A circadian rhythm is a natural, internal process “clock” that regulates cellular responses to the environment, ranging from photosynthesis in plants to the sleep and wake cycles in mammals and disruption of this cycle has been linked to a variety of diseases. However, the molecular mechanism of regulation of this internal biological clock which involves complex interactions between transcription factors, period genes, cryptochromes, kinases, phosphatases and several other associated factors remains poorly understood. <br/>Therefore, using integrative modeling methods, we have been studying clock proteins involved in the maintenance of the circadian rhythm. Such studies have illustrated the importance of protein flexibility in expression of their function. In particular, for Casein Kinase 2α, we have observed that inhibitor induced suppression in the overall dynamics of the enzyme. Similarly, difference in dynamics around the secondary pocket of cryptochrome proteins could be responsible for functional divergence in terms of transcriptional repression and period length observed <i>in vivo</i>.

Molecular mechanisms involved in the regulation of the circadian clock

ACS Fall 2020 Virtual Meeting

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.