Special Issue "Frontiers in Mammalian Circadian Biology"

A special issue of Biology (ISSN 2079-7737). This special issue belongs to the section "Behavioural Biology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 January 2023) | Viewed by 5852

Special Issue Editors

Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, INSERM, 34094 Montpellier, France
Interests: suprachiasmatic nuclei; calcium-signaling; neuroendocrine rhythms; pituitary; hypothyroidism
Department of Physiology and Systems Bioscience, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto 602-8566, Japan
Interests: circadian clocks; suprachiasmatic nuclei; circadian misalignment; circadian disorders; human physiology; development; aging

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Circadian rhythms are biological processes recurring within a 24-hour period, in resonance with the natural day–night cycle. They are observed at the molecular, physiological, and behavioral level, and rely on endogenous clocks that enable living organisms to anticipate predictable variations in their environment. A conserved molecular clockwork encodes circadian time in virtually every mammalian cell, thereby defining a large number of cell-autonomous oscillators coordinated by a central circadian pacemaker located in the suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN) of the hypothalamus. Disruptions of this circadian system cause adverse health issues ranging from the simple ailment of jetlag to severe diseases.

This Special Issue, "Frontiers in Mammalian Circadian Biology", will gather a selection of articles addressing the new challenges in chronobiology, from cell type-specific molecular mechanisms to behaviors and systemic functions. Contributions on every aspect of circadian rhythms in terms of health and disease, both in animal models and human subjects, are welcome. Reviews as well as short and full-length research papers will be considered.

Dr. Xavier Bonnefont
Prof. Dr. Kazuhiro Yagita
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Biology is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

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Keywords

  • circadian clocks
  • suprachiasmatic nuclei
  • mood disorders
  • immune system
  • aging
  • circadian misalignment

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Review

Review
Reciprocal Interactions between Circadian Clocks, Food Intake, and Energy Metabolism
Biology 2023, 12(4), 539; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology12040539 - 31 Mar 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1751
Abstract
Like other biological functions, food intake and energy metabolism display daily rhythms controlled by the circadian timing system that comprises a main circadian clock and numerous secondary clocks in the brain and peripheral tissues. Each secondary circadian clock delivers local temporal cues based [...] Read more.
Like other biological functions, food intake and energy metabolism display daily rhythms controlled by the circadian timing system that comprises a main circadian clock and numerous secondary clocks in the brain and peripheral tissues. Each secondary circadian clock delivers local temporal cues based on intracellular transcriptional and translational feedback loops that are tightly interconnected to intracellular nutrient-sensing pathways. Genetic impairment of molecular clocks and alteration in the rhythmic synchronizing cues, such as ambient light at night or mistimed meals, lead to circadian disruption that, in turn, negatively impacts metabolic health. Not all circadian clocks are sensitive to the same synchronizing signals. The master clock in the suprachiasmatic nuclei of the hypothalamus is mostly synchronized by ambient light and, to a lesser extent, by behavioral cues coupled to arousal and exercise. Secondary clocks are generally phase-shifted by timed metabolic cues associated with feeding, exercise, and changes in temperature. Furthermore, both the master and secondary clocks are modulated by calorie restriction and high-fat feeding. Taking into account the regularity of daily meals, the duration of eating periods, chronotype, and sex, chrononutritional strategies may be useful for improving the robustness of daily rhythmicity and maintaining or even restoring the appropriate energy balance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Frontiers in Mammalian Circadian Biology)
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Review
Inputs and Outputs of the Mammalian Circadian Clock
Biology 2023, 12(4), 508; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology12040508 - 28 Mar 2023
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Abstract
Circadian rhythms in mammals are coordinated by the central circadian pacemaker, the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN). Light and other environmental inputs change the timing of the SCN neural network oscillator, which, in turn, sends output signals that entrain daily behavioral and physiological rhythms. While [...] Read more.
Circadian rhythms in mammals are coordinated by the central circadian pacemaker, the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN). Light and other environmental inputs change the timing of the SCN neural network oscillator, which, in turn, sends output signals that entrain daily behavioral and physiological rhythms. While much is known about the molecular, neuronal, and network properties of the SCN itself, the circuits linking the outside world to the SCN and the SCN to rhythmic outputs are understudied. In this article, we review our current understanding of the synaptic and non-synaptic inputs onto and outputs from the SCN. We propose that a more complete description of SCN connectivity is needed to better explain how rhythms in nearly all behaviors and physiological processes are generated and to determine how, mechanistically, these rhythms are disrupted by disease or lifestyle. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Frontiers in Mammalian Circadian Biology)
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Review
Circle(s) of Life: The Circadian Clock from Birth to Death
Biology 2023, 12(3), 383; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology12030383 - 28 Feb 2023
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Abstract
Most lifeforms on earth use endogenous, so-called circadian clocks to adapt to 24-h cycles in environmental demands driven by the planet’s rotation around its axis. Interactions with the environment change over the course of a lifetime, and so does regulation of the circadian [...] Read more.
Most lifeforms on earth use endogenous, so-called circadian clocks to adapt to 24-h cycles in environmental demands driven by the planet’s rotation around its axis. Interactions with the environment change over the course of a lifetime, and so does regulation of the circadian clock system. In this review, we summarize how circadian clocks develop in humans and experimental rodents during embryonic development, how they mature after birth and what changes occur during puberty, adolescence and with increasing age. Special emphasis is laid on the circadian regulation of reproductive systems as major organizers of life segments and life span. We discuss differences in sexes and outline potential areas for future research. Finally, potential options for medical applications of lifespan chronobiology are discussed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Frontiers in Mammalian Circadian Biology)
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