A circadian gene expression atlas in mammals: Implications for biology and medicine

To characterize the role of the circadian clock in mouse physiology and behavior, we used RNA-seq and DNA arrays to quantify the transcriptomes of 12 mouse organs over time. We found 43% of all protein coding genes showed circadian rhythms in transcription somewhere in the body, largely in an organ-specific manner. In most organs, we noticed the expression of many oscillating genes peaked during transcriptional "rush hours" preceding dawn and dusk. Looking at the genomic landscape of rhythmic genes, we saw that they clustered together, were longer, and had more spliceforms than nonoscillating genes. Systems-level analysis revealed intricate rhythmic orchestration of gene pathways throughout the body. We also…

• PD
  Pennsylvania Department of Health
• UO
  University of Pennsylvania
• IF
  Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics
• NI
  National Institutes of Health

  Awards: T32HG000046, HL097800
• DA
  Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency
• NH
  National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

  Award: HL097800
• NI
  National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

  Award: 1R01NS054794-06