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The systemic control of circadian gene expression
Author(s) -
Gerber A.,
Saini C.,
Curie T.,
Emmenegger Y.,
Rando G.,
Gosselin P.,
Gotic I.,
Gos P.,
Franken P.,
Schibler U.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
diabetes, obesity and metabolism
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.445
H-Index - 128
eISSN - 1463-1326
pISSN - 1462-8902
DOI - 10.1111/dom.12512
Subject(s) - circadian rhythm , suprachiasmatic nucleus , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , circadian clock , gene expression , clock , light effects on circadian rhythm , transcription factor , neuroscience , endocrinology , medicine , gene , genetics
The mammalian circadian timing system consists of a central pacemaker in the brain's suprachiasmatic nucleus ( SCN ) and subsidiary oscillators in nearly all body cells. The SCN clock, which is adjusted to geophysical time by the photoperiod, synchronizes peripheral clocks through a wide variety of systemic cues. The latter include signals depending on feeding cycles, glucocorticoid hormones, rhythmic blood‐borne signals eliciting daily changes in actin dynamics and serum response factor ( SRF ) activity, and sensors of body temperature rhythms, such as heat shock transcription factors and the cold‐inducible RNA ‐binding protein CIRP . To study these systemic signalling pathways, we designed and engineered a novel, highly photosensitive apparatus, dubbed RT ‐Biolumicorder. This device enables us to record circadian luciferase reporter gene expression in the liver and other organs of freely moving mice over months in real time. Owing to the multitude of systemic signalling pathway involved in the phase resetting of peripheral clocks the disruption of any particular one has only minor effects on the steady state phase of circadian gene expression in organs such as the liver. Nonetheless, the implication of specific pathways in the synchronization of clock gene expression can readily be assessed by monitoring the phase‐shifting kinetics using the RT ‐Biolumicorder.