A cellular basis for the mammalian nocturnal-diurnal switch - PubMed
4 hours ago
- #mTOR signaling
- #evolution
- #circadian rhythms
- Early mammals were nocturnal, avoiding dinosaurs that dominated the daytime.
- Mammals transitioned to daytime activity after the Cretaceous-Paleogene extinction.
- Diurnal mammals' cells show less sensitivity to temperature changes in protein synthesis, phosphorylation, and circadian timing compared to nocturnal mammals.
- Comparative genomics revealed accelerated evolution in essential signaling pathways like mTOR, enhancing diurnal cellular clock robustness.
- Inhibiting mTOR in nocturnal mice shifted their cells, tissues, and behavior toward diurnal activity.
- The study identifies a genetic and biochemical basis for the switch between nocturnal and diurnal lifestyles.