A kaiC-interacting sensory histidine kinase, SasA, necessary to sustain robust circadian oscillation in cyanobacteria

Cell. 2000 Apr 14;101(2):223-33. doi: 10.1016/S0092-8674(00)80832-6.

Abstract

Both regulated expression of the clock genes kaiA, kaiB, and kaiC and interactions among the Kai proteins are proposed to be important for circadian function in the cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp. strain PCC 7942. We have identified the histidine kinase SasA as a KaiC-interacting protein. SasA contains a KaiB-like sensory domain, which appears sufficient for interaction with KaiC. Disruption of the sasA gene lowered kaiBC expression and dramatically reduced amplitude of the kai expression rhythms while shortening the period. Accordingly, sasA disruption attenuated circadian expression patterns of all tested genes, some of which became arrhythmic. Continuous sasA overexpression eliminated circadian rhythms, whereas temporal overexpression changed the phase of kaiBC expression rhythm. Thus, SasA is a close associate of the cyanobacterial clock that is necessary to sustain robust circadian rhythms.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Adaptation, Physiological / physiology
  • Bacterial Proteins / genetics
  • Bacterial Proteins / metabolism*
  • Circadian Rhythm / physiology*
  • Circadian Rhythm Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Cyanobacteria / enzymology*
  • Darkness
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial
  • Genes, Reporter
  • Lighting
  • Luciferases / genetics
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Mutagenesis / physiology
  • Phosphotransferases*
  • Protein Kinases / genetics
  • Protein Kinases / metabolism*
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae
  • Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
  • Two-Hybrid System Techniques

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Circadian Rhythm Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • KaiB protein, cyanobacteria
  • KaiC protein, cyanobacteria
  • Luciferases
  • Phosphotransferases
  • Protein Kinases
  • SasA protein, Synechococcus