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Synchronization and maintenance of circadian timing in the mammalian clockwork
Author(s) -
Maywood Elizabeth S.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
european journal of neuroscience
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.346
H-Index - 206
eISSN - 1460-9568
pISSN - 0953-816X
DOI - 10.1111/ejn.14279
Subject(s) - clockwork , suprachiasmatic nucleus , neuroscience , biology , circadian clock , bacterial circadian rhythms , circadian rhythm , light effects on circadian rhythm , robustness (evolution) , synchronization (alternating current) , peripheral , microbiology and biotechnology , computer science , physics , genetics , telecommunications , channel (broadcasting) , astronomy , gene , operating system
The hypothalamic suprachiasmatic nucleus ( SCN ) is the principal circadian pacemaker in mammals. Cells in the SCN contain cell‐autonomous transcriptional‐translational feedback loops, which are synchronised to each other and thereby provide a coherent output to direct synchrony of peripheral clocks located in the brain and body. A major difference between these peripheral clocks and the SCN is the requirement for intercellular coupling mechanisms, which confer robustness, stability and amplitude to the system. There has been remarkable progress to our understanding of the intra‐ and inter‐cellular mechanisms of the SCN circuitry over the last ~20 years, which has come hand‐in‐hand with the development of new technologies to measure and manipulate the clock.