Temperature dependence of cycloheximide-sensitive phase of circadian cycle in Acetabularia mediterranea.

Abstract

The biochemical nature of the circadian regulatory system that controls many cellular activities is still unclear. Recent results obtained from the application of protein synthesis inhibitors to individual Acetabularia cells expressing circadian rhythms of photosynthesis indicate that some protein(s) must be synthesized on 80S ribosomes during a discrete part of each cycle to insure correct time keeping. A comparative study of the effects of brief cycloheximide treatments on cells investigated at different temperatures revealed that the phase of cycloheximide sensitivity is 4-6 h longer and occurs about 8 h later in the cycle when cells are kept at 20.degree. C rather than 25.degree. C. Temperature is known to influence the function of the circadian regulatory system in Acetabularia, but the effect on frequency is small (Q10 .simeq. 0.8) due to the existence of a temperature compensating feature. The large effects of temperature observed favor the interpretation that protein synthesis on 80S ribosomes, while providing an essential component of the circadian timing mechanism, does not generate the period of the photosynthesis rhythm.