Circadian Components Research Articles

Resveratrol: brain effects on SIRT1, GPR50 and photoperiodic signaling.

Silent information regulator-1 (SIRT1) deacetylase, a sensor of intermittent energy restriction, is inextricably intertwined with circadian regulation of central and peripheral clock genes. The purpose of this study was to identify SIRT1-specific target genes that are expressed in a circadian rhythm pattern and driven, in part, by specific components of foodstuffs. Using human cells and rats fed with a resveratrol diet we show that SIRT1 binds to, and transcriptionally regulates, a gene locus encoding the G protein-coupled receptor (GPR), GPR50 in the brain. GPR50 is the mammalian orthologue of the melatonin1c membrane-bound receptor which has been identified as a genetic risk factor for bipolar disorder and major depression in women. In general, our findings support and expand the notion that circadian clock signaling components and dietary interventions are adaptively linked, and suggest that the brain may be particularly sensitive to metabolic events in response to light-dark cycles.

Silencing Nicotiana attenuata LHY and ZTL alters circadian rhythms in flowers

The rhythmic opening/closing and volatile emissions of flowers are known to attract pollinators at specific times. That these rhythms are maintained under constant light or dark conditions suggests a circadian clock involvement. Although a forward and reverse genetic approach has led to the identification of core circadian clock components in Arabidopsis thaliana, the involvement of these clock components in floral rhythms has remained untested, probably because of the weak diurnal rhythms in A.thaliana flowers. Here, we addressed the role of these core clock components in the flowers of the wild tobacco Nicotiana attenuata, whose flowers open at night, emit benzyl acetone (BA) scents and move vertically through a 140° arc. We first measured N.attenuata floral rhythms under constant light conditions. The results suggest that the circadian clock controls flower opening, BA emission and pedicel movement, but not flower closing. We generated transgenic N.attenuata lines silenced in the homologous genes of Arabidopsis LATE ELONGATED HYPOCOTYL (LHY) and ZEITLUPE (ZTL), which are known to be core clock components. Silencing NaLHY and NaZTL strongly altered floral rhythms in different ways, indicating that conserved clock components in N.attenuata coordinate these floral rhythms.

Cardiomyocyte-specific Bmal1 deletion in mice triggers diastolic dysfunction, extracellular matrix response, and impaired resolution of inflammation.

The mammalian circadian clock consists of multiple transcriptional regulators that coordinate biological processes in a time-of-day-dependent manner. Cardiomyocyte-specific deletion of the circadian clock component, Bmal1 (aryl hydrocarbon receptor nuclear translocator-like protein 1), leads to age-dependent dilated cardiomyopathy and decreased lifespan in mice. We investigated whether cardiomyocyte-specific Bmal1 knockout (CBK) mice display early alterations in cardiac diastolic function, extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling, and inflammation modulators by investigating CBK mice and littermate controls at 8 and 28 wk of age (i.e., prior to overt systolic dysfunction). Left ventricles of CBK mice exhibited (P < 0.05): 1) progressive abnormal diastolic septal annular wall motion and reduced pulmonary venous flow only at 28 wk of age; 2) progressive worsening of fibrosis in the interstitial and endocardial regions from 8 to 28 wk of age; 3) increased (>1.5 fold) expression of collagen I and III, as well as the matrix metalloproteinases MMP-9, MMP-13, and MMP-14 at 28 wk of age; 4) increased transcript levels of neutrophil chemotaxis and leukocyte migration genes (Ccl2, Ccl8, Cxcl2, Cxcl1, Cxcr2, Il1β) with no change in Il-10 and Il-13 genes expression; and 5) decreased levels of 5-LOX, HO-1 and COX-2, enzymes indicating impaired resolution of inflammation. In conclusion, genetic disruption of the cardiomyocyte circadian clock results in diastolic dysfunction, adverse ECM remodeling, and proinflammatory gene expression profiles in the mouse heart, indicating signs of early cardiac aging in CBK mice.

Diverse regulatory factors associate with flowering time and yield responses in winter-type Brassica napus.

BackgroundFlowering time, plant height and seed yield are strongly influenced by climatic and day-length adaptation in crop plants. To investigate these traits under highly diverse field conditions in the important oilseed crop Brassica napus, we performed a genome-wide association study using data from diverse agroecological environments spanning three continents.MethodsA total of 158 European winter-type B.napus inbred lines were genotyped with 21,623 unique, single-locus single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers using the Brassica 60 K-SNP Illumina® Infinium consortium array. Phenotypic associations were calculated in the panel over the years 2010–2012 for flowering time, plant height and seed yield in 5 highly diverse locations in Germany, China and Chile, adding up to 11 diverse environments in total.ResultsWe identified 101 genome regions associating with the onset of flowering, 69 with plant height, 36 with seed yield and 68 cross-trait regions with potential adaptive value. Within these regions, B.napus orthologs for a number of candidate adaptation genes were detected, including central circadian clock components like CIRCADIAN CLOCK- ASSOCIATED 1 (Bna.CCA1) and the important flowering-time regulators FLOWERING LOCUS T (Bna.FT) and FRUITFUL (Bna.FUL).DiscussionGene ontology (GO) enrichment analysis of candidate regions suggested that selection of genes involved in post-transcriptional and epigenetic regulation of flowering time may play a potential role in adaptation of B. napus to highly divergent environments. The classical flowering time regulators Bna.FLC and Bna.CO were not found among the candidate regions, although both show functional variation. Allelic effects were additive for plant height and yield, but not for flowering time. The scarcity of positive minor alleles for yield in this breeding pool points to a lack of diversity for adaptation that could restrict yield gain in the face of environmental change.ConclusionsOur study provides a valuable framework to further improve the adaptability and yield stability of this recent allopolyploid crop under changing environments. The results suggest that flowering time regulation within an adapted B. napus breeding pool is driven by a high number of small modulating processes rather than major transcription factors like Bna.CO. In contrast, yield regulation appears highly parallel, therefore yield could be increased by pyramiding positively associated haplotypes.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12864-015-1950-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Effect of Shift Work on Nocturia

To identify the circadian sensitive component of nocturia by comparing nocturia in patients who voluntarily choose a disrupted circadian rhythm, that is, shift workers, with those who maintain normal day-night cycles. Between 2011 and 2013, a total of 1741 untreated patients, 1376 nonshift workers and 365 shift workers, were compared for nocturia indices based on frequency volume charts (FVCs). General linear model of 8-hour interval urine production and frequency were compared between FVCs of nonshift workers, FVCs of night-shift workers, and FVCs of day-shift workers. Nocturia frequency was increased in the night-shift workers (2.38 ± 1.44) compared with nonshift workers (2.18 ± 1.04) (P <.01). Whereas nocturnal polyuria index did not increase significantly (0.33 ± 0.19 for night-shift workers, 0.34 ± 0.13 for nonshift workers, P = .24), nocturnal bladder capacity index increased significantly (1.41 ± 1.06 for night-shift workers, 1.26 ± 0.92 for nonshift workers, P <.01). Eight-hour interval indices show that urine production changed with shift (P <.01), whereas voiding frequency remains unchanged despite shift changes (P = .35). Patients in alternating work shifts showed increased nocturia, especially during their night shift. These changes tended to be more associated with decreased nocturnal bladder capacity than increased nocturnal polyuria.

Structural biology: Hypoxia response becomes crystal clear.

The crystal structures of two proteins that respond to reduced tissue oxygen levels — hypoxia-inducible factors — provide insight into their function and reveal sites for rational drug design. See Article p.303 This study describes the long-awaited crystal structures for hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) heterodimers, including complexes bound to small molecules and DNA. HIFs are transcription factors that coordinate cellular adaptation to low oxygen stress and are potential targets for cancer therapeutics. The mouse HIF–ARNT heterodimer is shown to have an architecture that is distinct from the bHLH-PAS-containing circadian clock component CLOCK–BMAL1. HIF-α mutations linked to cancer can be mapped to important structural regions, and the structures will provide future reference for small molecule drug discovery efforts.

Circadian and ultradian activity rhythms in manatee (Trichechus manatus manatus) in captivity

In this study, we show temporal organization of activity patterns in larger temporal series recording. The objective of this study was to determine the temporal pattern of the rest-activity rhythm in manatee (Trichechus manatus manatus) in captivity. Activity recordings were programmed from August 2010 to September 2011 with actimetry devices, and behavior recordings were conducted in dry and rainy seasons. We showed that the marine manatee presents a complex temporal organization, in which the rest-activity rhythm comprises several frequencies with a predominant circadian component and multiple ultradian components. Our results indicate that the animals were more active during the day with respect to the night. The temporal organization of this cycle entails multiple frequencies that include ultradian rhythms, which may be expressions generated by physiological needs, such as food availability and thermoregulatory requirements. These patterns should be taken into consideration for future studies of biological rhythms in manatee.

Fbxl11 Is a Novel Negative Element of the Mammalian Circadian Clock.

In mammals, molecular circadian rhythms are generated by autoregulatory transcriptional-translational feedback loops with PERIOD/CRYPTOCHROME containing complexes inhibiting the transcription of their own genes. Although the major circadian oscillator components seem to be identified, an increasing number of additional factors modulating core clock component functions are being discovered. In a systematic screen using short hairpin RNA in human clock reporter cells, we identified FBXL11 (also known as KDM2A), a histone-demethylase, whose gene dosage is crucial for a correct circadian period. Knockdown of FBXL11 leads to period shortening and overexpression to period lengthening. In addition, altering FBXL11 gene dosage modulates clock gene transcript levels, most prominently that of Nr1d1. FBXL11 exercises its role in the mammalian circadian clock by acting as a negative element on CLOCK/BMAL1 and RORα-induced transcription. It binds directly to the promoter regions of CLOCK/BMAL1-regulated genes via a CXXC-type zinc finger motif in a circadian phase-dependent manner; however, the histone-demethylase activity of FBXL11 is not required for transcriptional repression. Therefore, we propose FBXL11 as a novel component of the circadian clock that regulates the circadian gene expression by a so far unknown mechanism.

Prognosis in Relation to Blood Pressure Variability

Prognosis in Relation to Blood Pressure Variability

Time-dependent sequestration of RVE8 by LNK proteins shapes the diurnal oscillation of anthocyanin biosynthesis

Circadian clocks sustain 24-h rhythms in physiology and metabolism that are synchronized with the day/night cycle. In plants, the regulatory network responsible for the generation of rhythms has been broadly investigated over the past years. However, little is known about the intersecting pathways that link the environmental signals with rhythms in cellular metabolism. Here, we examine the role of the circadian components REVEILLE8/LHY-CCA1-LIKE5 (RVE8/LCL5) and NIGHT LIGHT-INDUCIBLE AND CLOCK-REGULATED genes (LNK) shaping the diurnal oscillation of the anthocyanin metabolic pathway. Around dawn, RVE8 up-regulates anthocyanin gene expression by directly associating to the promoters of a subset of anthocyanin biosynthetic genes. The up-regulation is overcome at midday by the repressing activity of LNK proteins, as inferred by the increased anthocyanin gene expression in lnk1/lnk2 double mutant plants. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assays using LNK and RVE8 misexpressing plants show that RVE8 binding to target promoters is precluded in LNK overexpressing plants and conversely, binding is enhanced in the absence of functional LNKs, which provides a mechanism by which LNKs antagonize RVE8 function in the regulation of anthocyanin accumulation. Based on their previously described transcriptional coactivating function, our study defines a switch in the regulatory activity of RVE8-LNK interaction, from a synergic coactivating role of evening-expressed clock genes to a repressive antagonistic function modulating anthocyanin biosynthesis around midday.

Helicobacter pylori Alters the Expression of Circadian Clock Components PER2 and BMAL1 During Infection

The circadian clock plays a fundamental role in gastrointestinal (GI) physiology. Moreover, disruption of key components of the molecular oscillator that generates circadian rhythms, such as Per2 and Bmal1, promotes GI tumorigenesis. Glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β), a known regulator of epithelial cell proliferation, also regulates PER2. Here we test the hypothesis that Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori)-induced epithelial cell proliferation is dependent on the inactivation of GSK-3β leading to the activation of BMAL1. In vivo, H. pylori induced a significant upregulation of BMAL1 expression within the gastric fundus of infected mice C57BL/6 that correlated with a significant increase in epithelial proliferation and the development of metaplasia. Bioluminescent gastric-derived organoids generated from PER2::LUCIFERASE (PER2::LUC) mice showed robust circadian rhythms. H. pylori infection of PER2::LUC mouse-derived gastric organoids resulted in decreased PER2::LUC activity. Robust circadian rhythmicity of clock genes BMAL1 and PER2 were observed in human fundic-derived gastric organoids (hFGOs). Phosphorylation (inactivation) of GSK-3β showed circadian changes in hFGOs over 52 hours. H. pylori infection of hFGOs resulted in sustained GSK-3β phosphorylation, increased BMAL1 protein expression and epithelial cell hyperproliferation when compared to uninfected controls. These results indicate that H. pylori alters the expression of circadian clock components during infection in association with epithelial cell hyperproliferation and metaplasia.

Cardiomyocyte Specific Bmal1 Deletion Triggers Extracellular Matrix Response Associated with Markers of Impaired Inflammation Resolution and Diastolic Dysfunction

The mammalian circadian clock consists of multiple transcriptional regulators that coordinate biological processes in a time‐of‐day‐dependent manner. Cardiomyocyte‐specific deletion of the circadian clock component BMAL1 (aryl hydrocarbon receptor nuclear translocator‐like protein 1) leads to age‐dependent dilated cardiomyopathy and decreased lifespan in mice. We investigated whether cardiomyocyte‐specific BMAL1 knockout (CBK) mice display early alterations in extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling, inflammation modulators, and cardiac diastolic function. By 28 weeks of age, CBK mice developed diastolic dysfunction, ventricular hypertrophy, increased fibrosis and expression of ECM‐regulatory genes, as well as a gene expression pattern consistent with impaired resolution of inflammation (compared to aged matched controls). More specifically, CBK mice exhibited (p&lt;0.05): 1) increased fibrosis in the interstitial and endocardial regions; 2) increased (&gt;1.5 fold) expression of collagen I and III, as well as the matrix metalloproteinases MMP‐9, MMP‐13, MMP‐14; 3) increased transcript levels of neutrophil chemotaxis and leukocyte migrationgenes (Ccl2, Cxcl2, Cxcl1, Cxcr2); and 4) decreased levels of 5‐LOX, HO‐1 and COX‐2, enzymes that promote the resolution of inflammation. In conclusion, genetic disruption of the cardiomyocyte circadian clock results in ECM remodeling, pro‐inflammatory gene expression profiles, and diastolic dysfunction.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea Attenuates the Cerebrovascular Circadian Clock and Rhythms in Vascular Function

Molecular circadian clock components oscillate in cells of the cardiovascular system. These clocks allow the cell to respond to a stimulus with proper timing and magnitude. Alterations in these rhythms are associated with and/or contribute to various cardiovascular diseases. We tested the hypothesis that obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) disrupts the normal rhythms of the cerebrovascular circadian clock and vascular function. OSA was produced in rats by remotely inflating a balloon placed in the trachea. Unanesthetized rats underwent 60 apneas/ hour for 8 hours/ day (sleep phase). Following 2 weeks of sham or OSA, cerebral arteries were isolated at; the transition from dark‐to‐light (i.e., zeitgeber time (ZT) 0), 6, 12, or 18. We identified significant diurnal rhythms in mRNA expression levels of the circadian clock genes period 1 (per1), period 2 (per2), and the clock controlled gene albumin d‐site binding protein (dbp) in cerebral vessels of sham rats, which were significantly attenuated following OSA (p&lt;0.05 for each). Perfused posterior cerebral arteries from sham rats exhibit a significant diurnal rhythm in the sensitivity to ATP induced vasodilation, that was most responsive at the beginning of the awake phase (p&lt;0.05). This rhythm was abolished in OSA arteries, which exhibit diminished ATP sensitivity independent of the time‐of‐day (p&lt;0.05). In the presence of L‐NAME the diurnal rhythm in ATP sensitivity was abolished in sham vessels and not different from OSA, suggesting cerebral arteries exhibit a diurnal rhythm in nitric oxide induced vasodilation that is impaired following OSA. In conclusion, OSA significantly attenuates the diurnal rhythms of the cerebrovascular circadian clock and vascular function. Funded by 1R01NS080531

Overexpression in yeast, photocycle, and in vitro structural change of an avian putative magnetoreceptor cryptochrome4.

Cryptochromes (CRYs) have been found in a wide variety of living organisms and can function as blue light photoreceptors, circadian clock molecules, or magnetoreceptors. Non-mammalian vertebrates have CRY4 in addition to the CRY1 and CRY2 circadian clock components. Though the function of CRY4 is not well understood, chicken CRY4 (cCRY4) may be a magnetoreceptor because of its high level of expression in the retina and light-dependent structural changes in retinal homogenates. To further characterize the photosensitive nature of cCRY4, we developed an expression system using budding yeast and purified cCRY4 at yields of submilligrams of protein per liter with binding of the flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) chromophore. Recombinant cCRY4 dissociated from anti-cCRY4 C1 mAb, which recognizes the C-terminal region of cCRY4, in a light-dependent manner and showed a light-dependent change in its trypsin digestion pattern, suggesting that cCRY4 changes its conformation with light irradiation in the absence of other retinal factors. Combinatorial analyses with UV-visible spectroscopy and immunoprecipitation revealed that there is chromophore reduction in the cCRY4 photocycle and formation of a flavosemiquinone radical intermediate that is likely accompanied by a conformational change in the carboxyl-terminal region. Thus, cCRY4 seems to be an intrinsically photosensitive and photoswitchable molecule and may exemplify a vertebrate model of cryptochrome with possible function as a photosensor and/or magnetoreceptor.

Thermoregulation and energetics in hibernating black bears: metabolic rate and the mystery of multi-day body temperature cycles.

Black bears overwintering in outdoor hibernacula in Alaska decrease metabolism to as low as 25 % basal rates, while core body temperature (T(b)) decreases from 37 to 38 °C to a mid-hibernation average of 33 °C. T b develops cycles of 1.6-7.3 days length within a 30-36 °C range, with no circadian component. We do not know the mechanism or function underlying behind the T(b) cycles, although bears avoid T(b) of <30 °C and shorter cycles are predicted from higher rates of heat loss in colder conditions. To test this we manipulated den temperatures (T(den)) of 12 hibernating bears with body mass (BM) from 35.5 to 116.5 kg while recording T(b), metabolic rate (M), and shivering. T b cycle length (0.8-11.2 days) shortened as T den decreased (partial R(2) = 0.490, p < 0.001). Large bears with low thermal conductance (TC) showed more variation in T b cycle length with changes in T(den) than did smaller bears with high TC. Minimum T b across cycles was not consistent. At low T(den) bears shivered both during rising and decreasing phases of T(b) cycles, with minimum shivering during the fastest drop in T(b). At higher T den the T b pattern was more irregular. Mean M through T(b) cycles was negatively correlated to T den below lower critical temperatures (1.4-10.4 °C). Minimum M (0.3509 W/kg ± 0.0121 SE) during mid-hibernation scaled to BM [M (W) = 1.217 × BM (kg)(0.6979), R(2) = 0.855, p < 0.001]. Hibernating thermal conductance (TC) was negatively correlated to BM (R(2) = 0.721, p < 0.001); bears with high TC had the same T(b) cycle length as bears with low TC except at high T(den), thus not supporting the hypothesis that cooling rate alone determines T(b) cycle length. We conclude that T(b) cycling is effected by control of thermoregulatory heat production, and T(b) cycling may not be present when hibernating bears use passive thermoregulation. More intense shivering in the rising phase of cycles may contribute to the prevention of muscle disuse atrophy. Bears hibernating in cold conditions use more energy during hibernation than in warmer conditions. At T den below lower critical temperature, no extra energy expenditure results from T b cycling compared to keeping a stable T(b.)

Wavelet-based analysis of circadian behavioral rhythms.

The challenging problems presented by noisy biological oscillators have led to the development of a great variety of methods for accurately estimating rhythmic parameters such as period and amplitude. This chapter focuses on wavelet-based methods, which can be quite effective for assessing how rhythms change over time, particularly if time series are at least a week in length. These methods can offer alternative views to complement more traditional methods of evaluating behavioral records. The analytic wavelet transform can estimate the instantaneous period and amplitude, as well as the phase of the rhythm at each time point, while the discrete wavelet transform can extract the circadian component of activity and measure the relative strength of that circadian component compared to those in other frequency bands. Wavelet transforms do not require the removal of noise or trend, and can, in fact, be effective at removing noise and trend from oscillatory time series. The Fourier periodogram and spectrogram are reviewed, followed by descriptions of the analytic and discrete wavelet transforms. Examples illustrate application of each method and their prior use in chronobiology is surveyed. Issues such as edge effects, frequency leakage, and implications of the uncertainty principle are also addressed.

The role of casein kinase I in the Drosophila circadian clock.

The circadian clock mechanism in organisms as diverse as cyanobacteria and humans involves both transcriptional and posttranslational regulation of key clock components. One of the roles for the posttranslational regulation is to time the degradation of the targeted clock proteins, so that their oscillation profiles are out of phase with respect to those of the mRNAs from which they are translated. In Drosophila, the circadian transcriptional regulator PERIOD (PER) is targeted for degradation by a kinase (DOUBLETIME or DBT) orthologous to mammalian kinases (CKIɛ and CKIδ) that also target mammalian PER. Since these kinases are not regulated by second messengers, the mechanism (if any) for their regulation is not known. We are investigating the possibility that regulation of DBT is conferred by other proteins that associate with DBT and PER. In this chapter, the methods we are employing to identify and analyze these factors are discussed. These methods include expression of wild type and mutant proteins with the GAL4/UAS binary expression approach, analysis of DBT in Drosophila S2 cells, in vitro kinase assays with DBT isolated from S2 cells, and proteomic analysis of DBT-containing complexes and of DBT phosphorylation with mass spectrometry. The work has led to the discovery of a previously unrecognized circadian rhythm component (Bride of DBT, a noncanonical FK506-binding protein) and the mapping of autophosphorylation sites within the DBT C-terminal domain with potential regulatory roles.

Overexpression of circadian clock protein cryptochrome (CRY) 1 alleviates sleep deprivation-induced vascular inflammation in a mouse model

Disturbance of the circadian clock by sleep deprivation has been proposed to be involved in the regulation of inflammation. However, the underlying mechanism of circadian oscillator components in regulating the pro-inflammatory process during sleep deprivation remains poorly understood. Using a sleep deprivation mouse model, we showed here that sleep deprivation increased the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines expression and decreased the expression of cryptochrome 1 (CRY1) in vascular endothelial cells. Furthermore, the adhesion molecules including intercellular adhesion molecule-1, vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 and E-selectin were elevated in vascular endothelial cells and the monocytes binding to vascular endothelial cells were also increased by sleep deprivation. Interestingly, overexpression of CRY1 in a mouse model by adenovirus vector significantly inhibited the expression of inflammatory cytokines and adhesion molecules, and NF–κB signal pathway activation, as well as the binding of monocytes to vascular endothelial cells. Using a luciferase reporter assay, we found that CRY1 could repress the transcriptional activity of nuclear factor (NF)–κB in vitro. Subsequently, we demonstrated that overexpression of CRY1 inhibited the basal concentration of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), leading to decreased protein kinase A activity, which resulted in decreased phosphorylation of p65. Taken together, these results suggested that the overexpression of CRY1 inhibited sleep deprivation-induced vascular inflammation that might be associated with NF–κB and cAMP/PKA pathways.

Time to flower: interplay between photoperiod and the circadian clock.

Plants precisely time the onset of flowering to ensure reproductive success. A major factor in seasonal control of flowering time is the photoperiod. The length of the daily light period is measured by the circadian clock in leaves, and a signal is conveyed to the shoot apex to initiate floral transition accordingly. In the last two decades, the molecular players in the photoperiodic pathway have been identified in Arabidopsis thaliana. Moreover, the intricate connections between the circadian clockwork and components of the photoperiodic pathway have been unravelled. In particular, the molecular basis of time-of-day-dependent sensitivity to floral stimuli, as predicted by Bünning and Pittendrigh, has been elucidated. This review covers recent insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying clock regulation of photoperiodic responses and the integration of the photoperiodic pathway into the flowering time network in Arabidopsis. Furthermore, examples of conservation and divergence in photoperiodic flower induction in other plant species are discussed.

Circadian expression profiles of chromatin remodeling factor genes in Arabidopsis.

The circadian clock is a biological time keeper mechanism that regulates biological rhythms to a period of approximately 24 h. The circadian clock enables organisms to anticipate environmental cycles and coordinates internal cellular physiology with external environmental cues. In plants, correct matching of the clock with the environment confers fitness advantages to plant survival and reproduction. Therefore, circadian clock components are regulated at multiple layers to fine-tune the circadian oscillation. Epigenetic regulation provides an additional layer of circadian control. However, little is known about which chromatin remodeling factors are responsible for circadian control. In this work, we analyzed circadian expression of 109 chromatin remodeling factor genes and identified 17 genes that display circadian oscillation. In addition, we also found that a candidate interacts with a core clock component, supporting that clock activity is regulated in part by chromatin modification. As an initial attempt to elucidate the relationship between chromatin modification and circadian oscillation, we identified novel regulatory candidates that provide a platform for future investigations of chromatin regulation of the circadian clock.