Title:  “The circadian life of cyanobacteria single cells: dynamic gene expression, growth and division “

Circadian clocks are regulatory networks that generate 24-h rhythms of gene expression in anticipation to daily cycles of sunlight. Substantial progress has been made in understanding how cells generate and sustain these rhythms. However, our knowledge of how the clock is coupled to other circuits and cellular processes inside the cell, what types of dynamics arise from this coupling, and what biological functions it serves is still incomplete. I will discuss how we are using cyanobacteria as a model system to address those questions through an interplay of fluorescence single-cell live imaging and mathematical models. I will show how coupling the clock to other pathways can give rise to rich dynamic behaviours. Examples include frequency doubling in rhythmic gene expression or the 24-h modulation of the cell division cycle and growth, which provide a template towards understanding the complex interdependency between the clock, the environment and cellular physiology.