Cheap biological clock "in vitro"
A new cellular model of the biological clock has been created
ABC Magazine based on EurekAlert: Development of new cell models that report circadian clock functionResearchers from the University of Memphis and the University of Pennsylvania, using liver cells and adipocytes, have created a new cellular model of the biological clock.
The model proposed by the authors can be used to study the effectiveness of new drugs. Also, with its help, it will be possible to find out whether small molecules are capable of affecting the work of the body's biological clock, disrupting or restoring it.
It is known that the disruption of biorhythms associated with an incorrect regime, moving from one time zone to another and other reasons can seriously affect a person's health. The biological clock is present in every cell of the body and consists of several transcription activators and repressors.
The authors modified hepatocytes and adipocytes involved in metabolic processes by introducing a luciferase gene into them, the product of which is able to glow. The luminescence of the protein could be detected using inexpensive compact devices present in each laboratory. Luciferase expression depended on the work of genes responsible for the functioning of the biological clock in the cell. By adding a substance to the cells, it was possible to find out whether this component affects the work of the biological clock.
The new model does not require the use of expensive equipment and can be used even in small laboratories, which distinguishes it from other cellular models of biological clocks. The researchers suggest that their development will find wide application, which will help to better understand the features of the biological clock, as well as to identify new ways to control this mechanism.
Article by Ramanathan et al. Cell Type-Specific Functions of Period Genes Revealed by Novel Adipocyte and Hepatocyte Circadian Clock Models published in the journal PLoS Genetics.
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