Histone acetylation and the circadian clock

Abstract

Most organisms have developed an internal timing mechanism or circadian clock that is able to generate 24-hour biological rhythms in synchronization with the diurnal environmental changes. Despite our increasing understanding of the molecular machinery underlying circadian clock function, a complete picture of the components and regulatory mechanisms governing the circadian system in Arabidopsis thaliana is still lacking. In a recent study, we have characterized the role of the MYB-like transcription factor REVEILLE8/LHY-CCA1-LIKE5 (RVE8/LCL5) within the Arabidopsis circadian clock. We have generated RVE8/LCL5 mutant and overexpressing plants and showed that similar to the MYB-like transcription factor CIRCADIAN CLOCK-ASSOCIATED1 (CCA1), RVE8/LCL5 binds to the promoter of key clock component TOC1 (Timing of CAB expression 1) and regulates its circadian expression. However, the mechanisms of RVE8/LCL5 and CCA1 circadian function seem to differ: while CCA1 represses TOC1 expression by facilitating a hypo-acetylated state of Histone H3, RVE8/LCL5 contributes to TOC1 expression by favouring H3 acetylation at the TOC1 locus. Although CCA1 has a more predominant role on this regulation, our results showing the opposing function of RVE8/LCL5 open interesting questions about the complex networks of transcriptional regulators and chromatin remodeling activities that need to be integrated in synergistic and antagonistic ways to generate the circadian periodicity.