Where chemistry meets biology: catalytic synthesis of the
first period-shortening molecule targeting CRY clock protein
(June 9, 2015) Our
biological clock regulates various daily rhythms, such as sleep/wake rhythm,
body temperature, and metabolism. Disruption of the circadian rhythm may lead
to sleep disorders, cancer and other diseases. Profs. Kenichiro Itami, Takashi
Yoshimura, Stephan Irle and colleagues at ITbM have come together to discover
for the first time, a rhythm-changing molecule with period-shortening
activities that targets the clock protein, CRY, which open doors to
molecule-based solutions for circadian-related diseases and improving food
production in animals.
Abstract:
A team of chemists
and biologists at the Institute of Transformative Bio-Molecules (ITbM), Nagoya
University have succeeded in finding new molecules that change the circadian
rhythm in mammals by applying synthetic chemistry methods, which makes use of
highly selective metal catalysts.