How Body Clocks Outside the Brain Help Control Blood Sugar in Rodents and Humans

The circadian timing system plays a crucial role in regulating physiology and behavior in most organisms.

• Most organisms, including humans, possess a system of circadian oscillators to anticipate daily events.
• The central clock in the hypothalamus coordinates with peripheral oscillators to influence tissue-specific gene expression and protein synthesis.
• Peripheral oscillators are important for regulating body glucose levels, particularly in metabolically active organs.
• Recent findings highlight the molecular and cellular components of the circadian timing system.
• These components are linked to the temporal organization of metabolism, with potential implications for health and disease.

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