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== Function and overall structure ==
== Function and overall structure ==


The pacemaker of the circadian system is the suprachiamastic nucleus (SNC) located in the hypothalamus. This center controls the circadian rhythm through the coordination of peripheric oscillators all over the organism. The mechanisms that occur in the peripheric system are, at a molecular level, very similar to those in the SNC; that is to say a network of transcriptional and translational regulations, creating different loops that take about 24 hours to complete. This circadian cycle regulates many physiologic parameters and coordonates several phenomenon such as sleep period or hormons level.One one the most important protein in this rhythm is the heterodimeric complex CLOCK:BMAL1, which is a transcriptionnal factor responseable for the activation of 2 type of genes; Period(Per1,Per2) and Cryptochrome(Cry1,Cry2), by interacting with the E-box DNA. This is a central mechanism in the circadian cycle regulation as the downstream products PER and CRY can then accumulate and dimerize too, so they can repress transcription of Bmal1 and Clock at night, after they relocated in the cell nucleus, creating an autoregulatory feedback loop.  
The pacemaker of the circadian system is the suprachiamastic nucleus (SNC) located in the hypothalamus. This center controls the circadian rhythm through the coordination of peripheric oscillators all over the organism. The mechanisms that occur in the peripheric system are, at a molecular level, very similar to those in the SNC; that is to say a network of transcriptional and translational regulations, creating different loops that take about 24 hours to complete. This circadian cycle regulates many physiologic parameters and coordonates several phenomenon such as sleep period or hormons level.One one the most important protein in this rhythm is the heterodimeric complex CLOCK:BMAL1, which is a transcriptionnal factor responseable for the activation of 2 type of genes; Period(Per1,Per2) and Cryptochrome(Cry1,Cry2), by interacting with the E-box DNA. In deed mutants mice devoid of CLOCK or BMAL1 proteins have seriously disrupted rhythm, at a molecular level as well as on the behavioural one. This is a central mechanism in the circadian cycle regulation as the downstream products PER and CRY can then accumulate and dimerize too, so they can repress transcription of Bmal1 and Clock at night, after they relocated in the cell nucleus, creating an autoregulatory feedback loop.  
On the other hand, CLOCK:BMAL 1 is also able the transcription of retinoic acid-related nuclear receptors: Rev-erbα and Rorα.These proteins have the ability to regulate the transcription of Bmal1, RORα as an activator and REV-ERBα as a repressor.
On the other hand, CLOCK:BMAL 1 is also able to activate the transcription of retinoic acid-related nuclear receptors: Rev-erbα and Rorα.These proteins have the ability to regulate the transcription of Bmal1, RORα as an activator and REV-ERBα as a repressor.
But this molecular clock is also regulated by post-translational modifications of the subunits, notably phosphorylation and ubiquitination. Some modifiers proteins can modify the stabibility or influence the translocation of some core clock actors, including BMAL1 and CLOCK. That's the case of 2 types of Casein kinase 1 (CK1). The mutation of these modifiers can shorten the circadian cycle of the mamals and cause serious sleep disorders.
But this molecular clock is also regulated by post-translational modifications of the subunits, notably phosphorylation and ubiquitination. Some modifiers proteins can modify the stabibility or influence the translocation of some core clock actors, including BMAL1 and CLOCK. That's the case of 2 types of Casein kinase 1 (CK1). Mutations in these modifiers can shorten the circadian cycle of the mamals and cause serious sleep disorders.
Nevertheless recents studies showed that every cell has its autonomy towards the circadian cycle and it is important to notice that the two genes Clock and Bmal1 are not identically expressed in every tissues and that the two proteins don't act the same way in this different cell types.


The two peptides involved in the dimere have very similar sequences. Chez ''mus musculus''BMAL1 is 387 residues long when CLOCK is 361.
The two peptides involved in the dimere have very similar sequences. In ''mus musculus''BMAL1 is 387 residues long and CLOCK is 361.
Both of these subunits are basic helix-loop-helix-PAS proteins (bHLH-PAS) which contains the same 3 domains: a bHLH domain, a PAS-A domain and a PAS-B domain. They are involved in DNA binding and dimerization abilities. Mutations that affects the heterodimer interfaces can then disturb the activity of the complex and therefore the persistence and periodicity of the circadian cycle.   
Both of these subunits are basic helix-loop-helix-PAS proteins (bHLH-PAS) which contains the same 3 particular domains: a bHLH domain, a PAS-A domain and a PAS-B domain. They are involved in DNA binding and dimerization abilities. Mutations that affects the heterodimer interfaces can then disturb the activity of the complex and therefore the persistence and periodicity of the circadian cycle.