title: Phase-specific circadian clock regulatory elements in Arabidopsis.
abstract: We have defined a minimal Arabidopsis CATALASE 3 (CAT3) promoter sufficient to drive evening-specific circadian transcription of a LUCIFERASE reporter gene. Deletion analysis and site-directed mutagenesis reveal a circadian response element, the evening element (EE: AAAATATCT), that is necessary for evening-specific transcription. The EE differs only by a single base pair from the CIRCADIAN CLOCK ASSOCIATED 1-binding site (CBS: AAAAAATCT), which is important for morning-specific transcription. We tested the hypothesis that the EE and the CBS specify circadian phase by site-directed mutagenesis to convert the CAT3 EE into a CBS. Changing the CAT3 EE to a CBS changes the phase of peak transcription from the evening to the morning in continuous dark and in light-dark cycles, consistent with the specification of phase by the single base pair that distinguishes these elements. However, rhythmicity of the CBS-containing CAT3 promoter is dramatically compromised in continuous light. Thus, we conclude that additional information normally provided in the context of a morning-specific promoter is necessary for full circadian activity of the CBS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH 03755, USA.
authors.forename: Todd P
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Michael
authors.forename: C Robertson
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: McClung
mesh_terms: D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000528:radiation effects; D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D001665:Binding Sites / Q000235:genetics; D002374:Catalase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D003624:Darkness; D017353:Gene Deletion; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D008027:Light; D008156:Luciferases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016297:Mutagenesis, Site-Directed; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D012045:Regulatory Sequences, Nucleic Acid / Q000235:genetics*; D020218:Response Elements / Q000235:genetics; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins; C114425:CCA1 protein, Arabidopsis; D014157:Transcription Factors; D002374:Catalase; D008156:Luciferases