PAS domain-mediated WC-1/WC-2 interaction is essential for maintaining the steady-state level of WC-1 and the function of both proteins in circadian clock and light responses of Neurospora

P. Cheng, Y. Yang, K. H. Gardner, Y. Liu

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

141 Scopus citations

Abstract

In the frq-wc-based circadian feedback loops of Neurospora, two PAS domain-containing transcription factors, WHITE COLLAR-1 (WC-1) and WC-2, form heterodimeric complexes that activate the transcription of frequency (frq). FRQ serves two roles in these feedback loops: repressing its own transcription by interacting with the WC complex and positively upregulating the levels of WC-1 and WC-2 proteins. We report here that the steady-state level of WC-1 protein is independently regulated by both FRQ and WC-2 through different posttranscriptional mechanisms. The WC-1 level is extremely low in wc-2 knockout strains, and this low level of expression is independent of wc-1 transcription and FRQ protein expression. In addition, our data show that the PAS domain of WC-2 mediates the interactions of this protein with both WC-1 and FRQ in vivo. Such interactions are essential for maintaining the steady-state level of WC-1 and the proper function of WC-1 and WC-2 in circadian clock and light responses.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)517-524
Number of pages8
JournalMolecular and cellular biology
Volume22
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - 2002

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Biology

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