Homer1a Gene Is Controlled in Two Ways by CREB and the Body’s Internal Clock

Homer1a gene expression is regulated by the circadian clock and is significantly affected by stress.

• Disrupted circadian rhythms may be linked to neuronal dysfunctions, though underlying molecular mechanisms are largely unexplored.
• The Homer1 gene produces several transcripts, with the short variant Homer1a specifically responding to acute stress from sleep deprivation in mice.
• Both the transcription factor CREB and the circadian clock component BMAL1 bind to the Homer1 promoter in mouse brain.
• Circadian expression of Homer1a remains stable without BMAL1, but its stress-related response is dependent on BMAL1.
• Loss of Bmal1 leads to reduced CREB activity, which may result in lower Homer1a expression in response to sleep deprivation.

Simplified