RT journal article
T1 Timing Is Everything: The Fungal Circadian Clock as a Master Regulator of Stress Response and Pathogenesis
A1 Coca Ruiz, Víctor
A1 Boy Ruiz, Daniel
A2 Química Orgánica
K1 circadian rhythm
K1 fungi
K1 stress response
K1 oxidative stress
K1 osmotic stress
K1 pathogenesis
K1 chronobiology
K1 Neurospora crassa
K1 clock-controlled genes
K1 chrono-fungicides
AB Fungi, from saprophytes to pathogens, face predictable daily fluctuations in light, temperature, humidity, and nutrient availability. To cope, they have evolved an internal circadianclock that confers a major adaptive advantage. This review critically synthesizes currentknowledge on the molecular architecture and physiological relevance of fungal circadiansystems, moving beyond the canonical Neurospora crassa model to explore the broader phylogenetic diversity of timekeeping mechanisms. We examine the core transcription-translationfeedback loop (TTFL) centered on the FREQUENCY/WHITE COLLAR (FRQ/WCC) system and contrast it with divergent and non-canonical oscillators, including the metabolicrhythms of yeasts and the universally conserved peroxiredoxin (PRX) oxidation cycles. Acentral theme is the clock’s role in gating cellular defenses against oxidative, osmotic, andnutritional stress, enabling fungi to anticipate and withstand environmental insults throughproactive regulation. We provide a detailed analysis of chrono-pathogenesis, where the circadian control of virulence factors aligns fungal attacks with windows of host vulnerability,with a focus on experimental evidence from pathogens like Botrytis cinerea, Fusarium oxysporum, and Magnaporthe oryzae. The review explores the downstream pathways—includingtranscriptional cascades, post-translational modifications, and epigenetic regulation—thattranslate temporal signals into physiological outputs such as developmental rhythms inconidiation and hyphal branching. Finally, we highlight critical knowledge gaps, particularly in understudied phyla like Basidiomycota, and discuss future research directions. Thisincludes the exploration of novel clock architectures and the emerging, though speculative,hypothesis of “chrono-therapeutics”—interventions designed to disrupt fungal clocks—asa forward-looking concept for managing fungal infections.
PB MDPI
SN 2673-7140
YR 2025
FD 2025
LK http://hdl.handle.net/10498/39350
UL http://hdl.handle.net/10498/39350
LA eng
DS Repositorio Institucional de la Universidad de Cádiz
RD 06-nov-2026