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A single factor dominates the behavior of rhythmic genes in mouse organs
Yang Cheng1, Yuhao Chi1, Luoying Zhang2
1CAS Key Laboratory of Computational Biology, CAS-MPG Partner Institute for Computational Biology, Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China, Shanghai, 200031, China.
Gene expression level is the primary driver of circadian rhythmicity across mouse organs. Higher expression correlates with greater rhythmic amplitude, suggesting an energy-saving mechanism in transcriptional regulation.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Chronobiology
- Genomics
Background:
- Circadian rhythms are complex biological oscillators influenced by internal and external factors.
- Thousands of genes show rhythmic transcription, varying by organ and species.
- Identifying common factors influencing rhythmicity across organs is a key research question.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate common factors impacting circadian rhythmic gene expression across different mouse organs.
- To determine the relationship between transcriptional level and rhythmic amplitude.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of transcriptome data from 12 mouse organs.
- Correlation analysis between gene expression levels and circadian rhythmic amplitude.
Main Results:
- A strong positive correlation was observed between transcriptional level and rhythmic amplitude of circadian genes.
- Gene expression level accounted for over 70% of the variation in amplitude.
- Functionality and tissue specificity were not significant predictors of amplitude; expression linked to energy consumption.
Conclusions:
- Expression level is identified as the single major factor influencing rhythmic gene behavior in mouse organs.
- Rhythmic regulation of highly expressed genes may reduce transcriptional energy costs.
- This finding has implications for the long-term adaptive evolution of transcriptional systems.
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