Analysis and Validation of the Circadian Clock-Controlled Metabolome in Neurospora crassa

Abstract

The rise in shiftwork in the USA has come with associated health issues that plague the late-night employee. The results of these practices have led to an increase in metabolomic disease and the disruption of the circadian clock. Small molecule metabolites are intermediates or end products of metabolism and are critical to cellular health and function. The circadian clock controls daily rhythms in cellular metabolism; however, comprehensive circadian metabolomics data is lacking. Our lab uses the fungus Neurospora crassa as a model organism to study the clock due to its simple, yet conserved, clock mechanism. Using existing data sets, I will show via wide scale metabolomics that many metabolites are clock-controlled and provide proof of my method by confirming the levels through a more targeted analysis.