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Light-Mediated Gene Expression

Meaning

The process by which light exposure, acting as a potent environmental cue, directly or indirectly regulates the transcription of specific genes within various tissues, particularly the Hypothalamic Suprachiasmatic Nucleus (SCN) and peripheral organs. This regulation is fundamental to setting and maintaining the body’s circadian rhythms and is crucial for the timing of critical cellular processes. Light-Mediated Gene Expression governs the cyclical synthesis of proteins, including key hormones and metabolic enzymes, that drive the 24-hour physiological cycle. Disruption of this expression can lead to widespread metabolic and endocrine dysregulation.