Open AccessThe circadian clock of Neurospora crassa
Author(s) -
Baker Christopher L.,
Loros Jennifer J.,
Dunlap Jay C.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
fems microbiology reviews
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.91
H-Index - 212
eISSN - 1574-6976
pISSN - 0168-6445
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-6976.2011.00288.x
Subject(s) - neurospora crassa , biology , circadian rhythm , circadian clock , neurospora , filamentous fungus , crassa , molecular clock , bacterial circadian rhythms , model organism , organism , oscillating gene , evolutionary biology , microbiology and biotechnology , genetics , computational biology , neuroscience , gene , phylogenetics , mutant
Circadian clocks organize our inner physiology with respect to the external world, providing life with the ability to anticipate and thereby better prepare for major fluctuations in its environment. Circadian systems are widely represented in nearly all major branches of life, except archaebacteria, and within the eukaryotes, the filamentous fungus Neurospora crassa has served for nearly half a century as a durable model organism for uncovering the basic circadian physiology and molecular biology. Studies using Neurospora have clarified our fundamental understanding of the clock as nested positive and negative feedback loops regulated through transcriptional and post‐transcriptional processes. These feedback loops are centered on a limited number of proteins that form molecular complexes, and their regulation provides a physical explanation for nearly all clock properties. This review will introduce the basics of circadian rhythms, the model filamentous fungus N. crassa , and provide an overview of the molecular components and regulation of the circadian clock.