The circadian rhythm of peripheral cells can be regulated by diverse stimuli, including oscillations in hormones, metabolites and temperature. Saini et al. used bioluminescence assays to monitor the influence of physiologically relevant temperature oscillations on circadian gene expression in fibroblasts. Interestingly, 6–30-hour temperature cycles with stable fluctuations as low as 1–4˚C entrained the phases of circadian gene expression, even in cells that were in an opposite circadian phase before treatment. Among the studied temperature-regulated circadian genes, period homologue 2 (Per2) was the first to adapt to temperature-entrained phases, indicating that it is involved in the early response to phase transition. Temperature-sensitive genes are also involved in this response, as, for example, deletion of heat shock factor 1 (Hsf1) delayed the adaptation of circadian gene expression to temperature cycles.
ORIGINAL RESEARCH PAPER
Saini, C. et al. Simulated body temperature rhythms reveal the phase/shifting behavior and plasticity of mammalian circadian oscillators. Genes Dev. 29 Feb 2012 (doi:10.1101/gad.183251.111)
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Papatriantafyllou, M. Temperature oscillations set peripheral clocks. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol 13, 211 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrm3324
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nrm3324