Reconstruction of the ancient cyanobacterial proto-circadian clock system KaiABC.

ABSTRACT: Earlier in its history, the Earth used to spin faster than it does today. How ancient organisms adapted to the short day/night cycles during that time remains unclear. In this study we reconstruct and analyse the ancient circadian clock system KaiABC (anKaiABC) of cyanobacteria that existed ~0.95 billion years ago, when the daily light/dark cycle was ~18 h-long. Compared to their contemporary counterparts, anKaiABC proteins had different structures and interactions. The kinase, phosphatase, and adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) activities of anKaiC were lower, while the anKaiA and anKaiB proteins were less effective at regulating the KaiC/anKaiC phosphorylation status. We provide evidence indicating that the anKaiABC system does not endogenously oscillate, but it can be entrained by an 18 

SUBMITTER: Li S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12084410 | biostudies-literature | 2025 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature