Article
Biology
Suil Kim, Douglas G. McMahon
Summary: This study reveals that light input to the SCN can change the waveform of molecular clockworks, marking clock advances and delays at simulated dawn and dusk. The changes in waveform seem to be greatest in the ventrolateral SCN, while the effects on period are greatest in the dorsomedial SCN, suggesting spatiotemporally distinct responses within the SCN neural network.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yu Zhang, Yong Li, Yilin Yuan, Jun Wang, Shiyu Zhang, Run Zhu, Yan Wang, Yinbao Wu, Xindi Liao, Jiandui Mi
Summary: Light plays a crucial role in regulating the central biological clock system. Intermittent photoperiods enhance the circadian rhythms of gut microbes and the expression of clock genes in the hypothalamus, liver, and cecal wall. This regulation is mediated through the melatonin pathway and the production of short-chain fatty acids.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Ming-You Dong, Ling Lei, Xian-Wei Fan, You-Zhi Li
Summary: This study investigated the variations in CCT protein-encoding gene number across plant species and different maize inbred lines, providing insights into structural variations, copy number variations, expression patterns under stresses and light cycles, and associations with maize quantitative trait loci (QTLs). The data revealed chromosome collinearity, stress responsiveness, and potential functions in perceiving dark-light transitions among ZmCCTs, with no germplasm specificity observed in structural variations and CNVs.
Article
Plant Sciences
Corine Faehn, Michael Reichelt, Axel Mithofer, Timo Hytonen, Jorgen Molmann, Laura Jaakola
Summary: This study compares the expression of clock genes in four woodland strawberry (Fragaria vesca L.) accessions from different populations under Arctic and mid-latitude photoperiod conditions. The results show that circadian rhythms in Fragaria vesca are driven by both the experienced photoperiod and genetic factors, while phytohormone levels are primarily determined by specific accessions' genetic factors rather than the experienced photoperiod.
Review
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Yi Qin, Zhong-hua Chen, Jun-Jie Wu, Zhen-Yu Zhang, Zheng-Dong Yuan, Dan-Yang Guo, Meng-Nan Chen, Xia Li, Feng-Lai Yuan
Summary: The circadian clock plays a crucial role in regulating bone metabolism, including bone loss. Clock-related genes control signaling pathways and transcription factors in osteoblasts and osteoclasts, while also regulating osteocytes and endothelial cells. Furthermore, the regulation of circadian clock genes by novel modulators presents a potential strategy for preventing and treating bone diseases.
BIOMEDICINE & PHARMACOTHERAPY
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Amy R. Ellison, David Wilcockson, Jo Cable
Summary: The study reveals daily rhythms in fish skin immune expression and microbiomes, modulated by photoperiod and parasitic lice infection. Disruption of circadian rhythms could be detrimental to fish health by affecting immune and microbiota activity. Understanding these dynamics and relationships provides a foundation for investigating the use of chronotherapies in aquaculture and sheds light on the role of microbiomes in circadian health of vertebrates.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Xiaomeng Liu, Niuben Cao, Xinchan Liu, Yu Deng, Yu Xin, Ruobing Fu, Xirui Xin, Yubo Hou, Weixian Yu
Summary: Circadian rhythms play a crucial role in regulating the body's homeostasis, and circadian rhythm disorders can have detrimental effects on metabolic and immune functions. However, the relationship between circadian rhythm disorders and periodontitis has not been well studied. This research aimed to investigate the role of the circadian rhythm control gene BMAL1 in periodontitis. The results showed that downregulation of BMAL1 in circadian rhythm disorder-induced periodontitis led to significant alveolar bone resorption, increased osteoclast differentiation, upregulation of the inflammatory signaling molecule NF-kappa B, elevated apoptosis and oxidative stress levels in periodontal tissues. This study suggests that BMAL1 is a key regulator in periodontitis exacerbated by circadian rhythm disorders, highlighting a potential avenue for periodontitis treatment.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Sabrina Klemz, Thomas Wallach, Sandra Korge, Mechthild Rosing, Roman Klemz, Bert Maier, Nicholas C. Fiorenza, Irem Kaymak, Anna K. Fritzsche, Erik D. Herzog, Ralf Stanewsky, Achim Kramer
Summary: In organisms with circadian clocks, the post-translational modifications of clock proteins, particularly phosphorylation, play a crucial role in controlling circadian rhythms. Protein phosphatase 4 (PPP4) and its regulatory subunit PPP4R2 have been identified as critical components in mammals and Drosophila, affecting the circadian system by regulating phosphorylation and transactivation activity of CLOCK/BMAL1.
GENES & DEVELOPMENT
(2021)
Editorial Material
Cell Biology
Ueli Schibler
Summary: Mammalian body cells have cell-autonomous and self-sustained circadian oscillators relying on delayed negative feedback loops in gene expression. Transcriptional activation and repression, as well as post-translational mechanisms like phosphorylation and dephosphorylation, play crucial roles in setting the pace of these timekeepers. The study by Klemz and colleagues in Genes & Development demonstrates how dephosphorylation of BMAL1 by protein phosphatase 4 (PPP4) participates in the modulation of circadian timing.
GENES & DEVELOPMENT
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Annika F. Barber, Shi Yi Fong, Anna Kolesnik, Michael Fetchko, Amita Sehgal
Summary: Regulation of circadian behavior and physiology by the Drosophila brain clock requires communication from central clock neurons to downstream output regions. Morning and evening clock neurons have time-of-day-dependent connectivity to the pars intercerebralis, which is regulated by specific peptides and fast neurotransmitters. This study provides insights into mechanisms by which clock neurons signal to nonclock cells to drive rhythms of behavior.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Review
Cell Biology
Zainab Taleb, Phillip Karpowicz
Summary: The circadian clock is a molecular timekeeper that regulates 24-hour rhythms in animals, impacting behavior and physiology, including metabolic and digestive systems. Animal models targeting circadian clock genes have shown their role in regulating liver diseases, inflammatory bowel disease, colorectal cancer, and obesity. Thus, the circadian clock plays a crucial role in maintaining metabolic and digestive health.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY-CELL PHYSIOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Si-Ke He, Jia-Hao Wang, Tao Li, Shan Yin, Jian-Wei Cui, Yun-Fei Xiao, Yin Tang, Jia Wang, Yun-Jin Bai
Summary: This article reviews the relationship between circadian rhythm disturbance and kidney stone disease (KSD), summarizing the risk factors and treatment methods. The results indicate that KSD is associated with systemic disorders such as metabolic syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, and microbiome dysbiosis, and some chronotherapies have been proven effective.
FRONTIERS IN ENDOCRINOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Evrim Yildirim, Rachel Curtis, Dae-Sung Hwangbo
Summary: Biological clocks are essential mechanisms that synchronize physiological and behavioral processes with external cues to ensure organisms' fitness and survival. While the central clock in the brain drives daily activity rhythms, peripheral tissues have their own clock systems generating metabolic and physiological rhythms. The fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster has been a widely studied model organism for investigating the mechanism and functions of circadian clocks.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Maria Savino, Claudio Carmine Guida, Maria Nardella, Emanuele Murgo, Bartolomeo Augello, Giuseppe Merla, Salvatore De Cosmo, Antonio Fernando Savino, Roberto Tarquini, Francesco Cei, Filippo Aucella, Gianluigi Mazzoccoli
Summary: This article investigates the relationship between heme biosynthesis disorders and altered expression of circadian genes, finding that changes in circadian gene expression may be associated with the symptoms and signs of porphyria patients.
Review
Cell Biology
Ya Niu, Shuang Tang
Summary: The circadian system plays a crucial role in regulating physiological functions and has been found to influence cancer risk and progression. Recent studies have shown that certain nuclear receptors, which regulate the circadian clock, also play important roles in multiple cancer processes.
JOURNAL OF CELLULAR PHYSIOLOGY
(2022)