Ubiquitination as a key modification in the daily clock protein system

Circadian disruption is known to increase the incidence of various illnesses, such as mental disorders, metabolic syndrome, and cancer.

• Circadian rhythms are generated by a master clock in the suprachiasmatic nucleus and peripheral tissues.
• Clock genes establish periodicity through feedback loops involving translation and transcription.
• Post-translational modifications like phosphorylation and ubiquitination regulate the circadian clock's pace.
• Ubiquitination affects the stability and functions of core clock proteins.
• Mutations in ubiquitin ligase genes can lead to changes in the circadian period.
• Recent studies suggest deubiquitination may also play a role in the molecular clockwork.

Simplified