Rising temperatures force our internal biological clock to alter its rhythm to maintain synchronization with its 24-hour cycle. Researchers from Japan’s Riken Center for Interdisciplinary Theoretical and Mathematical Sciences (iTHEMS) discovered that the activity of genes governing this clock accelerates and decelerates in a regular pattern in response to heat, using physics-based modeling published in *PLOS Computational Biology*.
This temperature-driven adjustment not only stabilizes the circadian clock but also influences its synchronization with day-night cycles by reducing sensitivity to external environmental cues. The clock relies on mRNA molecules, which translate DNA instructions to produce proteins. These mRNAs result from the rhythmic activation and deactivation of specific genes.
A key mystery has been how the body compensates for temperature-induced changes in chemical reaction speeds, such as when moving between hot outdoors and cool air-conditioned spaces. The team led by Gen Kurosawa revealed the solution lies in the rhythm itself: during warmer conditions, mRNA levels rise faster but fall slower, preserving the overall cycle duration. This creates an asymmetric, distorted waveform.
Furthermore, this waveform distortion enhances the clock’s stability and diminishes its response to external stimuli like light and dark. “In the future,” stated Kurosawa, “the degree of waveform distortion in biological clock genes could serve as a biomarker to better understand sleep disorders, jet lag, and the effects of aging.”
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