Individual peroxiredoxin or Tor pathway components are not required for circadian clock function in Neurospora crassa

Area of Science:

• * Chronobiology
• * Molecular Mycology
• * Systems Biology

Background:

• * Circadian systems often involve multiple interacting oscillators for temporal accuracy.
• * In Neurospora, the core circadian clock relies on the Frequency (FRQ) and White Collar Complex (WCC) oscillator (FWO).
• * FRQ-less oscillators (FLOs) represent non-circadian rhythms potentially regulated by other pathways when FWO is absent.

Purpose of the Study:

• * To investigate the role of peroxiredoxin (Prx) and mTOR pathways in regulating FRQ-less oscillators (FLOs).
• * To understand the hierarchical relationship between FLOs and the core FRQ-WCC oscillator (FWO) in Neurospora.
• * To determine if Prx and mTOR rhythms are essential for FWO function.

Main Methods:

• * Utilized gene knockouts in Neurospora crassa to disrupt candidate FLO effector pathways.
• * Assessed the impact of these knockouts on the circadian period and amplitude of the FWO.
• * Monitored molecular rhythms in Prx oxidation and mTOR activity.

Main Results:

• * Individual gene knockouts in Prx or mTOR pathways did not significantly alter the circadian period of the FWO.
• * The amplitude of the core FWO rhythm remained largely unaffected by the disruption of these candidate FLO pathways.
• * Molecular rhythms in Prx oxidation and mTOR activity do not appear to strongly regulate FWO components.

Conclusions:

• * The examined Prx and mTOR pathways are not essential for the core circadian clock (FWO) function in Neurospora.
• * Rhythms within these FLO effector pathways are unlikely to be major regulators of the FWO during a standard circadian cycle.
• * Further research is needed to fully elucidate the mechanisms and hierarchical control of FRQ-less oscillators.