Deubiquitinases: key regulators of the circadian clock

Circadian rhythms, which drive daily biological processes, are regulated by the balance of ubiquitination and deubiquitination of core clock proteins.

• Circadian rhythms are essential for regulating hormonal secretion, body temperature, and sleep cycles.
• A molecular clock with a period of approximately 24 hours governs these daily cycles through feedback loops involving clock genes and proteins.
• Ubiquitination targets core clock proteins for degradation, while deubiquitinases can reverse this process, influencing protein stability and activity.
• Several deubiquitinases have been identified that stabilize core clock proteins and affect their cellular localization.
• Understanding the roles of ubiquitination and deubiquitination could provide insights into the regulation of circadian rhythms.

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