Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 15, 2026
07:42
Rapid Analysis of Circadian Phenotypes in Arabidopsis Protoplasts Transfected with a Luminescent Clock Reporter
Published on: September 17, 2016
The Neurospora crassa circadian clock
1Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, United Kingdom.
Advances in Genetics
|April 25, 2007
Summary
Neurospora crassa
Area of Science:
- Molecular biology
- Chronobiology
- Mycology
Background:
- The filamentous fungus Neurospora crassa is a key model organism for studying eukaryotic circadian clocks.
- Circadian rhythms are regulated by a core set of clock genes and proteins.
- Environmental cues like light and temperature fine-tune the molecular clockwork.
Purpose of the Study:
- To summarize the current understanding of the molecular basis of the Neurospora circadian system.
- To elucidate the fundamental components of model eukaryotic clocks.
- To highlight the role of clock genes and proteins in circadian rhythmicity.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on Neurospora crassa circadian clock mechanisms.
- Analysis of molecular pathways involved in circadian rhythm generation.
- Comparison of Neurospora's clockwork with other eukaryotic and prokaryotic systems.
Main Results:
- A conserved set of clock genes and proteins underlies circadian rhythmicity in eukaryotes.
- Environmental factors modulate clock periodicity and phase.
- The circadian clock controls numerous clock-controlled genes impacting physiology and behavior.
Conclusions:
- The Neurospora crassa model provides fundamental insights into eukaryotic circadian clock mechanisms.
- Understanding the basic building blocks of these clocks is crucial for further research.
- The interplay between clockwork and environmental cues is essential for robust circadian function.
Related Concept Videos
02:19Circadian Rhythms and Gene Regulation
The biological clock is involved in many aspects of regulating complex physiology in all animals. It was in 1935 when German zoologists, Hans Kalmus and Erwin Bünning, discovered the existence of circadian rhythm in Drosophila melanogaster. However, the internal molecular mechanisms behind the circadian clock remained a mystery until 1984, when Jeffrey C. Hall, Michael Rosbash, and Michael W. Young discovered the expression of the Per gene oscillating over a 24-hour cycle. In subsequent years,...
02:19Circadian Rhythms and Gene Regulation
The biological clock is involved in many aspects of regulating complex physiology in all animals. It was in 1935 when German zoologists, Hans Kalmus and Erwin Bünning, discovered the existence of circadian rhythm in Drosophila melanogaster. However, the internal molecular mechanisms behind the circadian clock remained a mystery until 1984, when Jeffrey C. Hall, Michael Rosbash, and Michael W. Young discovered the expression of the Per gene oscillating over a 24-hour cycle. In subsequent years,...
02:45Biological Clocks and Seasonal Responses
The circadian—or biological—clock is an intrinsic, timekeeping, molecular mechanism that allows plants to coordinate physiological activities over 24-hour cycles called circadian rhythms. Photoperiodism is a collective term for the biological responses of plants to variations in the relative lengths of dark and light periods. The period of light-exposure is called the photoperiod.
01:17Gene Regulation During Sporulation
Sporulation is a complex developmental process that allows certain Gram-positive bacteria, such as Bacillus subtilis and Clostridium species, to survive extreme environmental conditions. This process is tightly regulated by a series of signaling cascades and transcriptional controls, ensuring the formation of a highly resistant endospore.Sporulation is triggered by unfavorable conditions, such as nutrient depletion, and is governed by a phosphorelay system. One of the sensor kinases, such as...
01:28Fungal Phylum Microsporidia
Microsporidia are a group of obligate intracellular fungi that were initially classified as protists but were later reclassified based on phylogenetic, molecular, and structural evidence linking them to the Chytridiomycota. These unicellular, non-motile organisms are highly specialized parasites that infect a wide range of animal hosts, including humans. They have evolved extensive genomic and metabolic reductions, making them highly dependent on their hosts for survival.Morphology and Genomic...
01:15Chronopharmacokinetics: Circadian Rhythms and Influence on Drug Response
Circadian rhythms are cyclic changes that are crucial in plasma drug concentrations. Various standard circadian parameters, including core body temperature, heart rate, and other cardiovascular factors, directly impact disease states and the therapeutic response to drug therapy.
The time of drug administration is an important factor to consider, as it can influence the toxic dose of a drug. For example, a study conducted by Prins et al. in 1997 examined the effects of the timing of...
The time of drug administration is an important factor to consider, as it can influence the toxic dose of a drug. For example, a study conducted by Prins et al. in 1997 examined the effects of the timing of...