[Plant & Microbial] Academia Sinica Researchers Discover Positive Feedback Loop in the Arabidopsis Circadian Clock

[Plant & Microbial] Academia Sinica Researchers Discover Positive Feedback Loop in the Arabidopsis Circadian Clock (Chinese Version)

Academia Sinica Newsletter (2011/04/20) The circadian clock in many organisms generates a 24-hour oscillation in biochemical, physiological, or behavioral processes to anticipate diurnal changes in the environment. The 24-hour oscillation is generated by a negative feedback loop mechanism. A current model indicates that the Arabidopsis central oscillator is composed of several negative feedback loops. However, it remains unclear whether additional forms of feedback loops in the central oscillator of Arabidopsis exist.

A recently published research work by Dr. Shu-Hsing WU’s lab in the Institute of Plant and Microbial Biology, Academia Sinica, indicates the presence of a positive feedback loop within the Arabidopsis circadian clock (The Plant Cell 23: 486–498, February, 2011; website at: http://www.plantcell.org/content/early/2011/02/23/tpc.110.081661.abstract). Within this positive feedback loop, LWD1 could associate with the promoter of PRR9 and directly activate PRR9 expression. Transcriptional activity of LWD1 also depends on functional PRR9. In contrast to the function of negative feedback loops in building the 24-hour oscillation, a positive feedback loop likely functions to stabilize the circadian system. The newly discovered positive feedback loop in the Arabidopsis circadian system offers new initiatives in the future characterization of this complex network.


Further Information:
Academia Sinica Newsletter 2011/04/20

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