Chapter category: Circadian Rhythms
Clock Gene Antisense RNA and Circadian Timing in Neurospora crassa
Chapter authors:
Susan K. Crosthwaite and Cas Kramer
Eukaryotes regulate gene expression by a variety of mechanisms at both the transcrip- tional and post-transcriptional level. An interesting form of control, which has not been intensively studied, is the effect of antisense RNA. In the filamentous fungus Neurospora crassa the frequency (frq) locus encodes central clock components. Both strands of the frq locus are transcribed giving rise to sense and antisense RNA. Antisense frq transcripts appear to be noncoding. Nevertheless, in antisense-defective strains of Neurospora resetting of the circadian clock by light is altered.1 Following a brief introduction to antisense RNA and the Neurospora circadian clock this chapter describes experimental approaches leading to the discovery of antisense frq and its role in circadian timing. Examples of sense and antisense clock gene transcripts in other eukaryotes and their possible effects on the circadian system are then described.
