Abstract
The circadian clock is a fundamental biological process that is pervasive in living organisms. Over the past decade, much has been learned about the molecular mechanism of the mammalian circadian clock. Studies have also led to the revelation of various connections between the circadian clock function and other basic biological processes, including the cell cycle and the DNA damage response. Several key regulators of circadian function have been identified to interact with regulators of DNA damage response pathways. In addition, expression of many key regulators of the cell cycle and the DNA damage response pathways display circadian rhythmic profiles, and these temporal expression profiles are altered in circadian clock deficient animals. Clinical studies have revealed deregulation of several core clock genes expression in different type of human cancers. Genetic studies from mice and Neurospora further suggest that the integration of the circadian clock with the cell division and the DNA damage response is very ancient. Understanding of the mechanistic details of how these basic processes are integrated and coordinated to achieve homeostasis will lead to new ideas for healthier life styles, and develop novel therapeutic strategies for many human disorders, including cancers.
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Abbreviations
- AML:
-
Acute myeloid leukemia
- APC:
-
Anaphase-promoting complex
- ATM:
-
Ataxia telangiectasia mutated
- ATR:
-
Ataxia telangiectasia Rad-3-related
- ATRIP:
-
ATR interacting protein
- Bmal1:
-
Brain and muscle ARNT-like 1 gene, also known as aryl hydrocarbon receptor nuclear translocator-like, Arntl
- BRCA1:
-
Breast cancer 1
- Chk1/2:
-
Checkpoint kinase 1/2
- Cdk:
-
Cyclin dependent-kinases
- Cry1:
-
Cryptochrome1 gene
- DDR:
-
DNA damage response
- DNA-PK:
-
DNA-dependent protein kinase
- DSBs:
-
Double-strand breaks
- Frq:
-
Frequency gene
- G0 phase:
-
Quiescent cells stay in G0 phase, outside the cell cycle
- G1 phase:
-
The first gap in the cell cycle
- G2 phase:
-
The second gap in the cell cycle
- HR:
-
Homologous recombination
- IR:
-
Ionizing radiation
- M phase:
-
The mitotic phase in the cell cycle
- mPer2:
-
Mouse period2 gene
- Npas2:
-
Neuronal PAS domain protein2, a paralogue of Clock gene
- Rb:
-
Retinoblastoma gene
- ROS:
-
Reactive oxygen species
- S phase:
-
The DNA sysnthesis phase of the cell cycle
- SCN:
-
Suprachiasmatic nuclei
- SSBs:
-
Single-strand breaks
- Tim:
-
Timeless gene
- UV:
-
ultraviolet light
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Zhao, Z., Lee, C.C. (2010). Circadian Clock, Cell Cycle and Cancer. In: Albrecht, U. (eds) The Circadian Clock. Protein Reviews, vol 12. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-1262-6_6
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