Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Lukas Aufinger, Johann Brenner, Friedrich C. Simmel
Summary: This study provides experimental evidence of period doubling in a forced cell-free genetic oscillator and suggests a simple design principle for synchronization.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Andrew P. Patton, Emma L. Morris, David McManus, Huan Wang, Yulong Li, Jason W. Chin, Michael H. Hastings
Summary: The hypothalamic suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) is the master mammalian circadian clock. GABA plays a role in circuit-level timekeeping of SCN neurons, despite the inhibitory effect of increased neuronal firing. The astrocytic clocks in SCN maintain the circadian clockwork by controlling GABAergic inhibition.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Louise N. Lindback, Yuzhao Hu, Amanda Ackermann, Oliver Artz, Ullas Pedmale
Summary: Light is a crucial signal sensed by CRY receptors to regulate growth and circadian clock. This study uncovers the role of UBP12/13 deubiquitinases in negatively regulating CRY2 and modulating hypocotyl growth. UBP12/13 interacts with COP1 to stabilize it, leading to degradation of CRY2 under blue light. The findings provide insight into the regulation of deubiquitinase activity and its role in controlling plant growth.
Article
Neurosciences
Alejandra Mondino, Viviane S. Hambrecht-Wiedbusch, Duan Li, A. Kane York, Dinesh Pal, Joaquin Gonzalez, Pablo Torterolo, George A. Mashour, Giancarlo Vanini
Summary: Research indicates that activation of preoptic glutamatergic neurons can initiate wakefulness but not maintain arousal from sleep, potentially impacting NREM stability and REM sleep generation.
JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Rostislav A. Sokolov, Irina V. Mukhina
Summary: Calcium is a crucial intracellular messenger in the brain that regulates various cell processes. In this study, the researchers used a fluorescent probe to investigate spontaneous Ca2+ events (SCEs) in neurons during culture maturation. They found that SCEs exhibited three different amplitude distributions and were dependent on extracellular Ca2+, neuronal network activity, and specific receptors and channels.
ARCHIVES OF BIOCHEMISTRY AND BIOPHYSICS
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Takashi Maejima, Yusuke Tsuno, Shota Miyazaki, Yousuke Tsuneoka, Emi Hasegawa, Md Tarikul Islam, Ryosuke Enoki, Takahiro J. Nakamura, Michihiro Mieda
Summary: The study found that specific deletion of vesicular GABA transporter in AVP neurons led to significant impairment of circadian rhythm and disruption of GABA-mediated synaptic transmission in SCN neurons. While molecular circadian oscillations among SCN neurons did not significantly change, there were significant alterations in the phase relationships between molecular clocks and circadian behavioral activities.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Lidia Giantomasi, Joao F. Ribeiro, Olga Barca-Mayo, Mario Malerba, Ermanno Miele, Davide De Pietri Tonelli, Luca Berdondini
Summary: In mammals, the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) is the master regulator of circadian rhythms, synchronizing clocks in the central nervous system and periphery. The mechanisms behind how these clocks are effectively synchronized are not well understood. This study investigated the involvement of astrocytes and neuronal paracrine factors in clock synchronization. The findings revealed that both pathways play a role, with astrocytes acting as active cells in distributing long-range signals to synchronize brain clocks.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Mathematics, Applied
Jiaxin Zhou, Hongli Wang, Qi Ouyang
Summary: This paper proposes a temporal SCN network model and investigates the effects of dynamical rewiring and flexible coupling due to synaptic plasticity on the synchronization of the neural network in SCN. The results suggest that both dynamical rewiring and coupling plasticity enhance the synchronization in inhomogeneous networks, and a proper network model for the master SCN circadian rhythm needs to take into account the effects of dynamical changes in topology and plasticity in neuron interactions.
Article
Neurosciences
Kari R. Hoyt, Aiqing Li, Hyojung Yoon, Zachary Weisenseel, Jacob Watkins, Alex Fischer, Karl Obrietan
Summary: Research shows that the RSK signaling pathway in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) plays a role in regulating the circadian clock and its response to light. Light stimulation leads to the dissociation of RSK from ERK and its translocation to the nucleus. Inhibiting RSK signaling weakens the effects of light on the circadian clock and increases the length of the circadian period.
Article
Physiology
Edouard Jaumouille, Rafael Koch, Emi Nagoshi
Summary: Studies on Drosophila melanogaster's circadian rhythms have shown that approximately 150 pacemaker neurons, each equipped with a molecular oscillator, form a circuit that acts as the central pacemaker. New evidence challenges the traditional dual-oscillator model and proposes coordination of multiple oscillators through network interactions. The disruption of molecular clocks or neural output of the main pacemaker acts additively to sustain rhythmic locomotor output.
FRONTIERS IN PHYSIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Physiology
Iwona Olejniczak, Benjamin Campbell, Yuan-Chen Tsai, Shiva K. Tyagarajan, Urs Albrecht, Jurgen A. Ripperger
Summary: The process of searching for food in mammals is well-organized and follows a decision-making process based on necessity. Scavenging is preferred during their active phase. Previous studies have identified various time-dependent regulatory processes originating from the suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN), which convert external light information into synchronizing output signals. This study revisits the function of the SCN in influencing the timing of food searching in mice and finds that it is independent of light but modified by the palatability of the food source.
FRONTIERS IN PHYSIOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Nidhi, Pradeep Kumar, Diksha Pathania, Sourbh Thakur, Mamta Sharma
Summary: The circadian clock regulates various processes in plants and is affected by both mutations and overexpression. Understanding the role of circadian clock genes in rhythmicity is important for plant adaptation to the environment.
CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR LIFE SCIENCES
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Daisuke Ono, Ken-ichi Honma, Sato Honma
Summary: The central circadian clock in the mammalian suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) is regulated by the inhibitory neurotransmitter gamma-amino butyric acid (GABA), which influences circadian rhythms through intracellular Cl- concentration. The excitatory and inhibitory effects of GABA in the SCN are influenced by factors such as day-length, time, and region within the SCN. GABA mediates oscillatory coupling of circadian rhythms and refines circadian output rhythms, suggesting a downstream role in regulating the physiological and behavioral temporal order.
JOURNAL OF NEUROCHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Jingyi Qian, Christopher J. Morris, Andrew J. K. Phillips, Peng Li, Shadab A. Rahman, Wei Wang, Kun Hu, Josephine Arendt, Charles A. Czeisler, Frank A. J. L. Scheer
Summary: In a controlled simulated night shift protocol, it was unexpectedly found that melatonin levels were significantly increased during daytime sleep, leading to a secondary melatonin peak during the circadian day. This challenges our current understanding of the regulation of melatonin secretion.
JOURNAL OF PINEAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Psychiatry
Alice B. Van Derveer, Georgia Bastos, Antanovia D. Ferrell, Connor G. Gallimore, Michelle L. Greene, Jacob T. Holmes, Vivien Kubricka, Jordan M. Ross, Jordan P. Hamm
Summary: Alterations in GABAergic interneurons in the neocortex have been associated with neuropsychiatric diseases, with growing research focusing on the role of somatostatin-positive interneurons in specific aspects of cortical circuit function. These interneurons may support the coordination of local information processing with more global context, highlighting the importance of studying them in translational research. Challenges remain, including the identification of subtypes within the somatostatin class.
SCHIZOPHRENIA BULLETIN
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Vania Carmona-Alcocer, John H. Abel, Tao C. Sun, Linda R. Petzold, Francis J. Doyle, Carrie L. Simms, Erik D. Herzog
JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE
(2018)
Review
Reproductive Biology
Ronald McCarthy, Carmel Martin-Fairey, Dorothy K. Sojka, Erik D. Herzog, Emily S. Jungheim, Molly J. Stout, Justin C. Fay, Mala Mahendroo, Jeff Reese, Jennifer L. Herington, Erin J. Plosa, Elaine L. Shelton, Sarah K. England
BIOLOGY OF REPRODUCTION
(2018)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
James P. Roach, Aleksandra Pidde, Eitan Katz, Jiaxing Wu, Nicolette Ognjanovski, Sara J. Aton, Michal R. Zochowski
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2018)
Article
Neurosciences
Jeff R. Jones, Tatiana Simon, Lorenzo Lones, Erik D. Herzog
JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE
(2018)
Article
Biology
Cristina Mazuski, Samantha P. Chen, Erik D. Herzog
JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL RHYTHMS
(2020)
Article
Neurosciences
Carlos Puentes-Mestril, James Delorme, Lijing Wang, Marcus Donnelly, Donald Popke, Sha Jiang, Sara J. Aton
Summary: Sleep and sleep deprivation have differential effects on gene transcription and protein translation in the mammalian forebrain, with stronger impacts observed in the neocortex compared to the hippocampus. These effects are cell type-specific and brain region-specific, indicating heterogeneous alterations in synapse strength, excitatory-inhibitory balance, and cellular timekeeping.
JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Yihao Yang, Howard Gritton, Martin Sarter, Sara J. Aton, Victoria Booth, Michal Zochowski
Summary: Recent evidence suggests that spatially segregated acetylcholine (ACh) modulation can generate theta-modulated gamma rhythms in excitatory-inhibitory neural networks, providing novel insights into the mechanisms of ACh-regulated theta-gamma coupling. Stable gamma rhythms and theta-gamma coupling emerge in high-ACh regions, while theta or mixed theta-gamma activity occurs at the peripheries of these regions. This study highlights the causal role of spatially heterogenous ACh signaling in localized theta-gamma rhythmicity and its potential impact on attentional processing in the brain.
PLOS COMPUTATIONAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Quinton M. Skilling, Bolaji Eniwaye, Brittany C. Clawson, James Shaver, Nicolette Ognjanovski, Sara J. Aton, Michal Zochowski
Summary: Sleep plays a critical role in memory consolidation, with neuromodulatory changes mediating the process. During NREM sleep, there is a remapping of neural firing order based on previous wake firing rates, mediated by ACh-gated potassium current. Learning-dependent reordering of firing rates during NREM sleep can reconfigure neuronal firing patterns across the network, ultimately biasing neural networks towards phase-based information encoding for memory consolidation.
PLOS COMPUTATIONAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
James Delorme, Lijing Wang, Varna Kodoth, Yifan Wang, Jingqun Ma, Sha Jiang, Sara J. Aton
Summary: The study found that sleep loss alters cytosolic ribosomal transcripts while learning almost does not, and the effects of learning are masked by subsequent sleep deprivation. Additionally, sleep deprivation affects fewer membrane-bound ribosomal transcripts, while learning changes more, especially long non-coding RNAs.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jeff R. Jones, Sneha Chaturvedi, Daniel Granados-Fuentes, Erik D. Herzog
Summary: The daily release of corticosterone depends on coordinated clock gene and neuronal activity rhythms in both suprachiasmatic nucleus vasoactive intestinal peptide (SCNVIP) and paraventricular nucleus corticotropin-releasing hormone (PVNCRH) neurons. The signals from the central circadian pacemaker, the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), are decoded to generate daily rhythms in hormone release through an SCN- PVN circuit. Loss of the clock gene Bmal1 in CRH neurons results in arrhythmic PVNCRH calcium activity and dramatically reduces the amplitude and precision of daily corticosterone release.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Lijing Wang, Sara J. Aton
Summary: Recent studies have shown that sleep loss, both acute and chronic, can lead to structural changes in various organelles, such as mitochondria, nucleus, and Golgi apparatus, in the neurons of Drosophila and rodents. These changes in morphology may be related to altered organelle function and can disrupt fundamental cellular processes like transcription, translation, intracellular transport, and metabolism, particularly in cases of chronic sleep loss. A better understanding of these effects is important for comprehending the biological significance of sleep and its relationship with neuropathology.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Lara Pferdehirt, Anna R. Damato, Michal Dudek, Qing-Jun Meng, Erik D. Herzog, Farshid Guilak
Summary: The circadian clock is crucial for tissue homeostasis, especially in articular cartilage. Disruptions in the circadian clock during inflammation contribute to the development of diseases. Researchers have used synthetic biology and tissue engineering to develop genetically engineered cartilage that can preserve the circadian clock and have anti-inflammatory properties.
Article
Clinical Neurology
Jessy D. Martinez, William P. Brancaleone, Kathryn G. Peterson, Lydia G. Wilson, Sara J. Aton
Summary: ML297, a newly developed candidate hypnotic agent, alters sleep architecture in mice and improves contextual fear memory consolidation by activating GIRK channels and increasing the number of highly activated hippocampal neurons.
Article
Physiology
Tracey O. Hermanstyne, Nien-Du Yang, Daniel Granados-Fuentes, Xiaofan Li, Rebecca L. Mellor, Timothy Jegla, Erik D. Herzog, Jeanne M. Nerbonne
Summary: Considerable evidence suggests that subthreshold potassium (K+) channels play a regulatory role in the day-night rhythms of neurons in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN). This study identifies Kv12.1 and Kv12.2-encoded K+ channels as important regulators of the daily oscillations in the firing rates of SCN neurons.
JOURNAL OF GENERAL PHYSIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biology
H. Craig Heller, Erik Herzog, Allison Brager, Gina Poe, Ravi Allada, Frank Scheer, Mary Carskadon, Horacio O. de la Iglesia, Rockelle Jang, Ashley Montero, Kenneth Wright, Philippe Mouraine, Matthew P. Walker, Namni Goel, John Hogenesch, Russell N. Van Gelder, Lance Kriegsfeld, Cheri Mah, Christopher Colwell, Jamie Zeitzer, Michael Grandner, Chandra L. Jackson, J. Roxanne Prichard, Steve A. Kay, Ketema Paul
Summary: Collegiate athletes face various pressures, including academic obligations, performance impact, health issues, and extensive travel. East-west travel disrupts circadian rhythms and affects sleep quality and health. To address these concerns, we provide suggestions and steps such as bedtime protocols, afternoon naps, and adherence to lighting exposure protocols, and encourage collaboration between athletic departments and experts to promote the health and wellbeing of athletes and staff.
JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL RHYTHMS
(2023)
