An essential role for the circadian-regulated gene nocturnin in osteogenesis: the importance of local timekeeping in skeletal homeostasis.

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

11-1-2011

Institution/Department

Center for Clinical & Translational Research, Maine Medical Center Research Institute

Journal Title

Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences

MeSH Headings

Animals, Bone Marrow Cells, Cell Line, Circadian Rhythm, Homeostasis, Mice, Mice, Inbred C57BL, Mice, Knockout, Nuclear Proteins, Osteogenesis, Stromal Cells, Time Factors, Transcription Factors

Abstract

The role of circadian proteins in regulating whole-body metabolism and bone turnover has been studied in detail and has led to the discovery of an elemental system for timekeeping involving the core genes Clock, Bmal1, Per, and Cry. Nocturnin (Noc; Ccrn4l), a peripheral circadian-regulated gene has been shown to play a very important role in regulating adipogenesis by deadenylation of key mRNAs and intracytoplasmic transport of PPARγ. The role that it plays in osteogenesis has previously not been studied in detail. In this report we examined in vitro and in vivo osteogenesis in the presence and absence of Noc and show that loss of Noc enhances bone formation and can rescue rosiglitazone-induced bone loss in mice. The circadian rhythm of Noc is likely to be an essential element of marrow stromal cell fate.

ISSN

1749-6632

First Page

58

Last Page

63

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