Open AccessGeneral Homeostasis of the Frequency of Circadian Oscillations
Author(s) -
Colin S. Pittendrigh,
Patricia C. Caldarola
Publication year - 1973
Publication title -
proceedings of the national academy of sciences of the united states of america
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.011
H-Index - 771
eISSN - 1091-6490
pISSN - 0027-8424
DOI - 10.1073/pnas.70.9.2697
Subject(s) - circadian rhythm , homeostasis , circadian clock , biology , neuroscience , endocrinology
Some well-defined statistical regularities characterize the change in period (τ) of cockroach circadian oscillations subjected to a large temperature step. These are explainable in terms of the well-known temperature-compensation (homeostasis) of τ of circadian oscillations. The same regularities are detectable in published data on the effect of several other variables affecting several other circadian oscillations. The proposition is then developed that the temperature-compensation of τ is only a special case of a general homeostatic conservation of the frequency of circadian oscillations in the face of all changes they are likely to encounter in the cell. Such a general homeostasis of τ is a functional prerequisite for an oscillator to function as a useful “clock.”