title: Micro-managing the circadian clock: The role of microRNAs in biological timekeeping.
abstract: Evolved under the selective pressures of a 24-h world, circadian timekeeping mechanisms are present in virtually all living organisms to coordinate daily rhythms in physiology and behavior. Until recently, the circadian clock was modeled as simple, interlocked transcription-translation feedback loops driving rhythms in gene expression of a handful of core clock genes. However, it has become evident that circadian clock regulation is immensely more complex than once thought and involves posttranscriptional, translational and posttranslational mechanisms. In particular, there has been a growing awareness of the vital role played by microRNAs (miRNAs) in regulating various aspects of circadian clock function. In this review, we will summarize our current knowledge of miRNA-dependent regulation of the circadian timing system in multiple organisms, including flies, mammals and higher plants. We will also discuss future perspectives for research on the role of miRNAs and noncoding RNAs in circadian regulation of health and disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Toronto Mississauga, 3359 Mississauga Road North, Mississauga, ON, Canada L5L 1C6.
authors.forename: Neel
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mehta
authors.forename: Hai-Ying M
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Cheng
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D057906:Circadian Clocks / Q000235:genetics*; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000235:genetics; D004330:Drosophila / Q000502:physiology; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D010944:Plants / Q000235:genetics; D022661:RNA, Untranslated / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D035683:MicroRNAs; D022661:RNA, Untranslated
keywords: ChIP; L-VGCC; L-type voltage-gated calcium channel; RBP; RISC; RNA-binding protein; RNA-induced silencing complex; SCN; UTR; bHLH; basic helix–loop–helix; chromatin immunoprecipitation; circadian rhythms; gene expression; lncRNA; long ncRNA; miRNA; microRNA; microRNAs; ncRNA; noncoding RNA; noncoding RNAs; small nucleolar RNA; snoRNA; suprachiasmatic nucleus; untranslated region