Molecular clock genes are a set of core transcriptional-translational feedback loop genes that govern the intrinsic, self-sustaining oscillation of circadian rhythms within nearly all cells of the body. Key examples include Period (Per), Cryptochrome (Cry), Bmal1, and Clock. These genes collectively dictate the approximately 24-hour cycles of various physiological processes, including hormone secretion, metabolism, and sleep-wake cycles. Proper synchronization of these peripheral cellular clocks with the central suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) is fundamental to metabolic and hormonal health.
Origin
The term combines “molecular,” referring to the genetic and protein level, with “clock genes,” reflecting their role in timing biological events. This concept originated from chronobiology and genetics, with the discovery of the first Period gene in fruit flies in the 1970s, which later led to the identification of homologous mammalian genes.
Mechanism
The mechanism involves a complex feedback loop where the CLOCK and BMAL1 proteins form a heterodimer that promotes the transcription of Per and Cry genes. PER and CRY proteins then accumulate in the cytoplasm, dimerize, and translocate back into the nucleus to inhibit the CLOCK/BMAL1 complex, thereby suppressing their own transcription. This cyclical inhibition and release, which takes roughly a day, drives the rhythmic expression of thousands of downstream genes, linking the cellular clock to systemic physiology.
Circadian disruptions can significantly alter hormone therapy outcomes by misaligning the body's internal timing, affecting hormone action and metabolism.
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