Nocturnin: a circadian target of Pparg-induced adipogenesis

Nuclear receptors (NRs) control cell fate and regulate tissue function. Some of the NRs are expressed in a circadian and tissue-specific manner. Clock genes are part of the circadian network and fine-tune gene expression in adipose and skeletal tissues. Pparg, a master transcription factor that determines adipogenesis, exhibits a circadian expression pattern in white adipose tissue and liver. Here we report the finding that the message and protein for a peripheral clock gene, nocturnin, is markedly upregulated with Pparg activation in adipocytes and bone marrow stromal cells. Nocturnin is also expressed in relatively high amounts in other tissues that may have physiologic relevance for bone, including the brain and hypothalamus. Of importance, we found polymorphic strain differences in bone marrow nocturnin expression that relate to phenotypic determinants of skeletal acquisition. Defining the function of nocturnin in peripheral tissues should provide new insights into lineage allocation and the intimate relationship between nuclear receptors and physiologic timekeeping.