The circadian rhythm, or “body clock,” regulates and affects many processes in our bodies, all within a 24-hour cycle. Now, scientists reveal that 80% of our genes follow the same rhythm, both in tissue and brain regions.
The internal clock we all follow is affected by cues from the environment that tell our bodies when it is time to sleep, eat, or get up. Naturally, as soon as something is wrong with our circadian rhythm, sleep-wake cycle, eating habits, and a myriad of other bodily functions, like hormone release or body temperature, are affected.
The study recently published in Science magazine, however, uncovers a new way in which disrupted circadian rhythm can influence us. The team of researchers from Salk’s Regulatory Biology Laboratory used RNA sequencing to track gene expression and potentially created a framework that could help us optimize and modify cures for over 150 diseases.
The scientists used non-human primate tissue and found that genes that were expressed at different levels based on the time of day it was. However, not all tissue types had the same amount of genes that were highly susceptible to the circadian rhythm: most were located in the prefrontal cortex, thyroid, or gluteal muscle. In addition to finding out that these “rhythmic genes” vary by tissue type, they found that gene transcription reached its peak in the early morning and late afternoon, and quieted down in time for bedtime. These findings have the potential to revolutionize treatment for numerous conditions, as it turns out that timing plays a crucial role in drug’s effectiveness.
In the future, a better understanding of these processes could mean having detailed instruction on medication timing and schedules, which would fully maximize the drug’s effects. Additionally, this study opens the door for in-depth exploration of how late-night lifestyles influence our well-being and health, as well as the internal clock’s influence on our bodies and minds.
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