Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 8, 2026

Monitoring Cell-autonomous Circadian Clock Rhythms of Gene Expression Using Luciferase Bioluminescence Reporters
Published on: September 27, 2012
Circadian Rhythm of the Prokaryote Synechococcus sp. RF-1
1Institute of Botany, Academia Sinica, Nankang, Taipei, Taiwan 11529, Republic of China.
Abstract:
The prokaryotic Synechococcus sp. RF-1 exhibited a nitrogen fixation circadian rhythm with characteristics remarkably similar to the circadian rhythm of eukaryotes. The rhythm had a free-running period of about 24 hours when the length of the preen-trained cycle did not differ too much from 24 hours, and it was insensitive to changes in temperature from 22 degrees C to 33 degrees C. Because the endogenous rhythm of nitrogen fixation was not affected by a phase-shift of its previous cycles, the circadian rhythm in Synechococcus sp. RF-1 was not considered to be controlled simply by a feedback mechanism.
Related Concept Videos
Circadian Rhythms and Gene Regulation
Circadian Rhythms and Gene Regulation
Prokaryotic cells
Prokaryotic Cells
Like eukaryotic cells, all prokaryotic cells are surrounded by a plasma membrane, have genetic material in the form of single, circular DNA, a cytoplasm that fills the interior of the cell, and ribosomes that synthesize proteins.
Prokaryotic Cells
Transcription Attenuation in Prokaryotes
There are several different mechanisms used to attenuate transcription. In ribosome mediated...

