Our biological clock is regulated by
complex mechanisms involving several hormones and, at a molecular
level, by the so called ‘clock genes’.
The body clock is important because
it regulates the time we eat, when we
sleep and other physiological functions. Today we know
that besides the
central clock
located in
the body clock is important
the SCN in
because it regulates the time
the hypowe eat, when we sleep and
thalamus,
other physiological functions
every cell
in the body
has its own
clock that helps to
regulate the cells metabothat a lack of another
lism. Mice that lack the clock gene clock gene called Rev-erb alpha
develop high blood sugar, high cho- leads to impaired insulin and glucalesterol levels and become obese3.
gon secretion, the two key hormones
My research with Dr. Ramon Gomis in the development of diabetes 4,5.
group
at
IDIBAPS-CIBERDEM, Nutrients such as high fat diets can
Barcelona, together with research- disrupt the circadian pattern of clock
ers Dr. Ivan Quesada and Dr. Angel gene expression in cells that could
Nadal from Universidad Miguel be responsible for impairment in
Hernandez, Elche, Spain, has shown their function. Indeed, she showed
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