Using chemical methods to study and influence the body's internal clocks and their parts

Circadian rhythms are biological cycles of approximately 24 hours that help organisms coordinate their functions with the light/dark cycle.

• Molecular circadian clocks are composed of transcription/translation feedback loops that regulate gene activity and protein production.
• Chemical biology tools, such as small molecules and covalent tags, can track and modify clock proteins in living systems.
• These approaches have revealed how circadian clocks maintain timing, respond to environmental signals, and vary between species.
• The review discusses advancements in understanding circadian protein dynamics using mammalian and Drosophila models.
• Chemical biology strategies may enhance fundamental knowledge of circadian mechanisms and offer new avenues for addressing clock-related disorders.

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