A mechanism for robust circadian timekeeping via stoichiometric balance

Abstract Circadian (∼24 h) timekeeping is essential for the lives of many organisms. To understand the biochemical mechanisms of this timekeeping, we have developed a detailed mathematical model of the mammalian circadian clock. Our model can accurately predict diverse experimental data including th...

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Main Authors: Jae Kyoung Kim, Daniel B Forger
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Springer Nature 2012-12-01
Series:Molecular Systems Biology
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/msb.2012.62
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author Jae Kyoung Kim
Daniel B Forger
author_facet Jae Kyoung Kim
Daniel B Forger
author_sort Jae Kyoung Kim
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Circadian (∼24 h) timekeeping is essential for the lives of many organisms. To understand the biochemical mechanisms of this timekeeping, we have developed a detailed mathematical model of the mammalian circadian clock. Our model can accurately predict diverse experimental data including the phenotypes of mutations or knockdown of clock genes as well as the time courses and relative expression of clock transcripts and proteins. Using this model, we show how a universal motif of circadian timekeeping, where repressors tightly bind activators rather than directly binding to DNA, can generate oscillations when activators and repressors are in stoichiometric balance. Furthermore, we find that an additional slow negative feedback loop preserves this stoichiometric balance and maintains timekeeping with a fixed period. The role of this mechanism in generating robust rhythms is validated by analysis of a simple and general model and a previous model of the Drosophila circadian clock. We propose a double‐negative feedback loop design for biological clocks whose period needs to be tightly regulated even with large changes in gene dosage.
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spelling doaj-art-adb2e17c114d4c24b4327a3ff03594442025-08-20T02:18:28ZengSpringer NatureMolecular Systems Biology1744-42922012-12-018111410.1038/msb.2012.62A mechanism for robust circadian timekeeping via stoichiometric balanceJae Kyoung Kim0Daniel B Forger1Department of Mathematics, University of MichiganDepartment of Mathematics, University of MichiganAbstract Circadian (∼24 h) timekeeping is essential for the lives of many organisms. To understand the biochemical mechanisms of this timekeeping, we have developed a detailed mathematical model of the mammalian circadian clock. Our model can accurately predict diverse experimental data including the phenotypes of mutations or knockdown of clock genes as well as the time courses and relative expression of clock transcripts and proteins. Using this model, we show how a universal motif of circadian timekeeping, where repressors tightly bind activators rather than directly binding to DNA, can generate oscillations when activators and repressors are in stoichiometric balance. Furthermore, we find that an additional slow negative feedback loop preserves this stoichiometric balance and maintains timekeeping with a fixed period. The role of this mechanism in generating robust rhythms is validated by analysis of a simple and general model and a previous model of the Drosophila circadian clock. We propose a double‐negative feedback loop design for biological clocks whose period needs to be tightly regulated even with large changes in gene dosage.https://doi.org/10.1038/msb.2012.62biological clockscircadian rhythmsgene regulatory networksmathematical modelrobustness
spellingShingle Jae Kyoung Kim
Daniel B Forger
A mechanism for robust circadian timekeeping via stoichiometric balance
Molecular Systems Biology
biological clocks
circadian rhythms
gene regulatory networks
mathematical model
robustness
title A mechanism for robust circadian timekeeping via stoichiometric balance
title_full A mechanism for robust circadian timekeeping via stoichiometric balance
title_fullStr A mechanism for robust circadian timekeeping via stoichiometric balance
title_full_unstemmed A mechanism for robust circadian timekeeping via stoichiometric balance
title_short A mechanism for robust circadian timekeeping via stoichiometric balance
title_sort mechanism for robust circadian timekeeping via stoichiometric balance
topic biological clocks
circadian rhythms
gene regulatory networks
mathematical model
robustness
url https://doi.org/10.1038/msb.2012.62
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