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The Role of Cell‐Specific Clocks in Metabolism and Disease
Author(s) -
Bray Molly,
Young Martin E.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.25.1_supplement.196.2
Subject(s) - circadian rhythm , suprachiasmatic nucleus , biology , circadian clock , clock , neuroscience , phenotype , microbiology and biotechnology , period (music) , light effects on circadian rhythm , endocrinology , genetics , gene , physics , acoustics
Biological rhythms are an integral part of essentially all aspects of life and are controlled in part by circadian clocks. Circadian clocks are comprised of a transcriptional mechanism that generates sustained rhythmic expression of its components and other target genes through positive and negative feedback loops with a free‐running period of 24 hours. Circadian clocks are intrinsic to almost all cells, and function even when cells are isolated and cultured in vitro . Mammals possess both central and peripheral clocks. The central clock is located within the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) of the brain and is influenced primarily by light. Peripheral clocks are those clocks located within other cells of the organism besides the neurons of the SCN (including those clocks found in other cells of the central nervous system) and are largely influenced by neurohumoral factors. Both central and peripheral circadian clocks have been demonstrated or postulated to regulate many physiologic functions, including insulin sensitivity, endocrine regulation, energy homeostasis, satiety signaling, cellular proliferation, and cardiovascular function. Widely varying phenotypes have been reported following cell‐specific disruption of the clock mechanism in mice, with phenotype dependent on both the cell type and clock component targeted, as well as the genetic background of the organism. The inconsistency in phenotypes associated with cellular clock disruption suggests that the temporal and functional role of the circadian clock is distinct within tissues. This presentation will summarize the current research on the role of cell‐specific circadian clocks in both metabolism and disease etiology.