Genomics and systems approaches in the mammalian circadian clock

The circadian clock is an endogenous oscillator that regulates daily rhythms in behavior and physiology. In recent years, systems biology and genomics approaches re-shaped our view of the clock. Our understanding of outputs that regulate behavior and physiology has been enhanced through gene expression profiling and proteomic analyses. Systems approaches uncovered underlying principles of transcriptional regulation and robustness of the oscillator through perturbation analysis and synthetic methods. Finally, new clock components and modifiers were identified through cell-based screening efforts and proteomics.