The mammalian circadian clock

Organisms populating the earth are under the steady influence of daily and seasonal changes resulting from the planet's rotation and orbit around the sun. This periodic pattern most prominently manifested by the light-dark cycle has led to the establishment of endogenous circadian timing systems that synchronize biological functions to the environment. The mammalian circadian system is composed of many individual, tissue-specific clocks. To generate coherent physiological and behavioral responses, the phases of this multitude of clocks are orchestrated by the master circadian pacemaker residing in the suprachiasmatic nuclei of the brain. Genetic, biochemical and genomic approaches have led to major advances in understanding the molecular and cellular basis of mammalian circadian clock components and mechanisms.     

Multiscale complexity in the mammalian circadian clock

The field of systems biology studies how the interactions among individual components (e.g. genes and proteins) yield interesting and complex behavior. The circadian (daily) timekeeping system in mammals is an ideal system to study complexity because of its many biological scales (from genes to animal behavior). A wealth of data at each of these scales has recently been discovered. Within each scale, modeling can advance our understanding of challenging problems that arise in studying mammalian timekeeping. However, future work must focus on bridging the multiple spatial and temporal scales in the modeling of SCN network. Here we review recent advances, and then delve into a few areas that are promising research directions. We also discuss the flavor of modeling needed (simple or detailed) as well as new techniques that are needed to meet the challenges in modeling data across scales.     

The mammalian circadian clock shop.

In mammals, a master circadian pacemaker driving daily rhythms in behavior and physiology resides in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN). The SCN contains multiple circadian oscillators that synchronize to environmental cycles and to each other in vivo. Rhythm production, an intracellular event, depends on more than eight identified genes. The period of the rhythms within the SCN also depends upon intercellular communication. Many other tissues also retain the ability to generate near 24 -h periodicities although their place in the organization of circadian timing is still unclear. This paper focuses on the tissue-, cellular- and molecular-level events that generate and entrain circadian rhythms in behavior in mammals and emphasizes the apparent differences between the SCN and peripheral oscillators.     

Entrainment of the mammalian cell cycle by the circadian clock: modeling two coupled cellular rhythms

The cell division cycle and the circadian clock represent two major cellular rhythms. These two periodic processes are coupled in multiple ways, given that several molecular components of the cell cycle network are controlled in a circadian manner. For example, in the network of cyclin-dependent kinases (Cdks) that governs progression along the successive phases of the cell cycle, the synthesis of the kinase Wee1, which inhibits the G2/M transition, is enhanced by the complex CLOCK-BMAL1 that plays a central role in the circadian clock network. Another component of the latter network, REV-ERBα, inhibits the synthesis of the Cdk inhibitor p21. Moreover, the synthesis of the oncogene c-Myc, which promotes G1 cyclin synthesis, is repressed by CLOCK-BMAL1. Using detailed computational models for the two networks we investigate the conditions in which the mammalian cell cycle can be entrained by the circadian clock. We show that the cell cycle can be brought to oscillate at a period of 24 h or 48 h when its autonomous period prior to coupling is in an appropriate range. The model indicates that the combination of multiple modes of coupling does not necessarily facilitate entrainment of the cell cycle by the circadian clock. Entrainment can also occur as a result of circadian variations in the level of a growth factor controlling entry into G1. Outside the range of entrainment, the coupling to the circadian clock may lead to disconnected oscillations in the cell cycle and the circadian system, or to complex oscillatory dynamics of the cell cycle in the form of endoreplication, complex periodic oscillations or chaos. The model predicts that the transition from entrainment to 24 h or 48 h might occur when the strength of coupling to the circadian clock or the level of growth factor decrease below critical values.     

The circadian clock system in the mammalian retina

Daily rhythms are a ubiquitous feature of living systems. Generally, these rhythms are not just passive consequences of cyclic fluctuations in the environment, but instead originate within the organism. In mammals, including humans, the master pacemaker controlling 24-hour rhythms is localized in the suprachiasmatic nuclei of the hypothalamus. This circadian clock is responsible for the temporal organization of a wide variety of functions, ranging from sleep and food intake, to physiological measures such as body temperature, heart rate and hormone release. The retinal circadian clock was the first extra-SCN circadian oscillator to be discovered in mammals and several studies have now demonstrated that many of the physiological, cellular and molecular rhythms that are present within the retina are under the control of a retinal circadian clock, or more likely a network of hierarchically organized circadian clocks that are present within this tissue. BioEssays 30:624-633, 2008. (c) 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Kinases and phosphatases in the mammalian circadian clock

Posttranslational modifications of circadian oscillator components are crucial for the generation of circadian rhythms. Among those phosphorylation plays key roles ranging from regulating degradation, complex formation, subcellular localization and activity. Although most of the known clock proteins are phosphoproteins in vivo, a comprehensive view about the regulation of clock protein phosphorylation is still missing. Here, we review our current knowledge about the role of clock protein phosphorylation and its regulation by kinases and phosphatases in eukaryotes with a major focus on the mammalian circadian clock.     

Central administration of muscimol phase-shifts the mammalian circadian clock

Summary The suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) of the hypothalamus contains a neural oscillatory system which regulates many circadian rhythms in mammals. Immunohistochemical evidence indicates that a relatively high density of GABAergic neurons exist in the suprachiasmatic region. Since intraperitoneal injections of the benzodiazepine, triazolam, have been shown to induce phase shifts in the free-running circadian rhythm of locomotor activity in the golden hamster, the extent to which microinjections of muscimol, a specific agonist for gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), may cause phase-shifts in hamster activity rhythms was investigated. Stereotaxically implanted guide cannulae aimed at the region of the SCN were used to deliver repeated microinjections in individual animals. A phase-response curve (PRC) generated from microinjections of muscimol revealed that the magnitude and direction of permanent phase-shifts in the activity rhythm were associated with the time of administration. The PRC generated for muscimol was characterized by maximal phase-advances induced 6 h before activity onset and by maximal phase-delays which occurred 6 h after activity onset. The PRC for muscimol had a shape similar to a PRC previously generated for the short-acting benzodiazepine, triazolam. Single microinjections of different doses of muscimol given 6 h before activity onset induced phase-advances in a dose-dependent fashion. Histological analysis revealed that phase shifts induced by the administration of muscimol were associated with the proximity of the injection site to the SCN area. These data indicate that a GABAergic system may exist within the suprachiasmatic region as part of a central biological clock responsible for the regulation of the circadian rhythm of locomotor activity in the golden hamster.Abbreviations CT circadian time - GABA gamma-aminobutyric acid - OC optic chiasm - PRC phase-response curve - SEM standard error of mean - SCN suprachiasmatic nuclei - T track - IIIV third ventricle     

JNK regulates the photic response of the mammalian circadian clock

The posttranslational regulation of mammalian clock proteins has been assigned a time-keeping function, but seems to have more essential roles. Here we show that c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), identified by inhibitor screening of BMAL1 phosphorylation at Ser 520/Thr 527/Ser 592, confers dynamic regulation on the clock. Knockdown of JNK1 and JNK2 abrogates BMAL1 phosphorylation and lengthens circadian period in fibroblasts. Mice deficient for neuron-specific isoform JNK3 have altered behavioural rhythms, with longer free-running period and compromised phase shifts to light. The locomotor rhythms are insensitive to intensity variance of constant light, deviating from Aschoff's rule. Thus, JNK regulates a core characteristic of the circadian clock by controlling the oscillation speed and the phase in response to light.     

Clock genes and light-induced resetting of circadian clock: Dichotomy in mammalian circadian center

Sleep and Biological Rhythms -     

Signaling in the mammalian circadian clock: the NO/cGMP pathway

Mammalian circadian rhythms are generated by a hypothalamic suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN) clock. Light pulses synchronize body rhythms by inducing phase delays during the early night and phase advances during the late night. Phosphorylation events are known to be involved in circadian phase shifting, both for delays and advances. Pharmacological inhibition of the cGMP-dependent kinase (cGK) or Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent kinase (CaMK), or of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) blocks the circadian responses to light in vivo. Light pulses administered during the subjective night, but not during the day, induce rapid phosphorylation of both p-CAMKII and p-nNOS (specifically phosphorylated by CaMKII). CaMKII inhibitors block light-induced nNOS activity and phosphorylation, suggesting a direct pathway between both enzymes. Furthermore, SCN cGMP exhibits diurnal and circadian rhythms with maximal values during the day or subjective day. This variation of cGMP levels appears to be related to temporal changes in phosphodiesterase (PDE) activity and not to guanylyl cyclase (GC) activity. Light pulses increase SCN cGMP levels at circadian time (CT) 18 (when light causes phase advances of rhythms) but not at CT 14 (the time for light-induced phase delays). cGK II is expressed in the hamster SCN and also exhibits circadian changes in its levels, peaking during the day. Light pulses increase cGK activity at CT 18 but not at CT 14. In addition, cGK and GC inhibition by KT-5823 and ODQ significantly attenuated light-induced phase shifts at CT 18. This inhibition did not change c-Fos expression SCN but affected the expression of the clock gene per in the SCN. These results suggest a signal transduction pathway responsible for light-induced phase advances of the circadian clock which could be summarized as follows: Glu-Ca2+-CaMKII-nNOS-GC-cGMP-cGK-->-->clock genes. This pathway offers a signaling window that allows peering into the circadian clock machinery in order to decipher its temporal cogs and wheels.