{
  "abstract": "Negative-feedback oscillators require a delay between the accumulation of a repressor's mRNA and the action of its protein. In the circadian clock, this delay has been attributed largely to post-translational control of PERIOD (PER) stability and nuclear entry. The RNA-binding proteins shown to regulate per translation, ATAXIN2 and its partners, promote it, leaving open whether any step holds clock transcripts back before they are translated. Here, using time-resolved miniTurbo proximity labeling of endogenous PER across four phases of the circadian cycle in Drosophila clock neurons, we define a 252-protein PER proximitome that partitions into a nuclear arm and a cytoplasmic RNA-metabolism arm. A behavioral RNAi screen identified two P-body components, the DEAD-box helicase Me31B (DDX6) and the 5'-3' exonuclease Pacman (Pcm; XRN1), as strong regulators of circadian rhythms. Using single-molecule RNA-FISH, proximity RNA editing and ribosome profiling, we show that as per and tim transcripts accumulate, they localize to Me31B-labeled P-bodies and are poorly translated, most prominently at ZT12. Me31B knockdown disrupts P-bodies and releases per mRNA from them, causing PER to accumulate earlier and to ~2-fold higher levels, whereas Me31B overexpression delays PER accumulation and lengthens the free-running period by ~2 h. Knockdown of Pcm, in contrast, impairs clearance of per mRNA, sustaining PER and TIM accumulation, prolonging the repression phase and abolishing cycling of ~89% of rhythmic transcripts. Together, these findings identify P-body sequestration as a repressive step that delays repressor synthesis, and Pcm-dependent decay as required to end repression on time. Given the deep conservation of DDX6 and XRN1, RNP compartments may provide a conserved means of generating delay in circadian and other negative-feedback circuits.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "University of Michigan"
  ],
  "article_type": "New results",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 5,
  "authors": [
    {
      "name": "Y. Xiao"
    },
    {
      "name": "Y. Yuan"
    },
    {
      "name": "S. Chakraborty"
    },
    {
      "name": "D. Brooks"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "S. Yadlapalli"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/18ry9j9dahvwq.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.64898/2026.09.28.754909",
  "fulltext_url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.28.754909v1.full",
  "id": "18ry9j9dahvwq",
  "issns": [],
  "landing_url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.28.754909v1",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY-ND",
  "licence_label": "CC BY-ND",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "biorxiv",
      "cell biology"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "2807|Circadian rhythm and melatonin"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7214788835",
  "pdf_url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.28.754909v1.full.pdf",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-09-28",
  "publisher": null,
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/18ry9j9dahvwq.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:25:04Z",
      "native_id": "10.64898/2026.09.28.754909",
      "source": "biorxiv",
      "url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.28.754909v1"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "biology",
      "origin": "biorxiv:cell biology",
      "subfield": "cell-biology"
    }
  ],
  "title": "P-body sequestration of clock transcripts delays repressor synthesis to set circadian period in Drosophila",
  "title_text": "P-body sequestration of clock transcripts delays repressor synthesis to set circadian period in Drosophila",
  "type": "preprint",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:25:04Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/18ry9j9dahvwq",
  "venue": "bioRxiv",
  "versions": []
}