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Updated: Feb 5, 2026
High-throughput Screening for Chemical Modulators of Post-transcriptionally Regulated Genes
Published on: March 3, 2015
Transcription factor CBF-1 is critical for circadian gene expression by modulating WHITE COLLAR complex recruitment
Xuemei Cao1, Xiao Liu1,2, Hongda Li1
1State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology and MOA Key Laboratory of Soil Microbiology, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China.
Abstract:
Transcription of the Neurospora crassa circadian clock gene frequency (frq) is an essential process in the negative feedback loop that controls circadian rhythms. WHITE COLLAR 1 (WC-1) and WHITE COLLAR 2 (WC-2) forms the WC complex (WCC) that is the main activator of frq transcription by binding to its promoter. Here, we show that Centromere Binding Factor 1 (CBF-1) is a critical component of the N. crassa circadian clock by regulating frq transcription. Deletion of cbf-1 resulted in long period and low amplitude rhythms, whereas overexpression of CBF-1 abolished the circadian rhythms. Loss of CBF-1 resulted in WC-independent FRQ expression and suppression of WCC activity. As WCC, CBF-1 also binds to the C-box at the frq promoter. Overexpression of CBF-1 impaired WCC binding to the C-box to suppress frq transcription. Together, our results suggest that the proper level of CBF-1 is critical for circadian clock function by suppressing WC-independent FRQ expression and by regulating WCC binding to the frq promoter.
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