MicroRNA in the molecular mechanism of the circadian clock in mammals

Abstract

The biochemical activity of mammals is controlled by an internal timekeeping mechanism driving a clock to run in approximate 24-hour (circadian) cycles. In mammals, this circadian clock is located both in the suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN) and peripheral oscillators. Recently, microRNAs have emerged as significant players in circadian clock timing. The biological implications of miRNAs are extended further by recent studies that microRNAs are expressed in the SCN and peripheral circadian oscillators. In this study, we review recent work revealing the role of microRNAs in the molecular mechanism of circadian clock in mammals.