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Clock gene evolution and functional divergence.

Eran Tauber1, Kim S Last, Peter J W Olive

  • 1Department of Genetics, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK.

Journal of Biological Rhythms
|November 10, 2004
PubMed
Summary

Early life may have evolved biological clocks influenced by Earth's rapid 4-hour rotation 1.9 billion years ago. Gene duplication and rapid evolution in clock genes like PER followed, impacting circadian rhythms.

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Area of Science:

  • Geophysics
  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Chronobiology

Background:

  • Earth's geophysical conditions have significantly impacted life's evolution.
  • Earth's rotational period may have been as short as 4 hours approximately 1.9 billion years ago.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the implications of Earth's historical short rotational period on the origin and evolution of biological clocks.
  • To investigate the influence of early microbial "protoclocks" on subsequent clock gene evolution.

Main Methods:

  • Comparative analysis of canonical clock gene divergences.
  • Statistical testing to predict functional specialization in PER and CRY protein families.

Main Results:

  • The Per gene family exhibits the most rapid evolutionary divergence among canonical clock genes.

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  • Identified potential sites of functional specialization within PER and CRY proteins.

    • Conclusions:

    • Early microorganisms like Cyanobacteria may have developed "protoclocks" influenced by a rapid 4-hour day.
    • Gene duplication events around the Cambrian period and subsequent rapid evolution of clock genes, particularly PER, have shaped circadian systems.