SCFβ-TRCP controls Clock-dependent transcription via casein kinase 1-dependent degradation of the mammalian Period-1 (Per1) protein

Circadian rhythms are controlled by the periodic accumulation of Period proteins, which act as transcriptional repressors of Clock-dependent genes. Period genes are themselves Clock targets, thereby establishing a negative transcriptional feedback circuit controlling circadian periodicity. Previous data have implicated the CK1 epsilon isolog Doubletime (Dbt) and the F-box protein Slimb in the regulation of Drosophila Period ( Per) through an unknown mechanism. In this work, we have identified components of the machinery involved in regulating the abundance of human Per1 in tissue culture cells. CK1 epsilon and CK1 gamma 2 were found to bind to Per1 and to promote its degradation in an in vivo degradation assay. Per1 turnover was blocked by a dominant negative version of the Cul1 protein, a component of the SCF (Skp1-Cul1-F-box protein) ubiquitin ligase. We screened a panel of F-box proteins for those that would associate with Per1 in a CK1 epsilon-dependent manner, and we identified beta-TRCP1 and beta-TRCP2, isologs of the Drosophila Slimb protein. RNA interference against beta-transducin repeat-containing protein (beta-TRCP) stabilizes endogenous and exogenous Per1. beta-TRCP associates with sequences near the N terminus of Per1 in a region distinct from the previously characterized CK1 epsilon-binding site. beta-TRCP and CK1 epsilon promote Per1 ubiquitination in vitro. Finally, RNA interference against beta-TRCP greatly decreases Clock-dependent gene expression in tissue culture cells, indicating that beta-TRCP controls endogenous Per1 activity and the circadian clock by directly targeting Per1 for degradation.