生物钟调控生物的分子和生理水平节律，以适应地球表面光照、温度等环境因子24小时周期性变化。在导引范围内，生物节律能被非24小时光暗周期导引，超出这一范围生物节律和光照环境会去同步化，进而影响生物的健康和生存。而极端光暗周期影响生物节律的机制尚不清楚。我们前期利用经典模式真菌粗糙链孢霉进行研究，发现其自运行周期与光暗周期共振时，其适应性最好，提示生物钟维持或促进生物适应光暗周期。我们还发现蓝光可诱导不依赖于生物钟和已知蓝光受体的孢子释放节律，提示存在未知光受体调控孢子释放节律。在此基础上，我们将分析在短光暗周期下生物钟表达的变化规律及其对适应性的调控作用，鉴定新光受体并分析其对孢子释放节律的调控作用，以阐明短光暗周期对生物节律影响的机制。深入研究粗糙链孢霉适应短光暗周期的分子机制，对于进一步理解生物钟对环境适应性以及对于非24小时特殊环境周期下生物节律的变化规与机制的研究都具有重要的意义。

Circadian clocks govern molecular and physiological rhythms to adapt to the 24-hour periodic changing environmental factors on the earth, such as light and temperature. Within the entrainment range, biological rhythm can be entrained by non-24-hour light-dark cycles, beyond the entrainment limit, biological rhythm may desynchronize with the light condition, which challenge the health and survival. However, the effect and mechanism of extreme light-dark cycle cycles on the biological rhythm are remain unclear. We found that when the clock resonates with light-dark cycles using classical model organism Neurospora crassa, it exhibits the best adaptability, suggesting clock maintain or promote N. crassa adapt to light-dark cycles. The conidiation rhythm can be entrained by blue light independent of clock and known blue photoreceptors, suggesting that there exist unknown photoreceptor(s) regulate the conidiation rhythm of N. crassa. We will analyze the expression rhythm of clock elements under short light-dark cycles, and its role in regulating conidiation rhythm of N. crassa. Moreover, we will also identify new photoreceptor(s), and investigate its function and mechanism in regulating the conidiation rhythm, to illuminate the mechanism of short light-dark cycles effect biological rhythms. Intensive study of the molecular mechanism of N. crassa adapt to short light-dark cycles, will help us understanding how circadian clock regulate adaptation, and shed light on the studies of biological rhythm variation under special conditions, e.g. non-24 hours schedule.