A Baculovirus Photolyase with DNA Repair Activity and Circadian Clock Regulatory Function

Feb 7, 2012Journal of biological rhythms

A baculovirus light-activated enzyme that repairs DNA and may influence the biological clock

AI simplified

Abstract

PHR2 from Chrysodeixis chalcites nucleopolyhedrovirus can bind to the CLOCK protein and repress transcription driven by the CLOCK/BMAL1 heterodimer.

  • Cryptochromes and photolyases, although structurally similar, have different functions in organisms.
  • Photolyases repair DNA damage caused by ultraviolet light, while cryptochromes are involved in circadian rhythm regulation.
  • PHR1 and PHR2, two photolyase-like genes, can bind to the CLOCK protein.
  • Only PHR2's interaction with CLOCK inhibits CLOCK/BMAL1-driven transcription.
  • PHR2 influences the circadian rhythms in immortalized mouse embryonic fibroblasts.
  • These results may contribute to understanding the evolutionary relationship between cryptochromes and photolyases.

AI simplified

Full Text

what lands in your inbox each week:

  • 📚7 fresh studies
  • 📝plain-language summaries
  • direct links to original studies
  • 🏅top journal indicators
  • 📅weekly delivery
  • 🧘‍♂️always free