Related Experiment Videos
Creatine accelerates the circadian clock in a unicellular alga
T Roenneberg1, H Nakamura, J W Hastings
1Department of Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138.
Nature
|August 4, 1988
Summary
Creatine, found in mammalian cell extracts, significantly shortens the circadian clock period in the marine alga Gonyaulax polyedra. This discovery reveals a conserved mechanism influencing biological rhythms across diverse organisms.
Area of Science:
- Chronobiology
- Biochemistry
- Marine Biology
Background:
- The circadian clock is a fundamental biological process in eukaryotes, regulating various life functions.
- While many factors influence circadian rhythms, the core oscillator remains elusive.
- Substances like D2O, ion channel inhibitors, and neurochemicals are known modulators.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of mammalian cell extracts on the circadian clock of Gonyaulax polyedra.
- To identify the specific substance responsible for altering circadian rhythmicity.
Main Methods:
- Extraction and fractionation of mammalian cell components.
- Application of extracts to Gonyaulax polyedra cultures under free-running conditions.
- Dose-response analysis and chemical identification of active compounds.
Main Results:
- Mammalian cell extracts dose-dependently shortened the circadian period of Gonyaulax polyedra, by up to 4 hours/day.
- Creatine was isolated and identified as the active substance from bovine muscle extracts.
- Authentic creatine mimicked the period-shortening effect at micromolar concentrations.
- A similar period-shortening substance was detected in Gonyaulax extracts.
Conclusions:
- Creatine acts as a potent modulator of circadian rhythms in the marine alga Gonyaulax polyedra.
- This suggests a conserved role for creatine or similar molecules in regulating biological clocks across different life forms.
- The findings open new avenues for understanding circadian clock mechanisms and potential therapeutic interventions.