Project Details
Projekt
Functional characterization of the molecular timer of the circadian clock of Neurospora crassa (A16)
Subject Area
Biochemistry
Term
since 2016
Project identifier
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 278001972
Circadian clocks are based on interconnected feedback loops. The aim of this project is to identify key mechanisms involved in circadian timekeeping. The clock proteins FRQ of Neurospora and PERs of mammals repress their synthesis by inhibiting their specific circadian transcription factor (TF). FRQ and PERs are progressively hyperphosphorylated and degraded. The kinetics of hyperphosphorylation correlate with timekeeping and we will develop by combining theory and experiment a concept how time is mechanistically measured by phosphorylation. We hypothesize that stochastic hyperphosphorylation by CK1 affects the potential of FRQ and PERs to switch-off their TFs in macromolecular assemblies related to phase-separated droplets.
DFG Programme
CRC/Transregios
Applicant Institution
Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg
Project Heads
Professor Dr. Michael Brunner; Professor Dr. Hanspeter Herzel
