A Functional Connection between the Circadian Clock and Hormonal Timing in <i>Arabidopsis</i>

The rotation of the Earth entails changes in environmental conditions that pervasively influence an organism&#8217;s physiology and metabolism. An internal cellular mechanism known as the circadian clock acts as an internal timekeeper that is able to perceive the changes in environmental cues to...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Manjul Singh, Paloma Mas
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2018-11-01
Series:Genes
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/9/12/567
Description
Summary:The rotation of the Earth entails changes in environmental conditions that pervasively influence an organism&#8217;s physiology and metabolism. An internal cellular mechanism known as the circadian clock acts as an internal timekeeper that is able to perceive the changes in environmental cues to generate 24-h rhythms in synchronization with daily and seasonal fluctuations. In plants, the circadian clock function is particularly important and regulates nearly every aspect of plant growth and development as well as proper responses to stresses. The circadian clock does not function in isolation but rather interconnects with an intricate network of different pathways, including those of phytohormones. Here, we describe the interplay of the circadian clock with a subset of hormones in <i>Arabidopsis</i>. The molecular components directly connecting the circadian and hormone pathways are described, highlighting the biological significance of such connections in the control of growth, development, fitness, and survival. We focus on the overlapping as well as contrasting circadian and hormonal functions that together provide a glimpse on how the <i>Arabidopsis</i> circadian system regulates hormone function in response to endogenous and exogenous cues. Examples of feedback regulation from hormone signaling to the clock are also discussed.
ISSN:2073-4425