Circadian rhythms from multiple oscillators: lessons from diverse organisms

• Published in: Nature reviews. Genetics Vol. 6; no. 7; pp. 544 - 556
• Main Authors: Bell-Pedersen, Deborah, Cassone, Vincent M, Earnest, David J, Golden, Susan S, Hardin, Paul E, Thomas, Terry L, Zoran, Mark J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group 01-07-2005
• Subjects: Animals; Biological activity; Biological and medical sciences; Biological clocks; Biological Clocks - physiology; Circadian rhythm; Circadian Rhythm - physiology; Cyanobacteria; Eukaryota - physiology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Fungi - physiology; Gene expression; Genetics of eukaryotes. Biological and molecular evolution; Humans; Models, Biological; Neurosciences; Neurospora crassa; Organisms; Oscillators; United States > US; Texas; Biological rhythm; Circadian rhythm
• ISSN: 1471-0056; 1471-0064
• DOI: 10.1038/nrg1633

The organization of biological activities into daily cycles is universal in organisms as diverse as cyanobacteria, fungi, algae, plants, flies, birds and man. Comparisons of circadian clocks in unicellular and multicellular organisms using molecular genetics and genomics have provided new insights into the mechanisms and complexity of clock systems. Whereas unicellular organisms require stand-alone clocks that can generate 24-hour rhythms for diverse processes, organisms with differentiated tissues can partition clock function to generate and coordinate different rhythms. In both cases, the temporal coordination of a multi-oscillator system is essential for producing robust circadian rhythms of gene expression and biological activity.