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Parallel Measurement of Circadian Clock Gene Expression and Hormone Secretion in Human Primary Cell Cultures
Published on: November 11, 2016
Connecting cellular metabolism to circadian clocks
Guillaume Rey1, Akhilesh B Reddy
1Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge Metabolic Research Laboratories, NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, Institute of Metabolic Science, University of Cambridge, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, UK.
Trends in Cell Biology
|February 9, 2013
Summary
The circadian clock regulates daily rhythms, but new findings suggest metabolic rhythms exist independently of transcription. This challenges current models, necessitating a broader integration of genetic, cytosolic, and metabolic components.
Area of Science:
- * Chronobiology and molecular biology.
- * Cellular timekeeping mechanisms.
Background:
- * The circadian clock synchronizes organismal behavior and physiology with daily light-dark cycles.
- * Disruptions in circadian rhythms are linked to human health issues like metabolic disorders and cancer.
- * Transcription/translation feedback loops (TTFLs) are the established model for eukaryotic circadian oscillators.
Purpose of the Study:
- * To reassess current models of the circadian clock.
- * To integrate genetic, cytosolic, and metabolic components of cellular timekeeping.
- * To address recent findings of transcription-independent metabolic rhythms.
Main Methods:
- * Review and synthesis of recent studies on circadian rhythms.
- * Analysis of established TTFL models.
- * Evaluation of emerging evidence for metabolic rhythms independent of transcription.
Main Results:
- * Established TTFL models explain many intracellular rhythms.
- * Recent discoveries highlight metabolic rhythms not reliant on transcription.
- * These findings challenge the TTFL model's sufficiency.
Conclusions:
- * The TTFL model may not be the sole mechanism for cellular timekeeping.
- * A comprehensive model must integrate genetic, cytosolic, and metabolic cellular processes.
- * Further research is needed to understand the interplay of these components in circadian regulation.
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