CK2 and DBT promote temperature compensation of the Drosophila circadian clock via distinct pathways

Abstract

Abstract Circadian (∼24 h) rhythms are essential for the survival of most organisms, as they optimize physiology and behavior with the time of day. They are defined by three fundamental properties: they are driven by a self-sustained molecular oscillator, entrained by environmental cues such as light and temperature, and temperature-compensated, whereby circadian period remains close to 24 h over a physiological range of temperatures. The molecular basis of temperature compensation remains incompletely understood. Here, we build on previous studies supporting a conserved and important role for phosphorylation-dependent mechanisms in the control of temperature compensation. We found that reducing the activity of two highly conserved circadian kinases, DBT (casein kinase [CK] 1) and CK2, disrupts temperature compensation in Drosophila . Genetic analyses indicate that DBT and CK2 act through distinct pathways that have additive effects on temperature compensation. DBT acts through the per Short phosphorylation cluster and the S47 phosphodegron of the core clock protein PER, both of which are required for normal thermal compensation. In contrast, CK2 acts through a phosphocluster in TIM as well as PER S45 residue. Interestingly, simultaneous disruption of both pathways causes accumulation of hyperphosphorylated PER, which is inefficiently cleared from the nucleus of circadian pacemaker neurons. Combined with previous work, our findings support a central and unifying role for nuclear PER phosphorylation dynamics in buffering circadian period against environmental temperature fluctuations.

The authors' abstract, as published at the source. iScience, 2026 · DOI ↗