Journal Article

Molecular mechanisms at the core of the plant circadian oscillator

Kay, Steve A, Nohales, Maria A

2016

Overview

This Review examines the molecular mechanisms underlying the plant circadian clock, highlighting the functions of transcriptional circuits and post-translational regulation in timing and describing how clock components integrate and respond to environmental signals. Circadian clocks are endogenous timekeeping networks that allow organisms to align their physiology with their changing environment and to perform biological processes at the most relevant times of the day and year. Initial feedback-loop models of the oscillator have been enriched by emerging evidence highlighting the increasing variety of factors and mechanisms that contribute to the generation of rhythms. In this Review, we consider the two major input pathways that connect the circadian clock of the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana to its environment and discuss recent advances in understanding of how transcriptional, post-translational and post-transcriptional mechanisms contribute to clock function.

• Publisher: Nature Publishing Group US,Nature Publishing Group
• Subject: 631/337 / 631/449 / Analysis / Arabidopsis - genetics / Arabidopsis - physiology / Arabidopsis Proteins - genetics / Arabidopsis Proteins - metabolism / Arabidopsis thaliana / Biochemistry / Biological activity / Biological clocks / Biological Microscopy / Changing environments / Circadian Clocks / Circadian rhythm / Circadian rhythms / Environment / Environmental changes / Gene Expression Regulation, Plant / Gene Regulatory Networks / Life Sciences / Membrane Biology / Molecular biology / Molecular mechanics / Molecular modelling / Oscillations / Oscillators / Physiological aspects / Physiology / Plant sciences / Post-transcription / Post-translation / Protein Interaction Maps / Protein Structure / review-article / Transcription factors / Transcriptional Activation / Translation