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

Mol Cell Biol. 2002 Jan;22(2):517-24. doi: 10.1128/MCB.22.2.517-524.2002.

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.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Circadian Rhythm
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / chemistry
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics*
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
  • Feedback
  • Fungal Proteins / genetics
  • Fungal Proteins / metabolism
  • Gene Deletion
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal
  • Genes, Fungal
  • Light
  • Macromolecular Substances
  • Neurospora / genetics*
  • Neurospora / metabolism*
  • Neurospora / radiation effects
  • Phenotype
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • Transcription Factors / chemistry
  • Transcription Factors / genetics*
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism*

Substances

  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • FRQ protein, Neurospora crassa
  • Fungal Proteins
  • Macromolecular Substances
  • Transcription Factors
  • wc-1 protein, Neurospora crassa
  • white collar 2 protein, Neurospora