Post-transcriptional modulators and mediators of the circadian clock

The circadian timing system drives ~24-h rhythms in gene expression and is influenced by various regulatory mechanisms.

• The core circadian oscillator operates through a transcriptional-translational feedback loop that creates a delay between clock gene mRNA accumulation and protein production.
• Post-translational modifications adjust the stability, interactions, and localization of clock proteins to fine-tune their daily oscillations.
• Emerging evidence suggests that post-transcriptional regulation significantly affects the rhythmicity of mRNAs and delays clock protein accumulation.
• Key post-transcriptional mechanisms include splicing, polyadenylation, the function of RNA-binding proteins, RNA methylation, and microRNAs.
• MicroRNAs play a crucial role in regulating core-clock components and exhibit diurnal expression patterns that impact rhythmic physiological processes.

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