[Advances in study on molecular mechanism of circadian clock in pineal gland].

The avian pineal gland shows clock gene expression patterns that are more similar to those in the mammalian suprachiasmatic nucleus.

• Clock genes such as Per, Cry, Clock, and Bmal are present in various vertebrate clock structures, including the avian pineal gland.
• The temporal expression profiles of these clock genes in the avian pineal gland resemble those found in the mammalian suprachiasmatic nucleus.
• Both the avian pineal gland and mammalian suprachiasmatic nucleus may share a similar molecular framework for circadian rhythms.
• A feedback loop involving transcription and translation processes is suggested to regulate the clock oscillator in these structures.
• Certain products of clock genes could act as regulators that influence the oscillation of the circadian clock.
• The circadian time-keeping mechanism is potentially linked to important post-translational modifications.

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