Yoshihiko Furuike

Molecular Shape Evolution of Cyanobacterial Circadian Clock Protein KaiC

This paper traces the molecular shape evolution of KaiC, a circadian clock protein, showing it evolved from an asymmetric hexamer to a compact symmetric hexamer and a dodecamer over 3.1 billion years.

Local and non-local impacts of intra-hexamer interactions on temperature compensation of KaiC

The paper identifies amino acid residues in KaiC that regulate temperature compensation through local and non-local interactions affecting ATPase activity.

Identification of a Third Period-tuning Site in Cyanobacterial Clock Protein KaiC

This paper identifies the 322nd residue of KaiC as a third period-tuning site, showing that mutations at this site can alter circadian period length through effects on ATPase activity.

Evolutionary Origins of Self-sustained Kai Protein Circadian Oscillators

The paper investigates the evolutionary origin of self-sustained Kai protein circadian oscillators in cyanobacteria by analyzing ancestral Kai proteins and their functional and structural development.

The priming phosphorylation of KaiC is activated by the release of its autokinase autoinhibition

This study identifies the autoinhibition mechanism of KaiC priming phosphorylation and shows how KaiA relieves this inhibition by altering R385 interactions.