title: Molecular mechanisms of the circadian clockwork in mammals.
abstract: Circadian rhythms enable organisms to co-ordinate biological processes with the predictable 24 h cycle of day and night. Given that molecular clocks that coordinate such biological timing have evolved in almost all organisms, it is clear that being synchronous with the external environment confers competitive advantage. Conversely, it is apparent that being out of phase is detrimental, resulting in a number of clinical conditions, many of which are linked to metabolic dysfunction. The canonical clockwork involves a core set of genes that negatively regulate themselves through a so-called transcription translation feedback loop. However, recent studies describing evolutionarily conserved oscillations in redox reactions link circadian rhythms to metabolic processes, and in particular, redox pathways. In this review we describe the evidence for the interaction between transcriptional loops, redox and metabolism in mammals and suggest the clock may be potential target for the treatment of disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge Metabolic Research Laboratories, NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, Institute of Metabolic Science, University of Cambridge, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, UK.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Robinson
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge Metabolic Research Laboratories, NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, Institute of Metabolic Science, University of Cambridge, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, UK. Electronic address: areddy@cantab.net.
authors.forename: A B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Reddy
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D057906:Circadian Clocks / Q000235:genetics*; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D056925:Circadian Rhythm Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D056925:Circadian Rhythm Signaling Peptides and Proteins
keywords: Circadian rhythms; Metabolism; Peroxiredoxins; Redox