Molecular Playground/CLOCK:BMAL1 heterodimer complex

The is a vital regulatory component of the circadian rhythm protein regulation system. CLOCK (Circadian Locomotor Output Cycles Kaput) and BMAL1 (Brain and muscle Arnt-like protein-1) are PER-ARNT-SIM (bHLH-PAS) proteins (The structure highlighted in yellow is just a portion of bHLH structure in CLOCK). They are the main transcriptional activators in the mammalian circadian mechanism.^[1] The binding between CLOCK and BMAL1 involves the N-terminal bHLH, PAS-A and PAS-B domains of both proteins. Each domain binds to its corresponding equivalent domain in the other protein. Though both proteins contain the same types of domains with similar primary amino acid sequences in each, the overall heterodimer is surprisingly asymmetrical due to differences in the spatial orientation of the domains in each protein. Since this heterodimer complex involves the binding of all of the major domains in both participating proteins, the overall binding affinity is very high.

The role in Circadian Rhythm

Circadian rhythms are operated by an endogenous core clock system that drives daily rhythms in behavior, physiology, and metabolism. In mammalian systems, the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), which is located in the hypothalamus, is the locus of a master circadian clock. The SCN controls the expression of of proteins in a time dependent manner through a genetic feedback loop initiated by light passing through the eye. The core molecular clockwork is composed of a transcriptional/post-translational feedback loop: CLOCK:BMAL1 (transcriptional activators) and PER:CRY (transcriptional repressors). In daytime, CLOCK and BMAL1 will form a heterodimer complex and binds to the E-box promoter region of other circadian rhythm proteins, following by the initiation of the transcription of Per (Period) and Cry (Cryptochrome). At night time, Per and Cry will dimerize and translocate into the nucleus, where they interact with CLOCK:BMAL1 to inhibit their own transcription. This process is called the negative feedback loop.^[2]

The Overall structure of CLOCK:BMAL1 complex

1.CLOCK

is a protein central to the regulation of the mammalian circadian rhythm system. CLOCK is a helix-loop-helix-PER-ARNT-SIM (bHLH-PAS) protein that regulates the circadian rhythm by forming heterodimers with other circadian rhythm proteins to activate the transcription of other proteins.^[3] consists of 12 alpha-helixes and 8 beta-sheets. In between the helixes and sheets, there are many flexible loops, which are the main contributions to the CLOCK:BMAL1 interactions.

2. BMAL1

The interface between CLOCK and BMAL1

The downstream effects of the altered circadian rhythm

Mutated forms of CLOCK exist which do not regulate protein expression correctly and thereby result in altered circadian rhythms. CLOCK-delta19 is a mutant form of CLOCK which binds to BMAL1 normally but the resulting heterodimer does not activate transcription of certain other circadian rhythm proteins. Mutant mice carrying this altered CLOCK protein have shown abnormal circadian rhythms as a result. ^[4]

It has been shown in recent years that people who have lifestyles which involve light exposure that is different than the normal 12 hours of daylight/12 hours of night have significantly increased chances of developing cancer. This indicates that disruption of the normal circadian rhythm gene regulation cycle has severe downstream effects on the host's genetic makeup. Additionally, it has been shown that cancer tissues often have distorted circadian rhythms, showing the significance of circadian rhythms to cancer progression. ^[5]