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Circadian Rhythms and Gene Regulation

Circadian Rhythms and Gene Regulation

The biological clock is involved in many aspects of regulating complex physiology in all animals. It was in 1935 when German zoologists, Hans Kalmus and Erwin Bünning, discovered the existence of circadian rhythm in Drosophila melanogaster. However, the internal molecular mechanisms behind the circadian clock remained a mystery until 1984, when Jeffrey C. Hall, Michael Rosbash, and Michael W. Young discovered the expression of the Per gene oscillating over a 24-hour cycle. In subsequent...

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Updated: Jun 3, 2025

Analysis of Circadian Photoresponses in Drosophila Using Locomotor Activity

Analysis of Circadian Photoresponses in Drosophila Using Locomotor Activity

Spatiotemporal Control Over Circadian Rhythms With Light.

Dušan Kolarski¹, Wiktor Szymanski^2,3,4, Ben L Feringa²

¹Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, NanoBioPhotonics, Göttingen, Germany.

Medicinal Research Reviews

|January 5, 2025

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Chrono-photopharmacology uses light-controlled drugs to precisely modulate circadian rhythms, offering a solution for diseases linked to rhythm disruption. This approach enables targeted restoration of healthy biological timing.

Keywords:

azobenzene circadian clock circadian rhythm light photopharmacology photoswitch photo‐removable protecting group

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Monitoring Cell-autonomous Circadian Clock Rhythms of Gene Expression Using Luciferase Bioluminescence Reporters

Monitoring Cell-autonomous Circadian Clock Rhythms of Gene Expression Using Luciferase Bioluminescence Reporters

Published on: September 27, 2012

Area of Science:

Chronobiology
Pharmacology
Biochemistry

Background:

Circadian rhythms are crucial for health, synchronizing physiological processes with environmental cues.
Disruptions in circadian rhythms are linked to various diseases, including metabolic, cardiovascular, and neurological disorders.
Current pharmacological chronotherapy lacks precise spatial and temporal control.

Purpose of the Study:

To review the principles and applications of chrono-photopharmacology for controlling circadian rhythms.
To analyze light-responsive circadian modulators and their design strategies.
To highlight the advantages of reversible drug activation for circadian modulation.

Main Methods:

Review of existing literature on chrono-photopharmacology and photoresponsive molecules.
Analysis of methodologies employing photoremovable protecting groups (irreversible) and photoswitches (reversible).
Dissection of design principles for photoresponsive bioactive molecules and their application.

Main Results:

Chrono-photopharmacology enables precise, light-controlled modulation of circadian rhythms.
Two main approaches exist: irreversible activation via photoremovable protecting groups and reversible activation via photoswitches.
Photoresponsive molecules require careful structural optimization for desired photophysical properties.

Conclusions:

Chrono-photopharmacology offers a powerful tool to address circadian rhythm disruption-related diseases.
The reversible approach demonstrates significant potential for fine-tuning circadian period and phase.
Further research into designing and applying photoresponsive molecules is essential for therapeutic advancements.