Premium
Long and short isoforms of Neurospora clock protein FRQ support temperature‐compensated circadian rhythms
Author(s) -
Diernfellner Axel,
Colot Hildur V.,
Dintsis Orfeas,
Loros Jennifer J.,
Dunlap Jay C.,
Brunner Michael
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
febs letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.593
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1873-3468
pISSN - 0014-5793
DOI - 10.1016/j.febslet.2007.11.043
Subject(s) - circadian rhythm , neurospora , circadian clock , gene isoform , biology , alternative splicing , period (music) , rna splicing , microbiology and biotechnology , neurospora crassa , genetics , gene , endocrinology , rna , mutant , physics , acoustics
The large (l) and small (s) isoforms of FREQUENCY (FRQ) are elements of interconnected feedback loops of the Neurospora circadian clock. The expression ratio of l‐FRQ vs. s‐FRQ is regulated by thermosensitive splicing of an intron containing the initiation codon for l‐FRQ. We show that this splicing is dependent on light and temperature and displays a circadian rhythm. Strains expressing only l‐FRQ or s‐FRQ support short and long temperature‐compensated circadian rhythms, respectively. The thermosensitive expression ratio of FRQ isoforms influences period length in wt . Our data indicate that differential expression of FRQ isoforms is not required for temperature compensation but rather provides a means to fine‐tune period length in response to ambient temperature.