title: The circadian rhythm controls telomeres and telomerase activity.
abstract: Circadian clocks are fundamental machinery in organisms ranging from archaea to humans. Disruption of the circadian system is associated with premature aging in mice, but the molecular basis underlying this phenomenon is still unclear. In this study, we found that telomerase activity exhibits endogenous circadian rhythmicity in humans and mice. Human and mouse TERT mRNA expression oscillates with circadian rhythms and are under the control of CLOCK-BMAL1 heterodimers. CLOCK deficiency in mice causes loss of rhythmic telomerase activities, TERT mRNA oscillation, and shortened telomere length. Physicians with regular work schedules have circadian oscillation of telomerase activity while emergency physicians working in shifts lose the circadian rhythms of telomerase activity. These findings identify the circadian rhythm as a mechanism underlying telomere and telomerase activity control that serve as interconnections between circadian systems and aging.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Wei-Dar
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Ming-Shien
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Wen
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Shian-Sen
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Shie
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yu-Lun
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Lo
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Hung-Ta
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Wo
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chun-Chieh
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Taiwan.
authors.forename: I-Chang
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Hsieh
authors.affiliation: Stroke Center and Department of Neurology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Tsong-Hai
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Taiwan. Electronic address: cwang@ocean.ag.
authors.forename: Chao-Yung
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D056930:ARNTL Transcription Factors / Q000502:physiology; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D056926:CLOCK Proteins / Q000172:deficiency / Q000502:physiology; D057906:Circadian Clocks; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000502:physiology*; D004632:Emergency Medical Services; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D010820:Physicians; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D019098:Telomerase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D016615:Telomere / Q000378:metabolism*; D014940:Work Schedule Tolerance / Q000502:physiology*; D000078329:Workforce
chemical_list: D056930:ARNTL Transcription Factors; C538960:BMAL1 protein, human; C538961:Bmal1 protein, mouse; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D056926:CLOCK Proteins; C538944:Clock protein, mouse; D019098:Telomerase
keywords: Aging; Circadian rhythm; Telomerase activity; Telomere