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Updated: Feb 9, 2026

Monitoring Cell-autonomous Circadian Clock Rhythms of Gene Expression Using Luciferase Bioluminescence Reporters
Published on: September 27, 2012
Temperature-controlled Rhythmic Gene Expression in Endothermic Mammals: All Diurnal Rhythms are Equal, but Some are
Marco Preußner1, Florian Heyd1
1Laboratory of RNA Biochemistry, Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Freie Universität Berlin Takustrasse 6, Berlin, 14195, Germany.
Abstract:
The circadian clock is a cell autonomous oscillator that controls many aspects of physiology through generating rhythmic gene expression in a time of day dependent manner. In addition, in endothermic mammals body temperature cycles contribute to rhythmic gene expression. These body temperature-controlled rhythms are hard to distinguish from classic circadian rhythms if analyzed in vivo in endothermic organisms. However, they do not fulfill all criteria of being circadian if analyzed in cell culture or in conditions where body temperature of an endothermic organism can be manipulated. Here we review and compare these characteristics, discuss the core clock independent mechanism of temperature-controlled alternative splicing and highlight the requirement of double-checking rhythms that appear circadian within an endothermic organism in a system that allows temperature manipulation.
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