title: Circadian timing mechanism in the prokaryotic clock system of cyanobacteria.
abstract: Cyanobacteria are the simplest organisms known to exhibit circadian rhythms and have provided experimental model systems for the dissection of basic properties of circadian organization at the molecular, physiological, and ecological levels. This review focuses on the molecular and genetic mechanisms of circadian rhythm generation in cyanobacteria. Recent analyses have revealed the existence of multiple feedback processes in the prokaryotic circadian system and have led to a novel molecular oscillator model. Here, the authors summarize current understanding of, and open questions about, the cyanobacterial oscillator.
authors.affiliation: Division of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Japan. iwasaki@bio.nagoya-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Hideo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Iwasaki
authors.forename: Takao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kondo
mesh_terms: D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D001683:Biological Clocks; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D056925:Circadian Rhythm Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D000458:Cyanobacteria / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*; D004463:Ecology; D008954:Models, Biological; D009991:Oscillometry; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D056925:Circadian Rhythm Signaling Peptides and Proteins; C114269:KaiA protein, cyanobacteria; C114270:KaiB protein, cyanobacteria; C114271:KaiC protein, cyanobacteria