just one protein governs all your activities. This has been found by D James and Dorothy Morr of the us-based Purdue University. If the protein is altered, an organism's body will experience 'days' of different length - ranging from 22 to 42 hours.
The mystery of the biological clock has been a subject of intense research since 1960s, when it was discovered that heavy water - water made of two atoms of the isotope of hydrogen with an extra neutron in its nucleus - could alter the clock to run on a 27-hour-long day cycle.
A few years back, Morr found that cells increase in size at periodic intervals - they enlarge themselves for 12 minutes, and then rest for 12 minutes. The complex interaction of proteins is the basis for many activities within the cells. Therefore, Morr theorised that some undiscovered proteins were responsible for the 24-minute cycle of the cells.
The recent breakthrough came when the researchers found that a single cylinder-shaped protein regulates the cell enlargement cycle. To confirm that the protein was responsible for all activities set by the biological clock, Pin-Ju Chueh, a microbiology graduate student in Morr's lab, isolated the gene which produced the protein. The team cloned the protein and altered it in ways that produced different period lengths. "We could produce clocks with cycles of 22 and 42 minutes," says Morr. The 'day' that the cell experienced was precisely 60 times the period length of the protein's cycle.
The discovery could have far-reaching implications. "It could be used for minimising jet lags or to determine when best to administer cancer drugs. Its applications are endless," says Morr.
We are a voice to you; you have been a support to us. Together we build journalism that is independent, credible and fearless. You can further help us by making a donation. This will mean a lot for our ability to bring you news, perspectives and analysis from the ground so that we can make change together.
.png)
Comments are moderated and will be published only after the site moderator’s approval. Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name. Selected comments may also be used in the ‘Letters’ section of the Down To Earth print edition.