Articles tagged with Biological Rhythms
A team of researchers from Brandeis University and University of Nevada, Reno has discovered genes in C. elegans that exhibit gene expression oscillations with 24-hour cycles, shedding light on the mammalian circadian clock. This finding has significant implications for studying human disease genes through corresponding worm genes.
Researchers identified a plant clock gene that works in human cells and vice versa, with similar function. The study suggests convergent evolution as the explanation for this phenomenon, highlighting the importance of maintaining accurate circadian rhythms in both plants and humans.
Research published in FASEB Journal suggests that a fetal liver gene called Npas2 is a key regulator of the circadian system, which is altered by maternal high-fat diet during pregnancy. Improving diet can partially restore circadian machinery and reduce risk of childhood diseases related to obesity.
Researchers at UCI discovered that circadian rhythms directly control PPAR-gamma, a protein essential for lipid metabolism. The discovery could lead to new pharmaceuticals targeting the specific amino acid on PPAR-gamma, offering a singular target for drug development.
Researchers have discovered a mechanism in green algae that allows its internal clock to synchronize with the day/night cycle despite large fluctuations in light intensity. The study found that the algae's clock is reset when it becomes out of phase, making it immune to strong daylight fluctuations.
A study published in the Journal of Affective Disorders suggests that depression is associated with increased activity of the Clock gene, which regulates circadian rhythm. This finding could lead to personalized treatment approaches for people with depression, such as light therapy or antidepressants targeting melatonin.
Temperature fluctuations have a profound impact on the human body's internal clock. By regulating body temperature, these cyclic changes set the timing of cellular activity, influencing metabolism and sleep patterns. This discovery suggests an ancient mechanism that may have evolved in other organisms to control daily biological cycles.
Researchers have found that rod cells in the retina play a crucial role in setting internal biological clocks, even in low light conditions. This discovery has important implications for understanding circadian rhythms and sleep disorders, particularly in older adults who may lose their rod cells to age.
Research highlights the connection between circadian rhythms and affective disorders, including depression and bipolar disorder. The study found that disrupted circadian rhythms can lead to sleep disturbances, hormonal imbalances, and other health issues.
A recent study has discovered that even brief periods of light exposure can significantly impact a fungus's biological functions, including reproduction, pigmentation, DNA repair, and stress response. The research also found that specific metabolic pathways can be directly activated by light in this fungus.
A human study found an association between dysregulation of circadian clock genes and chronic drinking. Lower levels of mRNA in these genes were observed in alcohol-dependent patients, indicating disrupted circadian rhythm.
A study in mice with disrupted circadian rhythms found that triglyceride levels remain high throughout the day, unlike normal mice whose levels peak at night. The researchers suggest that activities disrupting the circadian rhythm may have real consequences for lipid metabolism.
Research at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute's Lighting Research Center finds that extended daylight hours in spring delay melatonin onset, leading to teen sleep deprivation. Teenagers should increase morning daylight exposure year-round and decrease evening daylight exposure to ensure sufficient sleep before school.
A study by UT Southwestern Medical Center found that disrupting two genes controlling circadian rhythms can lead to diabetes. The researchers discovered that mice with defective CLOCK and BMAL1 genes developed pancreatic cells unable to release sufficient amounts of insulin, leading to diabetes.
A new study suggests that exercise can reduce alcohol intake in humans by stimulating brain reward pathways and regulating circadian rhythms. Exercise may provide a beneficial alternative to reducing alcohol consumption, with the 'lazier' hamsters having a greater craving for alcohol when restricted from exercising.
Researchers at Northwestern University discovered a direct link between the pancreas' molecular clock and insulin production, highlighting its role in regulating glucose homeostasis. The findings suggest that faulty clocks may contribute to the development of diabetes.
A new study found that caffeine can help shift workers make fewer mistakes and improve their performance in tasks such as driving and neuropsychological tests. The researchers reviewed data from 13 trials studying the effects of caffeine on shift work and found a significant reduction in errors made by participants.
A new study finds that some immortal cancer cells have functioning biological clocks, but these clocks don't regulate cell division. This could lead to the development of new anti-cancer therapies by targeting the biological clock pathway.
Researchers have discovered how cyanobacteria's rate of cell division is regulated by the same circadian clocks that control human sleep patterns. The study found that cells divide once per day at specific points in the 24-hour cycle, with implications for understanding cellular renewal and cancer.
Researchers identified a key protein that controls bacterial cell division and found the biological clock's role in regulating this process. The study's findings provide insights into the evolution of circadian clocks between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.
Research finds that fruit flies' nutrient storage and consumption are controlled by opposing clocks in neurons and the fat body. The study reveals a complex interplay between metabolic signals and circadian rhythms, with implications for understanding human metabolism and disease.
Scientists at Hebrew University of Jerusalem have discovered that tiny molecules called miRNAs play a crucial role in regulating our internal clock. This finding has significant implications for treating sleep deprivation and other disorders related to the daily life cycle.
A study published in PNAS reveals that food intake plays a crucial role in regulating liver gene expression, rather than the body's circadian clock. The findings suggest that consistent feeding schedules can have a significant impact on metabolism and may help explain why shift workers are more prone to metabolic syndrome.
A PLoS ONE study suggests that hydrogen peroxide, produced by mitochondria as a by-product of oxygen combustion, may act as a signal molecule regulating daily rhythms and behavior. The research found dramatic effects on fruit fly activity levels and daily rhythms when exposed to hydrogen peroxide.
Researchers from Queen Mary University of London have identified a gene called nocte that interferes with the fly's ability to synchronize its body clock using temperature signals. Disabling this gene prevents both synchronization to light-dark cycles and temperature changes.
Researchers discovered that Drosophila's brain circadian clock neurons require information from peripheral tissues to synchronize with temperature cycles. Disruption of key gene nocte in peripheral cells interferes with temperature synchronization, highlighting the chordotonal organs as crucial temperature receptors.
Researchers at Texas A&M University have found a new mechanism for regulating the circadian rhythm in chickens' eyes, which could lead to breakthroughs in understanding and treating diseases such as cancer and heart disease. The discovery involves microRNA-26a, a small RNA molecule that plays a crucial role in controlling the activity ...
The study reveals a conserved phosphorylation site in CRY1 that allows nutrients to directly alter the rhythm of peripheral clocks. Genetic inactivation of AMPK blocks these effects, confirming that cryptochromes act as energy sensors for circadian clocks.
New research shows that daily fluctuations in glucocorticoids directly synchronize the biological clock and regulate blood sugar levels. This finding may help doctors reduce debilitating side effects of glucocorticoid drugs and aid diabetics in controlling their blood sugar levels.
Researchers at UMass Medical School have discovered that monarch butterflies use their antennae to navigate towards Mexico, contradicting previous assumptions that the brain played a primary role. The study found that removing or blocking the antennae impaired the butterflies' ability to orient themselves correctly.
A new study has found that genes regulating insulin also alter the timing of the circadian clock, suggesting novel therapies for metabolic disease. Hundreds of genes were identified as affecting the clock's timing, with seven genes involved in insulin control also influencing its rhythms.
A team of researchers at Washington University in St. Louis has discovered that individual cells isolated from the biological clock can keep a 24-hour rhythm, but they are unreliable on their own. The cells must communicate with each other to establish a coherent daily cycle.
A study found that chemotherapy impairs sleep-wake activity rhythms in breast cancer patients, leading to shorter days and disrupted biological clocks. The disruption worsens with repeated chemotherapy cycles, highlighting the need for routine screening and management of sleep disturbances.
A study with hamsters shows that chronic alcohol consumption blunts the biological clock's ability to synchronize daily activities to light. The research suggests that this disruption can have long-lasting effects on the body's internal clock, even after withdrawal from alcohol.
Researchers discovered that insect circadian rhythms affect pesticide susceptibility, with defenses strongest during mid-day and weakest around dawn or dusk. This knowledge may lead to improved pest control strategies and reduced pesticide use.
A study published in Ecology Letters reveals that plants' circadian clocks can improve climate change scenarios by accurately predicting CO2 levels and photosynthesis. The internal clock enables plants to adapt to their environment, surviving and reproducing more efficiently.
Researchers found that Period 1 regulates expression of alpha-ENaC in mouse kidney, leading to decreased sodium loss in urine. The study suggests a link between the circadian rhythm and salt balance, with implications for blood pressure control.
Researchers have found that the circadian clock protein Period 1 regulates expression of the renal epithelial sodium channel in mice, leading to decreased sodium loss in urine. Additionally, a study on gene therapy revealed that TLR9-MyD88 pathway is critical for adaptive immune responses to AAV vectors. Another study on kidney repair ...
The Peter and Patricia Gruber Foundation awards $500,000 to Hall, Rosbash, and Young for their groundbreaking discoveries on the molecular mechanisms controlling circadian rhythms in the nervous system. Their research revealed a transcriptional feedback loop that oscillates during the 24-hour cycle, driving daily behavior.
Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center used the fungus Neurospora to study the biochemistry and genetics of body clocks. They found that a protein called FRQ marks time by a sequence of changes in its chemical structure, which controls many biological processes including cell division, hormonal release, and sleep/wake cycles.
A study by Ueli Schibler's team reveals that a specific microRNA called miR-122 plays a crucial role in regulating the expression of circadian genes in liver cells. The discovery sheds light on the molecular mechanisms controlling the internal clock and its potential connection to hepatitis C virus replication.
A team at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute developed a wearable device that delivers blue light directly to the eyes to improve sleep quality in older adults. The study found that exposure to blue light levels of 50 lux and 10 lux for 90 minutes suppressed nocturnal melatonin levels, indicating stimulation of the circadian system.
Researchers have made new inroads into understanding the regulatory circuitry of the biological clock that synchronizes daily activities. Two studies published in Cell and Molecular Cell provide a complete view of the regulation of circadian clocks across a day, revealing the role of phosphorylation and temperature compensation.
Scientists at Queen Mary University of London have discovered a PER:PER protein pair required for circadian clock function in fruit flies. This finding may also apply to mammals, including humans, with implications for regulating our biological clocks.
Researchers found that mice with mutated or missing clock genes developed thick and inflexible blood vessels, a hallmark of vascular disease. This suggests that clocks may work normally in the brain but malfunction in blood vessels to bring on hypertension and vascular disease.
Researchers linked circadian clock to SIRT1 and NAD levels, revealing a biochemical mechanism that drives metabolic disorders. The study finds potential new avenues for treating age-related disorders and restoring healthy daily rhythms.
A study by Northwestern University researchers discovered the circadian clock genes strongly regulate NAD production, a critical cofactor involved in energy utilization. This discovery sheds light on how aging, metabolism, and the circadian clock are interconnected.
Researchers at UCI have found that circadian rhythms regulate energy levels in cells, with implications for treating diseases like cancer, diabetes, and obesity. The discovery opens a new window into understanding how the body's day-night patterns and metabolism work together to maintain cellular function.
Researchers found three factors governing circadian clock resetting: Cryptochrome, Jetlag, and Timeless. These proteins fine-tune light responses on a molecular level, ensuring the bodyclock stays synchronized with its environment.
A high-fat diet can affect circadian rhythms, leading to hormone imbalance, obesity, psychological disorders, and cancer. Fasting and a low-fat diet regulate adiponectin signaling pathways, while a high-fat diet disrupts these pathways, contributing to metabolic disorders.
Research reveals that the immune system's phagocytic response is stronger at night and weaker during the day, with flies infected at night showing improved survival rates. The study suggests that circadian proteins play a crucial role in regulating immunity, particularly during restorative functions like sleep.
Researchers found that night-shift workers who use bright light exposure therapy and wear dark sunglasses can improve performance and alertness during night shifts. The study suggests a compromise circadian phase position can be achieved, allowing for better nighttime sleep on days off.
A study found that night shift workers who use bright light exposure therapy, dark sunglasses, and a strict sleep schedule can achieve a compromise circadian phase position, improving alertness and performance. This partial physiological adaptation allows for increased daytime sleep on days off.
A recent study suggests that seasonal affective disorder (SAD) may be linked to a genetic mutation in the eye's melanopsin gene. Individuals with this mutation are five times more likely to experience SAD symptoms, highlighting a potential genetic predisposition to the condition.
Scientists found that mussels alternate between eating and growing genes in response to changing environmental conditions. The study suggests that mussels use a survival strategy similar to circadian rhythms, allowing them to separate physiological processes and reduce damage from free radicals.
Stanford researchers found that a functioning circadian system is crucial to Siberian hamsters' ability to remember their environment. The study suggests that the circadian clock controls the daily cycle of sleep and wakefulness by inhibiting brain activity, which affects learning and memory.
Researchers found that melatonin rhythm abnormalities worsen as cirrhosis progresses, and abnormal pituitary hormone patterns can predict hepatic encephalopathy development. These findings suggest that melatonin circadian rhythm abnormalities may be an early indicator of liver disease severity.
Researchers identified genes controlling rhythmic plant growth, enabling bursts of growth at night and increasing competitiveness in shaded environments. These findings could lead to designing crops that grow faster and produce more food than current varieties.
Researchers at Oregon State University have identified the biological clock genes responsible for plant growth spurts, which occur at night. The study uses DNA microarrays and bioinformatics to analyze thousands of genes in a short period, revealing that most plant genes are expressed only at a particular time of day.
The Lighting Research Center (LRC) at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute has received a $250,000 grant from the US Green Building Council to investigate the link between daylight design and student well-being. The project aims to quantify the impact of daylight on students' performance, sleep quality, and stress levels.