Study of the effect of heavy metals and differences of light / dark cycle in the melatonin hormone protein Clock and growth of Neurospora crassa fungi

It was using Neurospora crassa as a model organism to study the biological clock. Due to its use for more than 50 years in the circadian rhythm Study, this biological cycle has been studied by growing it on a Vogel's medium with a constant temperature and different light cycles (continuous light, light to dark, continuous darkness) with different concentrations of heavy metals (Lead Nitrate II, Zinc sulfate, Cadmium chloride, iron chloride III). It was also Measured protein CLOCK and hormone Melatonin By using Elisa Kit. Neurospora crassa was cultured in a thin layer of Vogel's medium using growth tubes (tube race) which grow in one direction only and are distributed by forming conida bands on the medium surface; each band represents one cycle circadian. However, examining Nerospora conidia on growth tubes is a simple but powerful tool for studying the circadian clock and detecting the effect of heavy metals and light on it. At the same time, the results indicated an apparent decrease of CLOCK protein at continuous light compared to light/dark for all treatments. It also recorded a rise in melatonin concentration in continuous darkness and decreased with continuous lighting. The results of the growth tubes also indicated a decrease in growth at continuous light compared to light/dark. Heavy metals also affected Neurospora crassa, as it had the highest inhibition when using lead nitrate II compared to iron chloride III. The study aimed to investigate the effect of heavy metals and differences in light and darkness on the biological clock of the fungus Neurospora crassa.Conclusion the effect on the biological clock disturbances of Neurospora crassa Keywords. Neurospora crassa, Melatonin hormone, Clock protein, Heavy metals, light, dark.