Circadian Rhythm in Amino Acid Uptake by Synechococcus RF-1

In the prokaryote Synechococcus RF-1, circadian changes in the uptake of l-leucine and 2-amino isobutyric acid were observed. Uptake rates in the light period were higher than in the dark period for cultures entrained by 12/12 hour light/dark cycles. The periodic changes in l-leucine uptake persisted for at least 72 hours into continuous light (L/L). The rhythm had a free-running period of about 24 hours in L/L at 29°C. A single dark treatment of 12 hours could initiate rhythmic leucine uptake in an L/L culture. The phase of rhythm could be shifted by a pulse of low temperature (0°C). The free-running periodicity was “temperature-compensated” from 21 to 37°C. A 24 hour depletion of extracellular Ca²⁺ before the free-running L/L condition reduced the variation in uptake rate but had little effect on the periodicity of the rhythm. The periodicity was also not affected by the introduction of 25 mm NaNO₃. The uptake rates for 20 natural amino acids were studied at 12 hour intervals in cultures exposed to 12/12 hour light/dark cycles. For eight of these amino acids (l-Val, l-Leu, l-Ile, l-Pro, l-Phe, l-Trp, l-Met, and l-Tyr), the light/dark uptake rate ratios had values greater than 3 and the rhythm persisted in L/L.