Daily gene activity patterns by cell type during colon healing

Single-cell transcriptomics revealed that 24-hour gene expression rhythms in the colon vary significantly by cell type and injury status.

• Rhythmic gene expression in the colon is not uniformly distributed across different cell types and regions.
• Epithelial cells exhibit weaker circadian clock rhythms compared to stromal and muscle cells, which show robust oscillations.
• During regeneration, various cell types in the colon display strong biphasic rhythms in genes related to metabolism, protein processing, and temperature response.
• Epithelial clocks are reprogrammed to exhibit 12-hour antiphasic rhythms during the regeneration process.
• The findings highlight the complexity of circadian regulation in the colon and identify specific cellular sources of gene expression rhythms.

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