Cited by 658Circadian rhythm and melatoninSleep and Work-Related FatiguePlant Molecular Biology Research

System-Driven and Oscillator-Dependent Circadian Transcription in Mice with a Conditionally Active Liver Clock

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Kornmann, Benoît, Schaad, Olivier, Bujard, Hermann, Takahashi, Joseph S, Schibler, Ueli·2007·PLoS Biology

Abstract

The mammalian circadian timing system consists of a master pacemaker in neurons of the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) and clocks of a similar molecular makeup in most peripheral body cells. Peripheral oscillators are self-sustained and cell autonomous, but they have to be synchronized by the SCN to ensure phase coherence within the organism. In principle, the rhythmic expression of genes in peripheral organs could thus be driven not only by local oscillators, but also by circadian systemic signals. To discriminate between these mechanisms, we engineered a mouse strain with a conditionally active liver clock, in which REV-ERBalpha represses the transcription of the essential core clock gene Bmal1 in a doxycycline-dependent manner. We examined circadian liver gene expression genome-wide in mice in which hepatocyte oscillators were either running or arrested, and found that the rhythmic transcription of most genes depended on functional hepatocyte clocks. However, we discovered 31 genes, including the core clock gene mPer2, whose expression oscillated robustly irrespective of whether the liver clock was running or not. By contrast, in liver explants cultured in vitro, circadian cycles of mPer2::luciferase bioluminescence could only be observed when hepatocyte oscillators were operational. Hence, the circadian cycles observed in the liver of intact animals without functional hepatocyte oscillators were likely generated by systemic signals. The finding that rhythmic mPer2 expression can be driven by both systemic cues and local oscillators suggests a plausible mechanism for the phase entrainment of subsidiary clocks in peripheral organs.

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Crossref · 10.1371/journal.pbio.0050034

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  • In a mouse model, about 10% of rhythmically expressed liver genes were not under control of hepatocyte clocks but instead relied on oscillatory systemic signals.

    “This was suggested in a mouse model, engineered to differentiate between central and peripheral entrainment cues, where the authors showed that about 10% of rhythmically expressed liver genes were not under control of hepatocyte clocks but instead relied on oscillatory systemic signals54.”
  • These oscillatory temperature cues are likely picked up in the periphery to entrain, for example, sets of hepatic gene transcripts independent of peripheral liver clocks.

    “These oscillatory temperature cues are likely picked up in the periphery to entrain, for example, sets of hepatic gene transcripts independent of peripheral liver clocks54.”
  • Rhythmic feeding is both necessary and sufficient to drive the circadian expression of liver genes.

    “Indeed, it was shown that rhythmic feeding is both necessary and sufficient to drive the circadian expression of liver genes [7,8]”

    From Circadian control of glucose metabolism (2014) · cites this paper as [8]

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Authors
Kornmann, B., Schaad, O., Bujard, H., Takahashi, J. S., & Schibler, U.
Affiliations
  • University of Geneva (CH)
  • Heidelberg University (DE)
  • Northwestern University (US)
Corresponding author
Schibler, Ueli
Venue
PLoS Biology
Published
2007-01-30
Volume
5
Issue
2
Pages
e34
ISSN
  • 1544-9173 (ISSN-L)
  • 1545-7885
OpenAlex
W2077404705
Cited by
658
References
52
Citations by year
2026: 11 · 2025: 18 · 2024: 15 · 2023: 20 · 2022: 18 · 2021: 35 · 2020: 22 · 2019: 37 · 2018: 31 · 2017: 33 · 2016: 41 · 2015: 31 · 2014: 58 · 2013: 59 · 2012: 44
FWCI
19.98
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • PLoS Biology (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Archive ouverte UNIGE (University of Geneva) (publishedVersion, other-oa)
  • Figshare (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion)
  • Archive ouverte UNIGE (University of Geneva) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
Funders
  • National Science Foundation
  • Howard Hughes Medical Institute
  • Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Förderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung
  • Bonizzi-Theler Stiftung
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Endocrine and Autonomic Systems › Circadian rhythm and melatonin
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Sleep and Work-Related Fatigue
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Plant Science › Plant Molecular Biology Research
Keywords
circadian clock, peripheral oscillators, phase entrainment, NR1D1, Bmal1, mPer2, doxycycline-inducible expression, hepatic gene expression, circadian transcription, suprachiasmatic nucleus, clock synchronization
MeSH terms
Animals, Anti-Bacterial Agents, Biological Clocks, Chronobiology Phenomena, Circadian Rhythm, DNA-Binding Proteins, Doxycycline, Gene Expression Regulation, Liver, Male, Mice, Transgenic, Nuclear Proteins, Transcription Factors, Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear, Cell Cycle Proteins, Hepatocytes, Protein Array Analysis, Mice, Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins, ARNTL Transcription Factors, Period Circadian Proteins, Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 1, Group D, Member 1

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