title: Disrupting the circadian clock: gene-specific effects on aging, cancer, and other phenotypes.
abstract: The circadian clock imparts 24-hour rhythmicity on gene expression and cellular physiology in virtually all cells. Disruption of the genes necessary for the circadian clock to function has diverse effects, including aging-related phenotypes. Some circadian clock genes have been described as tumor suppressors, while other genes have less clear functions in aging and cancer. In this Review, we highlight a recent study [Dubrovsky et al., Aging 2: 936-944, 2010] and discuss the much larger field examining the relationship between circadian clock genes, circadian rhythmicity, aging-related phenotypes, and cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurobiology, MD/PhD Program, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, 01605, USA.
authors.forename: Elizabeth A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: David R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Weaver
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D057906:Circadian Clocks / Q000235:genetics*; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000502:physiology*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D008027:Light; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D010507:Periodicity; D010641:Phenotype; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D015534:Trans-Activators