A fungus among us: the Neurospora crassa circadian system.

Neurospora crassa is the only molecular genetic model system for circadian rhythms research in the fungi. Its strengths as a model organism lie in its relative simplicity--compared to photosynthesizing and vertebrate organisms, it is a stripped-down version of life. It forms syncitial hyphae, propagates and reproduces, and the circadian clock is manifest in numerous processes therein. As with other model circadian systems, Neurospora features a transcription/translation feedback loop that is fundamental to an intact circadian system. The molecular components of this loop converge with those of blue light photoreception, thus bringing the clock and one of its input pathways together.