Winter disruption of the circadian clock in chestnut.
Circadian clock performance during winter dormancy has been investigated in chestnut by using as marker genes CsTOC1 and CsLHY, which are homologous to essential components of the central circadian oscillator in Arabidopsis. During vegetative growth, mRNA levels of these two genes in chestnut seedlings and adult plants cycled daily, as expected. However, during winter dormancy, CsTOC1 and CsLHY mRNA levels were high and did not oscillate, indicating that the circadian clock was altered. A similar disruption was induced by chilling chestnut seedlings (to 4 degrees C). Normal cycling resumed when endodormant or cold-treated plants were returned to 22 degrees C. The behavior of CsTOC1 and CsLHY during a cold response reveals a relevant aspect of clock regulation not yet encountered in Arabidopsis.
Ramos
Alberto
A
Departamento de Biotecnología, Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingenieros de Montes, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Ciudad Universitaria s/n, E-28040 Madrid, Spain.
Pérez-Solís
Estefanía
E
Ibáñez
Cristian
C
Casado
Rosa
R
Collada
Carmen
C
Gómez
Luis
L
Aragoncillo
Cipriano
C
Allona
Isabel
I
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000235:genetics; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000378:metabolism; D029962:Fagaceae / Q000502:physiology*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D008027:Light; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D017440:Photoperiod; D018521:Plant Physiological Phenomena; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D012621:Seasons; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D013696:Temperature; D013997:Time Factors
D018076:DNA, Complementary; D012333:RNA, Messenger