Gene Expression Regulation Circadian refers to the precise, time-of-day-dependent control over the transcription of genes, driven by the body’s internal biological clock, the circadian system. This regulation ensures that cellular processes, from metabolism to cell division, are optimally timed to the 24-hour cycle of light and darkness. A vast network of “clock genes” orchestrates this temporal control, influencing nearly every physiological system in the body. Disruptions to this highly organized regulation are implicated in metabolic disorders, sleep disturbances, and chronic disease risk.
Origin
This concept is a core tenet of chronobiology and molecular genetics, arising from the discovery of the master clock genes like Period (Per) and Cryptochrome (Cry). The term links the molecular process of “gene expression regulation” directly to the “circadian” timing system. It explains how external cues, primarily light, are translated into rhythmic biochemical signals at the cellular level.
Mechanism
The core mechanism involves a transcriptional-translational feedback loop where clock proteins dimerize and regulate the transcription of target genes, including their own. These rhythmic protein levels then oscillate over a 24-hour period, acting as transcription factors for downstream effector genes that control metabolism, hormone secretion, and cell cycle. Light input to the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) resets this master clock, ensuring synchronization of gene expression with the external environment.
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