title: CHRONO integrates behavioral stress and epigenetic control of metabolism.
abstract: Circadian rhythms are a critical part of the body's homeostatic mechanisms. These rhythms repeat with a cycle-length of approximately 24 h and are generated by a transcriptional-translational feedback loop. These rhythms are critical for proper behavioral, physiological, and molecular functions. CHRONO, a novel circadian clock gene, forms a complex with other clock proteins and modulates the circadian machinery. CHRONO also interacts with histone deacetylase (HDAC) to modulate the epigenetic status of the transcriptional regulation. Chrono knockout mice display a longer period of circadian behavior and an elevated stress response. This paper reviews the molecular function of CHRONO with a focus on epigenetic regulation and speculates on the possible function of CHRONO in physiological processes. Key messages Chrono is a circadian clock gene whose transcription exhibits a robust circadian oscillation. CHRONO is a repressor of circadian transcriptional/translational feedback loops. CHRONO may function to link epigenetic control mechanisms to stress responses.
authors.affiliation: a RIKEN Brain Science Institute , Wako , Saitama , Japan.
authors.forename: Fumiyuki
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Hatanaka
authors.affiliation: a RIKEN Brain Science Institute , Wako , Saitama , Japan.
authors.forename: Toru
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Takumi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D056926:CLOCK Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D056925:Circadian Rhythm Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006655:Histone Deacetylases / Q000378:metabolism*; D006657:Histones / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D013312:Stress, Physiological
chemical_list: C000623218:CIART protein, human; D056925:Circadian Rhythm Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D006657:Histones; D056926:CLOCK Proteins; D006655:Histone Deacetylases
keywords: Ciradian rhythm; clock gene; epigenetics; metabolism; stress