第1017回生物科学セミナー
Flexibility of the liver circadian oscillator
Dr. Jurgen A. Ripperger（Biochemistry, University of Fribourg, Switzerland）
2014年11月28日(金) 15:30-17:00 理学部3号館 326号室
Circadian clocks allow organisms to synchronize their metabolism and
physiology to the external photoperiod. They not only provide stable phase
relationships between the organs, but also anticipate daily recurring
events. Consequently, the system had to evolve specific adaptation
mechanisms to adjust to changing photoperiods e.g., during the seasons.
Previously, we identified an uncoupling mechanism of the liver circadian
oscillator that maintained the anticipation of the light to dark transition
under different photoperiods (Stratmann et al., Genes & Development
2010). A subsequent finding (Ukai-Tadenuma et al., Cell 2011) suggested
that the uncoupling mechanism was part of a regulatory network. Here, I
will describe our attempts to model the adjustment of the liver circadian
oscillator based on the interaction of eight genes, which are part of the
regulatory network, and assuming a single input into the system.
Computational modeling will allow us to understand the critical processes
underlying the flexibility of the liver circadian oscillator.
