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Updated: Jul 9, 2026

Rapid Analysis of Circadian Phenotypes in Arabidopsis Protoplasts Transfected with a Luminescent Clock Reporter
Published on: September 17, 2016
The Arabidopsis circadian clock incorporates a cADPR-based feedback loop
Antony N Dodd1, Michael J Gardner, Carlos T Hotta
1Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EA, UK.
The plant circadian clock uses cyclic adenosine diphosphate ribose (cADPR) to regulate its transcriptional feedback loops. This signaling molecule drives calcium oscillations, forming a novel feedback mechanism within the clock.
Area of Science:
- Plant biology
- Chronobiology
- Molecular signaling
Background:
- Circadian clocks in plants and animals rely on transcriptional feedback loops.
- The role of cytosolic signaling molecules in plant circadian rhythms is not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the involvement of cyclic adenosine diphosphate ribose (cADPR) in the plant circadian clock.
- To determine if cADPR modulates transcriptional feedback loops and influences calcium oscillations.
Main Methods:
- Utilized antagonists of cADPR signaling.
- Manipulated cADPR synthesis pathways.
- Employed mathematical simulations to model cADPR-circadian clock interactions.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated that cADPR modulates the transcriptional feedback loops of the circadian oscillator.
- Showed that cADPR drives circadian oscillations in cytosolic calcium (Ca2+) release.
- Evidence suggests cADPR forms an integral feedback loop within the plant circadian clock.
Conclusions:
- cADPR is a key component of the plant circadian clock.
- cADPR signaling influences both transcriptional regulation and calcium dynamics in circadian rhythms.
- The study reveals a novel feedback mechanism involving cADPR in plant timekeeping.
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