Computational modeling of protein interactions and phosphoform kinetics in the KaiABC cyanobacterial circadian clock

TL;DR

This study models the molecular interactions and phosphorylation dynamics of Kai proteins to elucidate the core mechanism of the cyanobacterial circadian clock, demonstrating that simple phosphorylation cycles can produce sustained oscillations.

Contribution

It introduces a computational framework that supports KaiB-induced KaiA sequestration as the central oscillation mechanism, using a minimal two-state phosphorylation model.

Findings

A simple phosphorylation model reproduces circadian oscillations.

KaiA sequestration correlates with KaiC phosphorylation levels.

Monomer exchange facilitates rapid synchronization.

Abstract

The KaiABC circadian clock from cyanobacteria is the only known three-protein oscillatory system which can be reconstituted outside the cell and which displays sustained periodic dynamics in various molecular state variables. Despite many recent experimental and theoretical studies there are several open questions regarding the central mechanism(s) responsible for creating this ~24 hour clock in terms of molecular assembly/disassembly of the proteins and site-dependent phosphorylation and dephosphorylation of KaiC monomers. Simulations of protein-protein interactions and phosphorylation reactions constrained by analytical fits to partial reaction experimental data support the central mechanism of oscillation as KaiB-induced KaiA sequestration in KaiABC complexes associated with the extent of Ser431 phosphorylation in KaiC hexamers. A simple two-state deterministic model in terms of the degree of phosphorylation of Ser431 and Thr432 sites alone can reproduce the previously observed circadian oscillation in the four population monomer phosphoforms in terms of waveform, amplitude and phase. This suggests that a cyclic phosphorylation scheme (involving cooperativity between adjacent Ser431 and Thr432 sites) is not necessary for creating oscillations. Direct simulations of the clock predict the minimum number of serine-only monomer subunits associated with KaiA sequestration and release, highlight the role of monomer exchange in rapid synchronization, and predict the average number of KaiA dimers sequestered per KaiC hexamer.