Theoretical study of clock proteins focusing on cooperation of spatio-temporal dynamics

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 18K14185
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 32010:Fundamental physical chemistry-related
• Research Institution: Institute for Molecular Science
• Principal Investigator: Koda Shin-ichi 分子科学研究所, 理論・計算分子科学研究領域, 助教 (10790404)
• Project Period (FY): 2018-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 体内時計 / シアノバクテリア / 時計タンパク質 / 数理モデル / 概日リズム

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this project, we conducted theoretical research on the clock proteins, KaiA, KaiB, and, KaiC, which constitute the core oscillator of the cyanobacterial biological clock. In particular, we focused on the KaiB-KaiC complex formation and theoretically proposed its detailed process. In this study, we theoretically and numerically established important overlooked mechanisms through a detailed review of previously published experimental data. For example, in 2020, we showed that the origin of the slowness of the KaiB-KaiC complex formation is on the KaiC side, contrary to the previous account. In the final year, we proposed a new mechanism of the cooperation between KaiB-KaiC complex formation and KaiC ATP hydrolysis from a theoretical viewpoint.

Free Research Field

理論化学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

体内時計は多くの生物が備える機能であり、その原理の解明は重要である。特にシアノバクテリアの体内時計はわずか３種のタンパク質から構成されており、時計の原理を分子レベルで理解するために格好のモデルである。本研究は振動子の発振において中枢的な役割を担うKaiB-KaiC複合体形成の機構を素過程レベルで明らかにした。これは振動子の分子レベルの動作原理の更なる理解につながるものと考えられる。