism

2003 ◽  
Vol 185 (24) ◽  
pp. 7145-7152 ◽  
Author(s):  
E.-H. Lee ◽  
C. Rouquette-Loughlin ◽  
J. P. Folster ◽  
W. M. Shafer
Keyword(s):  
Regulatory Mechanism ◽  
Efflux Pump ◽  
Regulatory Protein ◽  
Transcriptional Repressors ◽  
Sequence Database ◽  
Mobility Shift ◽  
Pump System ◽  
Regulatory Cascade ◽  
Genome Sequence Database ◽  
Gel Mobility Shift

ABSTRACT The farAB operon of Neisseria gonorrhoeae encodes an efflux pump which mediates gonococcal resistance to antibacterial fatty acids. It was previously observed that expression of the farAB operon was positively regulated by MtrR, which is a repressor of the mtrCDE-encoded efflux pump system (E.-H. Lee and W. M. Shafer, Mol. Microbiol. 33:839-845, 1999). This regulation was believed to be indirect since MtrR did not bind to the farAB promoter. In this study, computer analysis of the gonococcal genome sequence database, lacZ reporter fusions, and gel mobility shift assays were used to elucidate the regulatory mechanism by which expression of the farAB operon is modulated by MtrR in gonococci. We identified a regulatory protein belonging to the MarR family of transcriptional repressors and found that it negatively controls expression of farAB by directly binding to the farAB promoter. We designated this regulator FarR to signify its role in regulating the farAB operon. We found that MtrR binds to the farR promoter, thereby repressing farR expression. Hence, MtrR regulates farAB in a positive fashion by modulating farR expression. This MtrR regulatory cascade seems to play an important role in adjusting levels of the FarAB and MtrCDE efflux pumps to prevent their excess expression in gonococci.

scholarly journals Loss of synergistic transcriptional feedback loops drives diverse B-cell cancers

EBioMedicine ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 71 ◽  
pp. 103559
Author(s):  
Jared M. Andrews ◽  
Sarah C. Pyfrom ◽  
Jennifer A. Schmidt ◽  
Olivia I. Koues ◽  
Rodney A. Kowalewski ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
B Cell ◽  
Feedback Loops ◽  
Transcriptional Feedback

scholarly journals Clock genes and cancer development in particular in endocrine tissues

2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (6) ◽  
pp. R305-R317 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Angelousi ◽  
Eva Kassi ◽  
Narjes Ansari-Nasiri ◽  
Harpal Randeva ◽  
Gregory Kaltsas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Disruption ◽  
Clock Gene ◽  
Clock Genes ◽  
Cancer Susceptibility ◽  
Chemotherapeutic Agents ◽  
Dna Damage And Repair ◽  
Normal Tissues ◽  
Oncogenic Pathways ◽  
Parathyroid Adenomas ◽  
Repair Mechanisms

Circadian rhythms at a central and peripheral level are operated by transcriptional/translational feedback loops involving a set of genes called ‘clock genes’ that have been implicated in the development of several diseases, including malignancies. Dysregulation of the Clock system can influence cancer susceptibility by regulating DNA damage and repair mechanisms, as well as apoptosis. A number of oncogenic pathways can be dysregulated via clock genes’ epigenetic alterations, including hypermethylation of clock genes’ promoters or variants of clock genes. Clock gene disruption has been studied in breast, lung and prostate cancer, and haematological malignancies. However, it is still not entirely clear whether clock gene disruption is the cause or the consequence of tumourigenesis and data in endocrine neoplasms are scarce. Recent findings suggest that clock genes are implicated in benign and malignant adrenocortical neoplasias. They have been also associated with follicular and papillary thyroid carcinomas and parathyroid adenomas, as well as pituitary adenomas and craniopharyngiomas. Dysregulation of clock genes is also encountered in ovarian and testicular tumours and may also be related with their susceptibility to chemotherapeutic agents. The most common clock genes that are implicated in endocrine neoplasms are PER1, CRY1; in most cases their expression is downregulated in tumoural compared to normal tissues. Although there is still a lot to be done for the better understanding of the role of clock genes in endocrine tumourigenenesis, existing evidence could guide research and help identify novel therapeutic targets aiming mainly at the peripheral components of the clock gene system.

scholarly journals Vasopressinergic Activity of the Suprachiasmatic Nucleus and mRNA Expression of Clock Genes in the Hypothalamus-Pituitary-Gonadal Axis in Female Aging

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angela Cristina Nicola ◽  
Larissa Brazoloto Ferreira ◽  
Milene Mantovani Mata ◽  
Tatiane Vilhena-Franco ◽  
Cristiane Mota Leite ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mrna Expression ◽  
Suprachiasmatic Nucleus ◽  
Clock Genes ◽  
Feedback Loops ◽  
Female Rats ◽  
Hpg Axis ◽  
Physiological Processes ◽  
Reproductive Axis ◽  
Reproductive Events ◽  
Vasopressinergic Neurons

The important involvement of the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) and the activity of vasopressinergic neurons in maintaining the rhythmicity of the female reproductive system depends on the mRNA transcription-translation feedback loops. Therefore, circadian clock function, like most physiological processes, is involved in the events that determine reproductive aging. This study describes the change of mRNA expression of clock genes, Per2, Bmal1, and Rev-erbα, in the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal axis (HPG) of female rats with regular cycle (RC) and irregular cycle (IC), and the vasopressinergic neurons activity in the SCN and kisspeptin neurons in the arcuate nucleus (ARC) of these animals. Results for gonadotropins and the cFos/AVP-ir neurons in the SCN of IC were higher, but kisspeptin-ir was minor. Change in the temporal synchrony of the clock system in the HPG axis, during the period prior to the cessation of ovulatory cycles, was identified. The analysis of mRNA for Per2, Bmal1, and Rev-erbα in the reproductive axis of adult female rodents shows that the regularity of the estrous cycle is guaranteed by alternation in the amount of expression of Bmal1 and Per2, and Rev-erbα and Bmal1 between light and dark phases, which ceases to occur and contributes to determining reproductive senescence. These results showed that the desynchronization between the central and peripheral circadian clocks contributes to the irregularity of reproductive events. We suggest that the feedback loops of clock genes on the HPG axis modulate the spontaneous transition from regular to irregular cycle and to acyclicity in female rodents.

The Circadian Clock inArabidopsisRoots Is a Simplified Slave Version of the Clock in Shoots

Science ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 322 (5909) ◽  
pp. 1832-1835 ◽  
Author(s):  
Allan B. James ◽  
José A. Monreal ◽  
Gillian A. Nimmo ◽  
Ciarán L. Kelly ◽  
Pawel Herzyk ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Transcription Factors ◽  
Circadian Clock ◽  
Clock Genes ◽  
Plant Cells ◽  
Feedback Loops ◽  
Circadian Oscillator ◽  
Inhibit Gene Expression ◽  
Organ Specific ◽  
Plant Clock

The circadian oscillator in eukaryotes consists of several interlocking feedback loops through which the expression of clock genes is controlled. It is generally assumed that all plant cells contain essentially identical and cell-autonomous multiloop clocks. Here, we show that the circadian clock in the roots of matureArabidopsisplants differs markedly from that in the shoots and that the root clock is synchronized by a photosynthesis-related signal from the shoot. Two of the feedback loops of the plant circadian clock are disengaged in roots, because two key clock components, the transcription factors CCA1 and LHY, are able to inhibit gene expression in shoots but not in roots. Thus, the plant clock is organ-specific but not organ-autonomous.

scholarly journals MECHANISMS IN ENDOCRINOLOGY: A sense of time of the glucocorticoid circadian clock: from the ontogeny to the diagnosis of Cushing’s syndrome

2018 ◽  
Vol 179 (1) ◽  
pp. R1-R18 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ayrton Custodio Moreira ◽  
Sonir Rauber Antonini ◽  
Margaret de Castro
Keyword(s):  
Circadian Rhythm ◽  
Circadian Clock ◽  
Clock Genes ◽  
Circadian Variation ◽  
Circadian System ◽  
Feedback Loops ◽  
Adrenal Axis ◽  
Sense Of Time ◽  
Pituitary Adrenal Axis ◽  
Hierarchical Manner

The circadian rhythm of glucocorticoids has long been recognised within the last 75 years. Since the beginning, researchers have sought to identify basic mechanisms underlying the origin and emergence of the corticosteroid circadian rhythmicity among mammals. Accordingly, Young, Hall and Rosbash, laureates of the 2017 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, as well as Takahashi’s group among others, have characterised the molecular cogwheels of the circadian system, describing interlocking transcription/translation feedback loops essential for normal circadian rhythms. Plasma glucocorticoid circadian variation depends on the expression of intrinsic clock genes within the anatomic components of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis, which are organised in a hierarchical manner. This review presents a general overview of the glucocorticoid circadian clock mechanisms, highlighting the ontogeny of the pituitary–adrenal axis diurnal rhythmicity as well as the involvement of circadian rhythm abnormalities in the physiopathology and diagnosis of Cushing’s disease.

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