Molecular mechanisms of circadian rhythms: implications for aging and age-related diseases

Circadian rhythms are fundamental biological activities that occur roughly on a 24-hour cycle and govern many of the physiological and behavioral functions of many organisms. These rhythms are regulated by very complicated molecular mechanisms that synchronize the interior biological clock with the exterior environmental cues of light and temperature. Primary proteins such as CLOCK, BMAL1, PER, and CRY regulate rhythmic gene expression in transcription-translation feedback loop systems. The suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) serves the organism as a primary pacemaker synchronizing peripheral clocks in different tissues for temporal homeostasis. Circadian rhythm disorders are very often caused by modern lifestyle factors, such as shift work or irregular sleep. They have also been easily correlated with many health issues, such as metabolic disorders and cardiovascular diseases. One of the advancements in chronotherapy covers the timing of the administration of treatment based on circadian timing, promising great therapeutic benefits. Moreover, omics technologies provide increasingly deeper insights about circadian regulation with personalized medicine development. All in all, circadian biology structures a space of time and adaptation to environmental change making it an important consideration in health and disease management.