NRF2 regulates core and stabilizing circadian clock loops, coupling redox and timekeeping in mus musculus

Ryan S. Wible, Chidambaram Ramanathan, Carrie Hayes Sutter, Kristin M. Olesen, Thomas W. Kensler, Andrew C. Liu, Thomas R. Sutter

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

27 Scopus citations

Abstract

Diurnal oscillation of intracellular redox potential is known to couple metabolism with the circadian clock, yet the responsible mechanisms are not well understood. We show here that chemical activation of NRF2 modifies circadian gene expression and rhythmicity, with phenotypes similar to genetic NRF2 activation. Loss of Nrf2 function in mouse fibroblasts, hepatocytes and liver also altered circadian rhythms, suggesting that NRF2 stoichiometry and/or timing of expression are important to timekeeping in some cells. Consistent with this concept, activation of NRF2 at a circadian time corresponding to the peak generation of endogenous oxidative signals resulted in NRF2-dependent reinforcement of circadian amplitude. In hepatocytes, activated NRF2 bound specific enhancer regions of the core clock repressor gene Cry2, increased Cry2 expression and repressed CLOCK/BMAL1-regulated E-box transcription. Together these data indicate that NRF2 and clock comprise an interlocking loop that integrates cellular redox signals into tissue-specific circadian timekeeping.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article numbere31656
JournaleLife
Volume7
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 26 2018
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Neuroscience
  • General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
  • General Immunology and Microbiology

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