Cyanobacterial Circadian Pacemaker: Kai Protein Complex Dynamics in the KaiC Phosphorylation Cycle In Vitro

• Published in: Molecular cell 2006-07, Vol.23 (2), p.161-171
• Main Authors: Kageyama, Hakuto, Nishiwaki, Taeko, Nakajima, Masato, Iwasaki, Hideo, Oyama, Tokitaka, Kondo, Takao
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Bacterial Proteins - chemistry; Bacterial Proteins - genetics; Bacterial Proteins - metabolism; CELLBIO; Circadian Rhythm - physiology; Circadian Rhythm Signaling Peptides and Proteins; Cyanobacteria - physiology; Cyanophyta; Kinetics; MICROBIO; Models, Biological; Models, Molecular; Multiprotein Complexes - chemistry; Multiprotein Complexes - genetics; Multiprotein Complexes - metabolism; Phosphorylation; Protein Binding; Recombinant Proteins - chemistry; Recombinant Proteins - genetics; Recombinant Proteins - metabolism; Signal Transduction; SIGNALING; Surface Plasmon Resonance; Synechococcus elongatus
• ISSN: 1097-2765; 1097-4164
• DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2006.05.039

KaiA, KaiB, and KaiC are essential proteins of the circadian clock in the cyanobacterium Synechococcus elongatus PCC 7942. The phosphorylation cycle of KaiC that occurs in vitro after mixing the three proteins and ATP is thought to be the master oscillation governing the circadian system. We analyzed the temporal profile of complexes formed between the three Kai proteins. In the phosphorylation phase, KaiA actively and repeatedly associated with KaiC to promote KaiC phosphorylation. High levels of phosphorylation of KaiC induced the association of the KaiC hexamer with KaiB and inactivate KaiA to begin the dephosphorylation phase, which is closely linked to shuffling of the monomeric KaiC subunits among the hexamer. By reducing KaiC phosphorylation, KaiB dissociated from KaiC, reactivating KaiA. We also confirmed that a similar model can be applied in cyanobacterial cells. The molecular model proposed here provides mechanisms for circadian timing systems.