Circadian regulation of response to oxidative stress in Drosophila melanogaster

Neuroprotection afforded by circadian regulation of intracellular glutathione levels: A key role for miRNAs

Circadian rhythms are approximately 24-h oscillations of physiological and behavioral processes that allow us to adapt to daily environmental cycles. Like many other biological functions, cellular redox status and antioxidative defense systems display circadian rhythmicity. In the central nervous system (CNS), glutathione (GSH) is a critical antioxidant because the CNS is extremely vulnerable to oxidative stress; oxidative stress, in turn, causes several fatal diseases, including neurodegenerative diseases. It has long been known that GSH level shows circadian rhythm, although the mechanism underlying GSH rhythm production has not been well-studied. Several lines of recent evidence indicate that the expression of antioxidant genes involved in GSH homeostasis as well as circadian clock genes are regulated by post-transcriptional regulator microRNA (miRNA), indicating that miRNA plays a key role in generating GSH rhythm. Interestingly, several reports have shown that alterations of miRNA expression as well as circadian rhythm have been known to link with various diseases related to oxidative stress. A growing body of evidence implicates a strong correlation between antioxidative defense, circadian rhythm and miRNA function, therefore, their dysfunctions could cause numerous diseases. It is hoped that continued elucidation of the antioxidative defense systems controlled by novel miRNA regulation under circadian control will advance the development of therapeutics for the diseases caused by oxidative stress.

Disruption of the Circadian Clock Alters Antioxidative Defense via the SIRT1-BMAL1 Pathway in 6-OHDA-Induced Models of Parkinson's Disease

Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disease and is known to involve circadian dysfunction and oxidative stress. Although antioxidative defense is regulated by the molecular circadian clock, few studies have examined their function in PD and their regulation by silent information regulator 1 (SIRT1). We hypothesize that reduced antioxidative activity in models of PD results from dysfunction of the molecular circadian clock via the SIRT1 pathway. We treated rats and SH-SY5Y cells with 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) and measured the expression of core circadian clock and associated nuclear receptor genes using real-time quantitative PCR as well as levels of SIRT1, brain and muscle Arnt-like protein 1 (BMAL1), and acetylated BMAL1 using Western blotting. We found that 6-OHDA treatment altered the expression patterns of clock and antioxidative molecules in vivo and in vitro. We also detected an increased ratio of acetylated BMAL1:BMAL1 and a decreased level of SIRT1. Furthermore, resveratrol, an activator of SIRT1, decreased the acetylation of BMAL1 and inhibited its binding with CRY1, thereby reversing the impaired antioxidative activity induced by 6-OHDA. These results suggest that a dysfunctional circadian clock contributes to an abnormal antioxidative response in PD via a SIRT1-dependent BMAL1 pathway.

Thermodynamics in Neurodegenerative Diseases: Interplay Between Canonical WNT/Beta-Catenin Pathway-PPAR Gamma, Energy Metabolism and Circadian Rhythms

Entropy production rate is increased by several metabolic and thermodynamics abnormalities in neurodegenerative diseases (NDs). Irreversible processes are quantified by changes in the entropy production rate. This review is focused on the opposing interactions observed in NDs between the canonical WNT/beta-catenin pathway and PPAR gamma and their metabolic and thermodynamic implications. In amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and Huntington's disease, WNT/beta-catenin pathway is upregulated, whereas PPAR gamma is downregulated. In Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease, WNT/beta-catenin pathway is downregulated while PPAR gamma is upregulated. The dysregulation of the canonical WNT/beta-catenin pathway is responsible for the modification of thermodynamics behaviors of metabolic enzymes. Upregulation of WNT/beta-catenin pathway leads to aerobic glycolysis, named Warburg effect, through activated enzymes, such as glucose transporter (Glut), pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2), pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 1(PDK1), monocarboxylate lactate transporter 1 (MCT-1), lactic dehydrogenase kinase-A (LDH-A) and inactivation of pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDH). Downregulation of WNT/beta-catenin pathway leads to oxidative stress and cell death through inactivation of Glut, PKM2, PDK1, MCT-1, LDH-A but activation of PDH. In addition, in NDs, PPAR gamma is dysregulated, whereas it contributes to the regulation of several key circadian genes. NDs show many dysregulation in the mediation of circadian clock genes and so of circadian rhythms. Thermodynamics rhythms operate far-from-equilibrium and partly regulate interactions between WNT/beta-catenin pathway and PPAR gamma. In NDs, metabolism, thermodynamics and circadian rhythms are tightly interrelated.

The Potential of Circadian Realignment in Rheumatoid Arthritis

In this short review, we discuss evidence supporting the modulation of peripheral circadian systems as a therapeutic strategy for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We first review the role of proinflammatory cytokines and oxidative stress, two of the primary mediators of chronic inflammation in RA, and their regulation by circadian clock machinery. We further highlight the role of environmental and metabolic signals in regulating the central and peripheral circadian clocks, with an emphasis on seasonal variations in photoperiod and rhythmic metabolic input, respectively. Finally, we hypothesize that the entrainment and realignment of peripheral clock rhythms have the ability to modulate these mediators, improving clinical outcomes in RA patients. Our discussion emphasizes the use of light therapy and time-restricted feeding for entraining peripheral clocks either via the entrainment of the central circadian clock in suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN) or directly by uncoupling the peripheral circadian clocks from SCN. In doing so, we highlight the use of nonpharmacologic interventions as a potential strategy for improving clinical outcomes in chronic inflammatory conditions such as RA.

Effects of Feeding on Different Host Plants and Diets on Bradysia Odoriphaga Population Parameters and Tolerance to Heat and Insecticides

Bradysia odoriphaga Yang et Zhang, the Chinese chive root maggot, is a devastating pest of agricultural plants causing significant losses in vegetable crops, edible mushrooms, and humus. To determine the effects of feeding on different host plants and diets on the life parameters of B. odoriphaga and its tolerance to stressful conditions, we analyzed the life-table data of B. odoriphaga reared on Chinese chive (Allium hookeri), Welsh onion (Allium fistulosum), garlic (Allium sativum), oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus), and humus and assayed its tolerance to heat and insecticides. Furthermore, we assayed the physiological responses of B. odoriphaga reared on different hosts. Development from egg to adult was successfully completed on five hosts. Life table indicated that when reared on Chinese chive and oyster mushroom, B. odoriphaga showed better life parameters (shorter development time, higher survival rate, and fecundity) than on humus and garlic. However, B. odoriphaga larvae fed on humus and garlic better tolerated heat and insecticides than those that were fed Chinese chive and oyster mushroom; larvae survived longer at 38 and 40°C heat shock and at higher insecticide doses. Activities of antioxidant and detoxification enzymes varied significantly in larvae fed on different hosts. Catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione S-transferase, and carboxylesterase activities were higher in larva reared on garlic and humus than on Chinese chive and oyster mushroom. These findings indicated that B. odoriphaga preferred liliaceous vegetables and mushroom, and their tolerance against stress increased when reared on humus and garlic. Such basic information can promote targeted pest management in different agricultural fields and allow better understanding of the acclimatization strategy of B. odoriphaga.

Reprogramming energetic metabolism in Alzheimer's disease

Entropy rate is increased by several metabolic and thermodynamics abnormalities in neurodegenerative diseases (NDs). Changes in Gibbs energy, heat production, ionic conductance or intracellular acidity are irreversibles processes which driven modifications of the entropy rate. The present review focusses on the thermodynamic implications in the reprogramming of cellular energy metabolism enabling in Alzheimer's disease (AD) through the opposite interplay of the molecular signaling pathways WNT/β-catenin and PPARγ. In AD, WNT/β-catenin pathway is downregulated while PPARγ is upregulated. Thermodynamics behaviors of metabolic enzymes are modified by dysregulation of the canonical WNT/β-catenin pathway. Downregulation of WNT/β-catenin pathway leads to oxidative stress and cell death through inactivation of glycolytic enzymes such as Glut, PKM2, PDK1, MCT-1, LDH-A but activation of PDH. In addition, in NDs, PPARγ is dysregulated whereas it contributes to the regulation of several key circadian genes. AD is considered as a dissipative structure that exchanges energy or matter with its environment far from the thermodynamic equilibrium. Far-from-equilibrium thermodynamics are notions driven by circadian rhythms. Circadian rhythms directly participate in regulating the molecular pathways WNT/β-catenin and PPARγ involved in the reprogramming of cellular energy metabolism enabling AD processes.

Effects of short-term heat shock and physiological responses to heat stress in two Bradysia adults, Bradysia odoriphaga and Bradysia difformis

Bradysia odoriphaga and Bradysia difformis are devastating pests of vegetable, ornamental crops and edible mushrooms causing significant losses. Temperature may be an important factor restricting their population abundance in the summer. To determine the effects of short-term heat shock on adults, their survival, longevity and fecundity data were collected, and antioxidant responses and heat shock protein expression levels were examined. Our results indicated that the survival rates of Bradysia adults decreased rapidly after heat shock ≥36 °C, and the longevity and reproductive capacities were significantly inhibited, indicating that short-term heat shock had lethal and sub-lethal effects. Moreover, the lipid peroxidation levels of B. difformis and B. odoriphaga increased dramatically at 36 °C and 38 °C, respectively. Four antioxidant enzymes activities of B. odoriphaga were greater than those of B. difformis at 38 °C. Additionally, hsp70 and hsp90 expression levels significantly increased after heat stress, and higher expression levels of B. difformis and B. odoriphaga were discovered at 36 and 38 °C respectively, indicating their different heat tolerance levels. Overall, short-term heat shock (≥36 °C) caused significantly adverse effects on Bradysia adults, indicating that it could be applied in pest control, and antioxidant system and hsp genes played important roles in their heat tolerance levels.

Induction of transient cell cycle arrest by H2 O2 via modulation of ultradian oscillations of Hes1, Socs3, and p-Stat3 in fibroblast cells

Biological clocks, time-keeping systems, enable the living organisms to synchronize their biochemical processes with their environment. Among these molecular oscillators, ultradian oscillators have been identified with volatility less than 24 h. Transcription factor Hes1, a member of the basic Helix-loop-Helix (bHLH) protein family, has an oscillation duration of 2 h in vertebrates. Due to the pivotal role of oxidative stress in many human diseases, we evaluated the effect(s) of oxidative stress on Hes1 oscillator, its upstream regulators, and its downstream cell cycle regulators. NIH/3T3 mouse fibroblast cells were treated with sublethal (250 μM) and lethal (1000 μM) doses of H₂ O₂ for 30 min. H₂ O₂ generated a delay in p-Stat3 and Socs3 mRNAs followed by suppression of Hes1 protein. These events were accompanied by simultaneous upregulation of p21 and downregulation of cyclinD1, resulting in a temporary arrest of the cell cycle. In conclusion, the elimination of Hes1 protein oscillation by H₂ O₂ may represent a defense mechanism against oxidative stress in fibroblast cells.

Leger RJ. The genetic basis for variation in resistance to infection in the Drosophila melanogaster genetic reference panel

Individuals vary extensively in the way they respond to disease but the genetic basis of this variation is not fully understood. We found substantial individual variation in resistance and tolerance to the fungal pathogen Metarhizium anisopliae Ma549 using the Drosophila melanogaster Genetic Reference Panel (DGRP). In addition, we found that host defense to Ma549 was correlated with defense to the bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa Pa14, and several previously published DGRP phenotypes including oxidative stress sensitivity, starvation stress resistance, hemolymph glucose levels, and sleep indices. We identified polymorphisms associated with differences between lines in both their mean survival times and microenvironmental plasticity, suggesting that lines differ in their ability to adapt to variable pathogen exposures. The majority of polymorphisms increasing resistance to Ma549 were sex biased, located in non-coding regions, had moderately large effect and were rare, suggesting that there is a general cost to defense. Nevertheless, host defense was not negatively correlated with overall longevity and fecundity. In contrast to Ma549, minor alleles were concentrated in the most Pa14-susceptible as well as the most Pa14-resistant lines. A pathway based analysis revealed a network of Pa14 and Ma549-resistance genes that are functionally connected through processes that encompass phagocytosis and engulfment, cell mobility, intermediary metabolism, protein phosphorylation, axon guidance, response to DNA damage, and drug metabolism. Functional testing with insertional mutagenesis lines indicates that 12/13 candidate genes tested influence susceptibility to Ma549. Many candidate genes have homologs identified in studies of human disease, suggesting that genes affecting variation in susceptibility are conserved across species.

Circadian deep sequencing reveals stress-response genes that adopt robust rhythmic expression during aging

Disruption of the circadian clock, which directs rhythmic expression of numerous output genes, accelerates aging. To enquire how the circadian system protects aging organisms, here we compare circadian transcriptomes in heads of young and old Drosophila melanogaster. The core clock and most output genes remained robustly rhythmic in old flies, while others lost rhythmicity with age, resulting in constitutive over- or under-expression. Unexpectedly, we identify a subset of genes that adopted increased or de novo rhythmicity during aging, enriched for stress-response functions. These genes, termed late-life cyclers, were also rhythmically induced in young flies by constant exposure to exogenous oxidative stress, and this upregulation is CLOCK-dependent. We also identify age-onset rhythmicity in several putative primary piRNA transcripts overlapping antisense transposons. Our results suggest that, as organisms age, the circadian system shifts greater regulatory priority to the mitigation of accumulating cellular stress.

Circadian time-dependent antioxidant and inflammatory responses to acute cadmium exposure in the brain of zebrafish

Up to date, little information is available on effects of circadian rhythm on metal-induced toxicity in fish. In this study, zebrafish were acutely exposed to 0.97mgL^-1 cadmium for 12h either at ZT0 (the light intensity began to reached maximum) or at ZT12 (light intensity began to reached minimum) to evaluate the temporal sensitivity of oxidative stress and inflammatory responses in the brain of zebrafish. Profiles of responses of some genes at mRNA, protein and activity levels were different between ZT0 and ZT12 in the normal water. Exposure to Cd induced contrary antioxidant responses and similar inflammatory responses between ZT0 and ZT12. However, the number of inflammatory genes which were up-regulated was significantly greater at ZT12 than at ZT0. And, the up-regulated inflammatory genes were more responsive at ZT12 than at ZT0. At ZT12, antioxidant genes were down-regulated at mRNA, protein and activity levels. Contrarily, antioxidant genes were not affected at mRNA levels but activated at the protein and/or activity levels at ZT0. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) sharply increased and remained relatively stable when fish were exposed to Cd at ZT12 and ZT0, respectively. Positive correlations between ROS levels and mRNA levels of nuclear transcription factor κB (NF-κB) and between mRNA levels of NF-κB and its target genes were observed, suggesting that ROS may play an essential role in regulating the magnitude of inflammatory responses. Taken together, oxidative stress and immunotoxicity in the brain were more serious when fish were exposed to Cd in the evening than in the morning, highlighting the importance of circadian rhythm in Cd-induced neurotoxicity in fish.

Influence of Quercetin in the Temporal Regulation of Redox Homeostasis in Drosophila melanogaster

Numerous biological processes are governed by the biological clock. Studies using Drosophila melanogaster (L.) are valuable that could be of importance for their effective applications on rodent studies. In this study, the beneficial role of quercetin (a flavonoid) on H2O2 induced stress in D. melanogaster was investigated. D. melanogaster flies were divided into four groups (group I - control, group II - H2O2 (acute exposure), group III - quercetin, and group IV - quercetin + H2O2 treated). Negative geotaxis assay, oxidative stress indicators (protein carbonyls, thiobarbituric reactive substances [TBARS]), and antioxidants (superoxide dismutase [SOD], catalase [CAT], glutathione-S-transferase [GST], glutathione peroxidase, and reduced glutathione [GSH]) were measured at 4 h intervals over 24 h and temporal expression of heat shock protein-70 (Hsp70), Upd1 (homolog of IL-6 in Drosophila), and nitric oxide synthase (Nos) was analyzed by Western blotting. Groups II and IV showed altered biochemical rhythms (compared with controls). Decreased mesor values of negative geotaxis, SOD, CAT, GST, and GSH were noticed in H2O2, increased mesor of oxidative stress indicators (TBARS and protein carbonyl content) and a reversibility of the rhythmic characteristics were conspicuous after quercetin treatment. The expression levels of Hsp70, Upd1, and Nos were noticeably maximum at 04:00. Significant elevation of expression by H2O2 was nearly normalized by quercetin treatment. The possible mechanism by which quercetin modulates oxidant-antioxidant imbalance under oxidative stress could be ascribed to the modulation of the rhythmic properties. Our results will be helpful to understand the molecular interlink between circadian rhythm and oxidative stress mechanism.

Circadian rhythm in mRNA expression of the glutathione synthesis gene Gclc is controlled by peripheral glial clocks in Drosophila melanogaster

Circadian coordination of metabolism, physiology, and behaviour is found in all living kingdoms. Clock genes are transcriptional regulators, and their rhythmic activities generate daily rhythms in clock-controlled genes which result in cellular and organismal rhythms. Insects provide numerous examples of rhythms in behaviour and reproduction, but less is known about control of metabolic processes by circadian clocks in insects. Recent data suggest that several pathways involved in protecting cells from oxidative stress may be modulated by the circadian system, including genes involved in glutathione (GSH) biosynthesis. Specifically, rhythmic expression of the gene encoding the catalytic subunit (Gclc) of the rate-limiting GSH biosynthetic enzyme was detected in Drosophila melanogaster heads. The aim of this study was to determine which clocks in the fly multi-oscillatory circadian system are responsible for Gclc rhythms. Genetic disruption of tissue-specific clocks in D. melanogaster revealed that transcriptional rhythms in Gclc mRNA levels occur independently of the central pacemaker neurons, because these rhythms persisted in heads of behaviourally arrhythmic flies with a disabled central clock but intact peripheral clocks. Disrupting the clock specifically in glial cells abolished rhythmic expression of Gclc, suggesting that glia play an important role in Gclc transcriptional regulation, which may contribute to maintaining homeostasis in the fly nervous system.

Effect of Photoperiod On Permethrin Resistance In Aedes aegypti

Living organisms have been exposed to light-dark cycles that allowed them to adapt to different ecological niches. Circadian cycles affect hormone release, metabolism, and response to xenobiotic compounds. Current studies have shown that insect susceptibility to toxic agents depends on circadian cycles, mainly because the biochemical processes involved in detoxification and responses to oxidative stress are modulated by this process. The goal of this study was to determine the effect of photoperiod on resistance to permethrin in Aedes aegypti . Collections of Ae. aegypti from 4 locations in Yucatan, southern Mexico, were subjected to 2 different photoperiod schemes: dark (0 h light:24 h dark) and natural photoperiod (12 h light:12 h dark). The comparison of both photoperiods was evaluated with respect to permethrin resistance using bottle bioassays and by monitoring the possible mechanism related such as enzymatic activity and by the frequency of 2 knockdown resistance mutations in the voltage-dependent sodium channel gene (V1016I and F1534C). The susceptible strain was used as a reference. The mosquitoes in dark photoperiod showed a reduction in resistance to the pyrethroid. The α-esterases and glutathione S-transferase enzymatic activities showed lower levels in the dark photoperiod, and the frequencies of V1016I knockdown resistance mutation showed significant difference between photoperiod schemes.

4-Hydroxyisophthalic acid from Decalepis hamiltonii rescues the neurobehavioral deficit in transgenic Drosophila model of taupathies

Oxidative stress is one of the major etiological factors implicated in pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases. Since neurons are more sensitive to oxidative damage there is an increasing interest in developing novel antioxidant therapies, especially herbal preparations due to their safety profile and high efficiency. In this regard, the neuroprotective potential of a novel antioxidant compound, 4-hydroxyisophthalic acid (4-HIPA) isolated from aqueous extract of Decalepis hamiltonii roots was examined using transgenic Drosophila model of taupathy expressing wild-type and mutant forms of 2N4R isoform of human microtubule associated protein tau (MAPT). Taupathy model flies showed cognitive deficits in olfactory memory and deteriorated circadian rhythm of locomotory activities. Administration of 0.1 mg/ml 4-HIPA, markedly enhanced their olfactory memory performance and restored circadian rhythmicity of the transgenic flies locomotory behavior to the normal range. The mechanism of action that underlies 4-HIPA neuroprotection involves enhancement in efficiency of cellular antioxidant defense system by means of elevation in antioxidant enzyme activities and attenuation of oxidative stress. The molecule could positively affect the activity of neurotransmitter enzymes, which in turn enhances neuronal function and ameliorates the Tau-induced neurobehavioral deficits. Our findings showed that 4-HIPA can be considered as a suitable therapeutic candidate for drug development towards treatment of neurodegenerative disorders.

Genome-wide profiling of 24 hr diel rhythmicity in the water flea, Daphnia pulex: network analysis reveals rhythmic gene expression and enhances functional gene annotation

Background

Marine and freshwater zooplankton exhibit daily rhythmic patterns of behavior and physiology which may be regulated directly by the light:dark (LD) cycle and/or a molecular circadian clock. One of the best-studied zooplankton taxa, the freshwater crustacean Daphnia, has a 24 h diel vertical migration (DVM) behavior whereby the organism travels up and down through the water column daily. DVM plays a critical role in resource tracking and the behavioral avoidance of predators and damaging ultraviolet radiation. However, there is little information at the transcriptional level linking the expression patterns of genes to the rhythmic physiology/behavior of Daphnia.

Results

Here we analyzed genome-wide temporal transcriptional patterns from Daphnia pulex collected over a 44 h time period under a 12:12 LD cycle (diel) conditions using a cosine-fitting algorithm. We used a comprehensive network modeling and analysis approach to identify novel co-regulated rhythmic genes that have similar network topological properties and functional annotations as rhythmic genes identified by the cosine-fitting analyses. Furthermore, we used the network approach to predict with high accuracy novel gene-function associations, thus enhancing current functional annotations available for genes in this ecologically relevant model species. Our results reveal that genes in many functional groupings exhibit 24 h rhythms in their expression patterns under diel conditions. We highlight the rhythmic expression of immunity, oxidative detoxification, and sensory process genes. We discuss differences in the chronobiology of D. pulex from other well-characterized terrestrial arthropods.

Conclusions

This research adds to a growing body of literature suggesting the genetic mechanisms governing rhythmicity in crustaceans may be divergent from other arthropod lineages including insects. Lastly, these results highlight the power of using a network analysis approach to identify differential gene expression and provide novel functional annotation.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12864-016-2998-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Circadian Rhythmicity of Diazinon Susceptibility, Detoxifying Enzymes, and Energy Reserves in Aphis gossypii (Hemiptera: Aphididae)

The daily susceptibility rhythm of the cotton aphid, Aphis gossypii Glover, to diazinon and the corresponding changes in the activity of three xenobiotic detoxifying enzymes-cytochrome P450 monooxygenases (P450), glutathione S-transferases (GSTs), and esterases-were investigated. Bioassays were conducted to estimate the median lethal doses (LD50) of diazinon at six different zeitgeber times (ZT0, 4, 8, 12, 16, and 20) under constant light (LL) and lighting conditions of 16 h of light and 8 h of darkness (LD). The results showed that the highest susceptibility occurred at the onset of night (ZT16) and 4 h before this time point (ZT12) under the LD condition. The endogenous rhythmicity of susceptibility was ensured, as the highest susceptibility occurred at the same time under the LL condition. The circadian changes in susceptibility to diazinon were almost coincident with changes in esterase and GSTs activity, but not in P450 activity. We also found rhythmic changes in energy components of whole-body aphids, with similar patterns of circadian changes of proteins, lipids, and soluble carbohydrates, but not glycogen, under LL and LD conditions. These photoperiod conditions (LD and LL) showed different fluctuation in trends of energy resources and of course, different quantities. Our study represents the first report of circadian control of insecticide susceptibility in aphids and provides insights into more efficient control of these pests by unveiling the times of day during which aphids are more susceptible to insecticides with attention to endogenous physiological phenomena.

Circadian modulation of proteasome activity and accumulation of oxidized protein in human embryonic kidney HEK 293 cells and primary dermal fibroblasts

The circadian system orchestrates the timing of physiological processes of an organism living in daily environmental changes. Disruption of circadian rhythmicity has been shown to result in increased oxidative stress and accelerated aging. The circadian regulation of antioxidant defenses suggests that other redox homeostasis elements such as oxidized protein degradation by the proteasome, could also be modulated by the circadian clock. Hence, we have investigated whether proteasome activities and oxidized protein levels would exhibit circadian rhythmicity in synchronized cultured mammalian cells and addressed the mechanisms underlying this process. Using synchronized human embryonic kidney HEK 293 cells and primary dermal fibroblasts, we have shown that the levels of carbonylated protein and proteasome activity vary rhythmically following a 24h period. Such a modulation of proteasome activity is explained, at least in part, by the circadian expression of both Nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2) and the proteasome activator PA28αβ. HEK 293 cells showed an increased susceptibility to oxidative stress coincident with the circadian-dependent lower activity of the proteasome. Finally, in contrast to young fibroblasts, no circadian modulation of the proteasome activity and carbonylated protein levels was evidenced in senescent fibroblasts. This paper reports a novel role of the circadian system for regulating proteasome function. In addition, the observation that proteasome activity is modulated by the circadian clock opens new avenues for both the cancer and the aging fields, as exemplified by the rhythmic resistance of immortalized cells to oxidative stress and loss of rhythmicity of proteasome activity in senescent fibroblasts.

Daily Rhythms in Mosquitoes and Their Consequences for Malaria Transmission

The 24-h day involves cycles in environmental factors that impact organismal fitness. This is thought to select for organisms to regulate their temporal biology accordingly, through circadian and diel rhythms. In addition to rhythms in abiotic factors (such as light and temperature), biotic factors, including ecological interactions, also follow daily cycles. How daily rhythms shape, and are shaped by, interactions between organisms is poorly understood. Here, we review an emerging area, namely the causes and consequences of daily rhythms in the interactions between vectors, their hosts and the parasites they transmit. We focus on mosquitoes, malaria parasites and vertebrate hosts, because this system offers the opportunity to integrate from genetic and molecular mechanisms to population dynamics and because disrupting rhythms offers a novel avenue for disease control.

Cross-talk between circadian clocks, sleep-wake cycles, and metabolic networks: Dispelling the darkness

Integration of knowledge concerning circadian rhythms, metabolic networks, and sleep‐wake cycles is imperative for unraveling the mysteries of biological cycles and their underlying mechanisms. During the last decade, enormous progress in circadian biology research has provided a plethora of new insights into the molecular architecture of circadian clocks. However, the recent identification of autonomous redox oscillations in cells has expanded our view of the clockwork beyond conventional transcription/translation feedback loop models, which have been dominant since the first circadian period mutants were identified in fruit fly. Consequently, non‐transcriptional timekeeping mechanisms have been proposed, and the antioxidant peroxiredoxin proteins have been identified as conserved markers for 24‐hour rhythms. Here, we review recent advances in our understanding of interdependencies amongst circadian rhythms, sleep homeostasis, redox cycles, and other cellular metabolic networks. We speculate that systems‐level investigations implementing integrated multi‐omics approaches could provide novel mechanistic insights into the connectivity between daily cycles and metabolic systems.

period-Regulated Feeding Behavior and TOR Signaling Modulate Survival of Infection

Most metazoans undergo dynamic, circadian-regulated changes in behavior and physiology. Currently, it is unknown how circadian-regulated behavior impacts immunity against infection. Two broad categories of defense against bacterial infection are resistance, control of microbial growth, and tolerance, control of the pathogenic effects of infection. Our study of behaviorally arrhythmic Drosophila circadian period mutants identified a novel link between nutrient intake and tolerance of infection with B. cepacia, a bacterial pathogen of rising importance in hospital-acquired infections. We found that infection tolerance in wild-type animals is stimulated by acute exposure to dietary glucose and amino acids. Glucose-stimulated tolerance was induced by feeding or direct injection; injections revealed a narrow window for glucose-stimulated tolerance. In contrast, amino acids stimulated tolerance only when ingested. We investigated the role of a known amino-acid-sensing pathway, the TOR (Target of Rapamycin) pathway, in immunity. TORC1 is circadian regulated and inhibition of TORC1 decreased resistance, as in vertebrates. Surprisingly, inhibition of the less well-characterized TOR complex 2 (TORC2) dramatically increased survival, through both resistance and tolerance mechanisms. This work suggests that dietary intake on the day of infection by B. cepacia can make a significant difference in long-term survival. We further demonstrate that TOR signaling mediates both resistance and tolerance of infection and identify TORC2 as a novel potential therapeutic target for increasing survival of infection.

Interplay between cellular redox oscillations and circadian clocks

The circadian clock is a cellular timekeeping mechanism that helps organisms from bacteria to humans to organize their behaviour and physiology around the solar cycle. Current models for circadian timekeeping incorporate transcriptional/translational feedback loop mechanisms in the predominant model systems. However, recent evidence suggests that non-transcriptional oscillations such as metabolic and redox cycles may play a fundamental role in circadian timekeeping. Peroxiredoxins, an antioxidant protein family, undergo rhythmic oxidation on the circadian time scale in a variety of species, including bacteria, insects and mammals, but also in red blood cells, a naturally occurring, non-transcriptional system. The profound interconnectivity between circadian and redox pathways strongly suggests that a conserved timekeeping mechanism based on redox cycles could be integral to generating circadian rhythms.

Knockdown of adipokinetic hormone synthesis increases susceptibility to oxidative stress in Drosophila--a role for dFoxO?

Insect adipokinetic hormones (AKHs) are pleiotropic hormones known to play a protective role in response to oxidative stress (OS). However, the precise signaling pathways are unclear. We present evidence that AKH may primarily employ the Forkhead box class O transcription factor (FoxO) to exert this effect. The impact of knocking down AKH synthesis or its over-expression in its response to OS was studied in Drosophila melanogaster. AKH knockdown (AKH-RNAi) as well as AKH overexpression (AKH-oex) was achieved using the Gal-4/UAS system and controls were w(1118) (+/+), AKH-Gal4/+, UAS-AKH/+ and UAS-AKH-RNAi/+. Exposure to 80 μM hydrogen peroxide (HP) revealed that AKH-RNAi flies showed significantly higher mortality than AKH-oex or the respective control lines. This susceptibility was evidenced by significantly enhanced levels of protein carbonyls - a biomarker of OS, in AKH-RNAi flies compared to controls and AKH-oex flies. Interestingly, AKH-oex flies had the least amount of protein carbonyls. AKH-RNAi flies had significantly less dFoxO transcript and translated protein compared to control and AKH-oex flies in un-challenged condition as well as when challenged with HP. Sestrin - a major antioxidant defense protein and one of the targets of dFoxO - was also significantly down-regulated (both at mRNA and protein level) in AKH-RNAi flies (both unchallenged and challenged with HP) compared to control flies and flies with over-expressed AKH. These findings imply that dFoxO may act downstream of AKH as a transcription factor to mediate response to OS in D. melanogaster.

Redox regulation and pro-oxidant reactions in the physiology of circadian systems

Rhythms of approximately 24 h are pervasive in most organisms and are known as circadian. There is a molecular circadian clock in each cell sustained by a feedback system of interconnected "clock" genes and transcription factors. In mammals, the timing system is formed by a central pacemaker, the suprachiasmatic nucleus, in coordination with a collection of peripheral oscillators. Recently, an extensive interconnection has been recognized between the molecular circadian clock and the set of biochemical pathways that underlie the bioenergetics of the cell. A principle regulator of metabolic networks is the flow of electrons between electron donors and acceptors. The concomitant reduction and oxidation (redox) reactions directly influence the balance between anabolic and catabolic processes. This review summarizes and discusses recent findings concerning the mutual and dynamic interactions between the molecular circadian clock, redox reactions, and redox signaling. The scope includes the regulatory role played by redox coenzymes (NAD(P)+/NAD(P)H, GSH/GSSG), reactive oxygen species (superoxide anion, hydrogen peroxide), antioxidants (melatonin), and physiological events that modulate the redox state (feeding condition, circadian rhythms) in determining the timing capacity of the molecular circadian clock. In addition, we discuss a purely metabolic circadian clock, which is based on the redox enzymes known as peroxiredoxins and is present in mammalian red blood cells and in other biological systems. Both the timing system and the metabolic network are key to a better understanding of widespread pathological conditions such as the metabolic syndrome, obesity, and diabetes.

Aging alters circadian regulation of redox in Drosophila

Circadian coordination of metabolism, physiology, and neural functions contributes to healthy aging and disease prevention. Clock genes govern the daily rhythmic expression of target genes whose activities underlie such broad physiological parameters as maintenance of redox homeostasis. Previously, we reported that glutathione (GSH) biosynthesis is controlled by the circadian system via effects of the clock genes on expression of the catalytic (Gclc) and modulatory (Gclm) subunits comprising the glutamate cysteine ligase (GCL) holoenzyme. The objective of this study was to determine whether and how aging, which leads to weakened circadian oscillations, affects the daily profiles of redox-active biomolecules. We found that fly aging is associated with altered profiles of Gclc and Gclm expression at both the mRNA and protein levels. Analysis of free aminothiols and GCL activity revealed that aging abolishes daily oscillations in GSH levels and alters the activity of glutathione biosynthetic pathways. Unlike GSH, its precursors and products of catabolism, methionine, cysteine and cysteinyl-glycine, were not rhythmic in young or old flies, while rhythms of the glutathione oxidation product, GSSG, were detectable. We conclude that the temporal regulation of GSH biosynthesis is altered in the aging organism and that age-related loss of circadian modulation of pathways involved in glutathione production is likely to impair temporal redox homeostasis.

Circadian clock disruption in neurodegenerative diseases: cause and effect?

Disturbance of the circadian system, manifested as disrupted daily rhythms of physiologic parameters such as sleep, activity, and hormone secretion, has long been observed as a symptom of several neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer disease. Circadian abnormalities have generally been considered consequences of the neurodegeneration. Recent evidence suggests, however, that circadian disruption might actually contribute to the neurodegenerative process, and thus might be a modifiable cause of neural injury. Herein we will review the evidence implicating circadian rhythms disturbances and clock gene dysfunction in neurodegeneration, with an emphasis on future research directions and potential therapeutic implications for neurodegenerative diseases.

Could ROS signals drive tissue-specific clocks?

Circadian clocks have emerged to tune the physiology of organisms to periodic changes in the environment in a dynamic fashion. Negative implications of circadian disruptions in humans, animals and plants have encouraged extensive studies of clock-controlled biological processes in various model species. Recently, it has been shown that the transcription-dependent and -independent biological oscillators are largely driven by cellular oxidative cycles that are intrinsically linked with metabolism. Essentially, the clock is viewed as an integrated network that encompasses cytosolic, genetic and metabolic dimensions. Furthermore, in multicellular organisms, the clock network is organized in a tissue-specific manner. Here we discuss questions that remain unanswered: How do these dimensions communicate with each other and how do tissue-specific clocks exchange temporal information within multicellular organisms?

Perturbations in dopamine synthesis lead to discrete physiological effects and impact oxidative stress response in Drosophila

The impact of mutations in four essential genes involved in dopamine (DA) synthesis and transport on longevity, motor behavior, and resistance to oxidative stress was monitored in Drosophila melanogaster. The fly lines used for this study were: (i) a loss of function mutation in Catecholamines up (Catsup(26)), which is a negative regulator of the rate limiting enzyme for DA synthesis, (ii) a mutant for the gene pale (ple(2)) that encodes for the rate limiting enzyme tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), (iii) a mutant for the gene Punch (Pu(Z22)) that encodes guanosine triphosphate cyclohydrolase, required for TH activity, and (iv) a mutant in the vesicular monoamine transporter (VMAT(Δ14)), which is required for packaging of DA as vesicles inside DA neurons. Median lifespans of ple(2), Pu(Z22) and VMAT(Δ14) mutants were significantly decreased compared to Catsup(26) and wild type controls that did not significantly differ between each other. Catsup(26) flies survived longer when exposed to hydrogen peroxide (80 μM) or paraquat (10mM) compared to ple(2), Pu(Z22) or VMAT(Δ14) and controls. These flies also exhibited significantly higher negative geotaxis activity compared to ple(2), Pu(Z22), VMAT(Δ14) and controls. All mutant flies demonstrated rhythmic circadian locomotor activity in general, albeit Catsup(26) and VMAT(Δ14) flies had slightly weaker rhythms. Expression analysis of some key antioxidant genes revealed that glutathione S-transferase Omega-1 (GSTO1) expression was significantly up-regulated in all DA synthesis pathway mutants and especially in Catsup(26) and VMAT(Δ14) flies at both mRNA and protein levels. Taken together, we hypothesize that DA could directly influence GSTO1 transcription and thus play a significant role in the regulation of response to oxidative stress. Additionally, perturbations in DA synthesis do not appear to have a significant impact on circadian locomotor activity rhythms per se, but do have an influence on general locomotor activity levels.

Analysis of the redox oscillations in the circadian clockwork

The evolution of tight coupling between the circadian system and redox homeostasis of the cell has been proposed to coincide roughly with the appearance of the first aerobic organisms, around 3 billion years ago. The rhythmic production of oxygen and its effect on core metabolism are thought to have exerted selective pressure for the temporal segregation of numerous metabolic pathways. Until recently, the only evidence for such coupling came from studies showing circadian cycles in the abundance of various redox metabolites, with many arguing that these oscillations are simply an output from the transcription-translation feedback loop. The recent discovery that the peroxiredoxin (PRX) proteins exhibit circadian cycles in their oxidation status, even in the absence of transcription, demonstrated the existence of autonomous oscillations in the redox status of the cell. The PRXs are a family of cellular thiol peroxidases, whose abundance and high reaction rate make them the major cellular sink for cellular peroxides. Interestingly, as part of the normal catalytic cycle, PRXs become inactivated by their own substrate via overoxidation of the catalytic residue, with the inactivated form of the enzyme displaying circadian accumulation. Here, we describe the biochemical properties of the PRX system, with particular emphasis on the features important for the experimental analysis of these enzymes. We will also present a detailed protocol for measuring PRX overoxidation across circadian time in adherent cell cultures, red blood cells, and fruit flies (Drosophila melanogaster), providing practical suggestions for ensuring consistency and reproducibility of the results.

p38 MAP kinase regulates circadian rhythms in Drosophila

The large repertoire of circadian rhythms in diverse organisms depends on oscillating central clock genes, input pathways for entrainment, and output pathways for controlling rhythmic behaviors. Stress-activated p38 MAP Kinases (p38K), although sparsely investigated in this context, show circadian rhythmicity in mammalian brains and are considered part of the circadian output machinery in Neurospora. We find that Drosophila p38Kb is expressed in clock neurons, and mutants in p38Kb either are arrhythmic or have a longer free-running periodicity, especially as they age. Paradoxically, similar phenotypes are observed through either transgenic inhibition or activation of p38Kb in clock neurons, suggesting a requirement for optimal p38Kb function for normal free-running circadian rhythms. We also find that p38Kb genetically interacts with multiple downstream targets to regulate circadian locomotor rhythms. More specifically, p38Kb interacts with the period gene to regulate period length and the strength of rhythmicity. In addition, we show that p38Kb suppresses the arrhythmic behavior associated with inhibition of a second p38Kb target, the transcription factor Mef2. Finally, we find that manipulating p38K signaling in free-running conditions alters the expression of another downstream target, MNK/Lk6, which has been shown to cycle with the clock and to play a role in regulating circadian rhythms. These data suggest that p38Kb may affect circadian locomotor rhythms through the regulation of multiple downstream pathways.

Rethinking the clockwork: redox cycles and non-transcriptional control of circadian rhythms

Circadian rhythms are a hallmark of living organisms, observable in all walks of life from primitive bacteria to highly complex humans. They are believed to have evolved to co-ordinate the timing of biological and behavioural processes to the changing environmental needs brought on by the progression of day and night through the 24-h cycle. Most of the modern study of circadian rhythms has centred on so-called TTFLs (transcription-translation feedback loops), wherein a core group of 'clock' genes, capable of negatively regulating themselves, produce oscillations with a period of approximately 24 h. Recently, however, the prevalence of the TTFL paradigm has been challenged by a series of findings wherein circadian rhythms, in the form of redox reactions, persist in the absence of transcriptional cycles. We have found that circadian cycles of oxidation and reduction are conserved across all domains of life, strongly suggesting that non-TTFL mechanisms work in parallel with the canonical genetic processes of timekeeping to generate the cyclical cellular and behavioural phenotypes that we commonly recognize as circadian rhythms.

Oxidative stress and inflammation modulate Rev-erbα signaling in the neonatal lung and affect circadian rhythmicity

AIMS

The response to oxidative stress and inflammation varies with diurnal rhythms. Nevertheless, it is not known whether circadian genes are regulated by these stimuli. We evaluated whether Rev-erbα, a key circadian gene, was regulated by oxidative stress and/or inflammation in vitro and in a mouse model.

RESULTS

A unique sequence consisting of overlapping AP-1 and nuclear factor kappa B (NFκB) consensus sequences was identified on the mouse Rev-erbα promoter. This sequence mediates Rev-erbα promoter activity and transcription in response to oxidative stress and inflammation. This region serves as an NrF2 platform both to receive oxidative stress signals and to activate Rev-erbα, as well as an NFκB-binding site to repress Rev-erbα with inflammatory stimuli. The amplitude of the rhythmicity of Rev-erbα was altered by pre-exposure to hyperoxia or disruption of NFκB in a cell culture model of circadian simulation. Oxidative stress overcame the inhibitory effect of NFκB binding on Rev-erbα transcription. This was confirmed in neonatal mice exposed to hyperoxia, where hyperoxia-induced lung Rev-erbα transcription was further increased with NFκB disruption. Interestingly, this effect was not observed in similarly exposed adult mice.

INNOVATION

These data provide novel mechanistic insights into how key circadian genes are regulated by oxidative stress and inflammation in the neonatal lung.

CONCLUSION

Rev-erbα transcription and circadian oscillation are susceptible to oxidative stress and inflammation in the neonate. Due to Rev-erbα's role in cellular metabolism, this could contribute to lung cellular function and injury from inflammation and oxidative stress.

Transcriptional control of antioxidant defense by the circadian clock

SIGNIFICANCE

The circadian clock, an internal timekeeping system, is implicated in the regulation of metabolism and physiology, and circadian dysfunctions are associated with pathological changes in model organisms and increased risk of some diseases in humans.

RECENT ADVANCES

Data obtained in different organisms, including humans, have established a tight connection between the clock and cellular redox signaling making it among the major candidates for a link between the circadian system and physiological processes.

CRITICAL ISSUES

In spite of the recent progress in understanding the importance of the circadian clock in the regulation of reactive oxygen species homeostasis, molecular mechanisms and key regulators are mostly unknown.

FUTURE DIRECTIONS

Here we review, with an emphasis on transcriptional control, the circadian-clock-dependent control of oxidative stress response system as a potential mechanism in age-associated diseases. We will discuss the roles of the core clock components such as brain and muscle ARNT-like 1, Circadian Locomotor Output Cycles Kaput, the circadian-clock-controlled transcriptional factors such as nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor, and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor and circadian clock control chromatin modifying enzymes from sirtuin family in the regulation of cellular and organism antioxidant defense.

Role of Bacopa monnieri in the temporal regulation of oxidative stress in clock mutant (cryb) of Drosophila melanogaster

Accruing evidences imply that circadian organization of biochemical, endocrinological, cellular and physiological processes contribute to wellness of organisms and in the development of pathologies such as malignancy, sleep and endocrine disorders. Oxidative stress is known to mediate a number of diseases and it is notable to comprehend the orchestration of circadian clock of a model organism of circadian biology, Drosophila melanogaster, under oxidative stress. We investigated the nexus between circadian clock and oxidative stress susceptibility by exposing D. melanogaster to hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) or rotenone; the reversibility of rhythms following exposure to Bacopa monnieri extract (ayurvedic medicine rich in antioxidants) was also investigated. Abolishment of 24h rhythms in physiological response (negative geotaxis), oxidative stress markers (protein carbonyl and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances) and antioxidants (superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione-S-transferase and reduced glutathione) were observed under oxidative stress. Furthermore, abolishment of per mRNA rhythm in H2O2 treated wild type flies and augmented susceptibility to oxidative stress in clock mutant (cry(b)) flies connotes the role of circadian clock in reactive oxygen species (ROS) homeostasis. Significant reversibility of rhythms was noted following B. monnieri treatment in wild type flies than cry(b) flies. Our experimental approach revealed a relationship involving oxidative stress and circadian clock in fruit fly and the utility of Drosophila model in screening putative antioxidative phytomedicines prior to their use in mammalian systems.

Rhythmic oscillations of the microRNA miR-96-5p play a neuroprotective role by indirectly regulating glutathione levels

Glutathione (GSH) is a key antioxidant that plays an important neuroprotective role in the brain. Decreased GSH levels are associated with neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease. Here we show that a diurnal fluctuation of GSH levels is correlated with neuroprotective activity against oxidative stress in dopaminergic cells. In addition, we found that the cysteine transporter excitatory amino acid carrier 1 (EAAC1), which is involved in neuronal GSH synthesis, is negatively regulated by the microRNA miR-96-5p, which exhibits a diurnal rhythm. Blocking miR-96-5p by intracerebroventricular administration of an inhibitor increased the level of EAAC1 as well as that of GSH and had a neuroprotective effect against oxidative stress in the mouse substantia nigra. Our results suggest that the diurnal rhythm of miR-96-5p may play a role in neuroprotection by regulating neuronal GSH levels via EAAC1.

Glutathione is a key antioxidant that plays an important neuroprotective role in the brain. Here, Kinoshita et al. show that levels of glutathione exhibit diurnal fluctuations that are indirectly regulated by the microRNA miR-96-5p, and that this microRNA plays a neuroprotective role against oxidative stress.

The circadian clock regulates rhythmic activation of the NRF2/glutathione-mediated antioxidant defense pathway to modulate pulmonary fibrosis

The disruption of the NRF2 (nuclear factor erythroid-derived 2-like 2)/glutathione-mediated antioxidant defense pathway is a critical step in the pathogenesis of several chronic pulmonary diseases and cancer. While the mechanism of NRF2 activation upon oxidative stress has been widely investigated, little is known about the endogenous signals that regulate the NRF2 pathway in lung physiology and pathology. Here we show that an E-box-mediated circadian rhythm of NRF2 protein is essential in regulating the rhythmic expression of antioxidant genes involved in glutathione redox homeostasis in the mouse lung. Using an in vivo bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis model, we reveal a clock "gated" pulmonary response to oxidative injury, with a more severe fibrotic effect when bleomycin was applied at a circadian nadir in NRF2 levels. Timed administration of sulforaphane, an NRF2 activator, significantly blocked this phenotype. Moreover, in the lungs of the arrhythmic Clock(Δ19) mice, the levels of NRF2 and the reduced glutathione are constitutively low, associated with increased protein oxidative damage and a spontaneous fibrotic-like pulmonary phenotype. Our findings reveal a pivotal role for the circadian control of the NRF2/glutathione pathway in combating oxidative/fibrotic lung damage, which might prompt new chronotherapeutic strategies for the treatment of human lung diseases, including idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

Correlated changes in life history traits in response to selection for faster pre-adult development in the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster

Insects including the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster are under intense pressure to develop rapidly because they inhabit ephemeral habitats. We have previously shown that when selection for faster development was artificially imposed on D. melanogaster in the laboratory, reduction of pre-adult development time and shortening of the clock period occurs, suggesting a role for circadian clocks in the regulation of life history traits. Circadian clocks in D. melanogaster have also been implicated in the control of metabolic pathways, ageing processes, oxidative stress and defense responses to exogenous stressors. In order to rigorously examine correlations between pre-adult development time and other life history traits, we assayed pre-adult survivorship, starvation and desiccation resistance, body size and body weight, fecundity and adult lifespan in faster developing populations of D. melanogaster. The results revealed that selection for faster pre-adult development significantly reduced several adult fitness traits in the faster developing flies without affecting pre-adult survivorship. Although overall fecundity of faster developing flies was reduced, their egg output per unit body weight was significantly higher than that of controls, indicating that reduction in adult lifespan might be due to disproportionate investment in reproduction. Thus our results suggest that selection for faster pre-adult development in D. melanogaster yields flies with higher reproductive fitness. Because these flies also have shorter clock periods, our results can be taken to suggest that pre-adult development time and circadian clock period are correlated with various adult life history traits in D. melanogaster, implying that circadian clocks may have adaptive significance.

Metabolic and nontranscriptional circadian clocks: eukaryotes

Circadian clocks are cellular timekeeping mechanisms that coordinate behavior and physiology around the 24-h day in most living organisms. Misalignment of an organism's clock with its environment is associated with long-term adverse fitness consequences, as exemplified by the link between circadian disruption and various age-related diseases in humans. Current eukaryotic models of the circadian oscillator rely on transcription/translation feedback loop mechanisms, supplemented with accessory cytosolic loops that connect them to cellular physiology. However, mounting evidence is questioning the absolute necessity of transcription-based oscillators for circadian rhythmicity, supported by the recent discovery of oxidation-reduction cycles of peroxiredoxin proteins, which persist even in the absence of transcription. A more fundamental mechanism based on metabolic cycles could thus underlie circadian transcriptional and cytosolic rhythms, thereby promoting circadian oscillations to integral properties of cellular metabolism.

cis-regulatory requirements for tissue-specific programs of the circadian clock

BACKGROUND

Broadly expressed transcriptions factors (TFs) control tissue-specific programs of gene expression through interactions with local TF networks. A prime example is the circadian clock: although the conserved TFs CLOCK (CLK) and CYCLE (CYC) control a transcriptional circuit throughout animal bodies, rhythms in behavior and physiology are generated tissue specifically. Yet, how CLK and CYC determine tissue-specific clock programs has remained unclear.

RESULTS

Here, we use a functional genomics approach to determine the cis-regulatory requirements for clock specificity. We first determine CLK and CYC genome-wide binding targets in heads and bodies by ChIP-seq and show that they have distinct DNA targets in the two tissue contexts. Computational dissection of CLK/CYC context-specific binding sites reveals sequence motifs for putative partner factors, which are predictive for individual binding sites. Among them, we show that the opa and GATA motifs, differentially enriched in head and body binding sites respectively, can be bound by OPA and SERPENT (SRP). They act synergistically with CLK/CYC in the Drosophila feedback loop, suggesting that they help to determine their direct targets and therefore orchestrate tissue-specific clock outputs. In addition, using in vivo transgenic assays, we validate that GATA motifs are required for proper tissue-specific gene expression in the adult fat body, midgut, and Malpighian tubules, revealing a cis-regulatory signature for enhancers of the peripheral circadian clock.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results reveal how universal clock circuits can regulate tissue-specific rhythms and, more generally, provide insights into the mechanism by which universal TFs can be modulated to drive tissue-specific programs of gene expression.

Cryptochrome restores dampened circadian rhythms and promotes healthspan in aging Drosophila

Circadian clocks generate daily rhythms in molecular, cellular, and physiological functions providing temporal dimension to organismal homeostasis. Recent evidence suggests two-way relationship between circadian clocks and aging. While disruption of the circadian clock leads to premature aging in animals, there is also age-related dampening of output rhythms such as sleep/wake cycles and hormonal fluctuations. Decay in the oscillations of several clock genes was recently reported in aged fruit flies, but mechanisms underlying these age-related changes are not understood. We report that the circadian light-sensitive protein CRYPTOCHROME (CRY) is significantly reduced at both mRNA and protein levels in heads of old Drosophila melanogaster. Restoration of CRY using the binary GAL4/UAS system in old flies significantly enhanced the mRNA oscillatory amplitude of several genes involved in the clock mechanism. Flies with CRY overexpressed in all clock cells maintained strong rest/activity rhythms in constant darkness late in life when rhythms were disrupted in most control flies. We also observed a remarkable extension of healthspan in flies with elevated CRY. Conversely, CRY-deficient mutants showed accelerated functional decline and accumulated greater oxidative damage. Interestingly, overexpression of CRY in central clock neurons alone was not sufficient to restore rest/activity rhythms or extend healthspan. Together, these data suggest novel anti-aging functions of CRY and indicate that peripheral clocks play an active role in delaying behavioral and physiological aging.

Regulation of circadian clocks by redox homeostasis

Living organisms possess biological clocks that resonate with environmental cycles in light, temperature, and food availability. Recently, circadian oscillations in the redox state of peroxiredoxin have been described as an additional non-transcriptional timekeeping mechanism. Of note, this redox cycle is conserved in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes. How the classical "transcription-translation feedback loop" model and this redox oscillation are related is still poorly understood. In this minireview, we describe the most recent evidence pointing to cross-talk between the circadian clock and the redox status of the cell.

Circadian rhythm connections to oxidative stress: implications for human health

SIGNIFICANCE

Oxygen and circadian rhythmicity are essential in a myriad of physiological processes to maintain homeostasis, from blood pressure and sleep/wake cycles, down to cellular signaling pathways that play critical roles in health and disease. If the human body or cells experience significant stress, their ability to regulate internal systems, including redox levels and circadian rhythms, may become impaired. At cellular as well as organismal levels, impairment in redox regulation and circadian rhythms may lead to a number of adverse effects, including the manifestation of a variety of diseases such as heart diseases, neurodegenerative conditions, and cancer.

RECENT ADVANCES

Researchers have come to an understanding as to the basics of the circadian rhythm mechanism, as well as the importance of the numerous species of oxidative stress components. The effects of oxidative stress and dysregulated circadian rhythms have been a subject of intense investigations since they were first discovered, and recent investigations into the molecular mechanisms linking the two have started to elucidate the bases of their connection.

CRITICAL ISSUES

While much is known about the mechanics and importance of oxidative stress systems and circadian rhythms, the front where they interact has had very little research focused on it. This review discusses the idea that these two systems are together intricately involved in the healthy body, as well as in disease.

FUTURE DIRECTIONS

We believe that for a more efficacious management of diseases that have both circadian rhythm and oxidative stress components in their pathogenesis, targeting both systems in tandem would be far more successful.