Osteoblasts clock in for their day job.
The proteins encoded by clock genes regulate circadian variations of various cellular functions. In this issue of Cell, Fu, Karsenty, and colleagues (Fu et al., 2005) demonstrate that clock genes control the proliferation of osteoblasts, the cells that promote growth of bone. These findings indicate that the homeostatic regulation of bone mass is subject to circadian control.
de Crombrugghe
Benoit
B
Department of Molecular Genetics, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Houston, Texas 77030, USA.
D000818:Animals; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D006706:Homeostasis / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D010006:Osteoblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*