Coiled-coil domain-mediated FRQ-FRQ interaction is essential for its circadian clock function in Neurospora

The deletion of the coiled-coil region of the FRQ protein results in a loss of self-interaction.

• The most conserved region of FRQ forms a coiled-coil domain.
• FRQ interacts with itself in living cells.
• Point mutations disrupting the coiled-coil structure weaken or abolish FRQ self-association.
• Loss of FRQ self-association leads to arrhythmicity in the circadian rhythm.
• Mutations that inhibit FRQ self-association also prevent interaction with two key transcription factors, WC-1 and WC-2.
• Formation of FRQ-FRQ and FRQ-WC complexes is essential for the function of the NEUROSPORA clock.

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