Temperature compensation of circadian rhythms: control of the period in a model for circadian oscillations of the per protein in Drosophila.

The factors affecting the period are examined in a model for circadian oscillations of the period protein (PER) in Drosophila. The model for the circadian clock is based on multiple phosphorylation of PER and on the negative feedback exerted by PER on the transcription of the period (per) gene. The results are used to address the possible bases of the relative invariance of the period of oscillations with respect to temperature. Such a phenomenon, referred to as temperature compensation, represents one of the most conspicuous properties of circadian rhythms.