CLOCK leaves its mark on histones.
Transcriptional regulation of circadian rhythms in mammals involves a negative-feedback loop whereby a CLOCK-BMAL1 complex activates transcription of the genes encoding the proteins PER1 (Period 1), PER2, CRY1 (Cryptochrome 1) and CRY2, which feed back to inhibit the activity of CLOCK-BMAL1. It is becoming evident that chromatin remodeling has a crucial role in the transcriptional regulation of genes governing circadian rhythms. This is highlighted in a recent report that shows that CLOCK has histone acetyltransferase activity, thus, demonstrating that molecular components of the biological clock can themselves catalyze chromatin modifications.
Belden
William J
WJ
Department of Genetics, Dartmouth Medical School, Hanover, NH 03755, USA.
Loros
Jennifer J
JJ
Dunlap
Jay C
JC
D056930:ARNTL Transcription Factors; D000818:Animals; D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D056926:CLOCK Proteins; D002843:Chromatin / Q000378:metabolism; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006657:Histones / Q000378:metabolism*; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
D056930:ARNTL Transcription Factors; D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins; D056926:CLOCK Proteins; D002843:Chromatin; D006657:Histones; D015534:Trans-Activators