The body's clock is controlled by a small region of the brain called the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN). The SCN contains a group of neurons that fire in a rhythmic pattern, producing a 24-hour cycle of alertness and sleep. The SCN clock is synchronized to the outside world by light, which is detected by the eyes and sent to the SCN.
The researchers created their artificial clock by combining the proteins that make up the SCN clock in a test tube. They found that the proteins were able to interact with each other to produce a 24-hour rhythm of gene expression, even in the absence of light. This suggests that the SCN clock is self-sustaining and does not require input from the outside world to function.
The researchers say that their artificial clock could be used to study how the body's clock is regulated by different factors, such as light, hormones, and drugs. The findings could also help researchers develop new treatments for disorders that affect the body's clock, such as jet lag and shift work disorder.
"We now have a way to study the molecular mechanisms of the clock in a very controlled environment," said study senior author Dr. Michael Young, a professor of biochemistry and biophysics at UCSF. "This could lead to new insights into how the clock regulates our bodies and to new treatments for disorders that affect the clock."
The researchers plan to continue studying their artificial clock to learn more about how it works. They also plan to use the clock to screen for drugs that could affect the body's clock.
