The genetic alarm clock in our body seems to be configured using EZH1 protein. Research, published in The Embo Journal, demonstrates how this poorly understood protein regulates the rhythmic activity of genes in skeletal muscles, synchronizing them with a 24-hour organism cycle.
Kaust scientists have found that EZH1 performs a double function in maintaining circadian rhythms. It stabilizes the key protein – RNA polymerase II, which is responsible for the broadcast of genetic information, and also changes the structure of chromatin – tightly packed DNA to activate or suppress the genes according to the schedule.
Thanks to this versatility, EZH1 becomes a kind of conductor, ensuring the synchronous work of genes associated with metabolism, sleep and other important processes. However, if EZH1 activity decreases – what can occur with age – circus rhythms of genes are disturbed, which leads to metabolic failures and diseases.
“The rhythmic activity regulated by EZH1 can play a key role in maintaining the accuracy and adaptability of tissue genetic programs,” said Pan Liu, one of the leading authors of the study.
A team of scientists, including a visualization specialist in Satoshi Khabuchi and a biologist Mo Lee, conducted experiments on mice and cultivated muscle cells. Observations showed that EZH1 levels change during the day, synchronizing with other circus rhythms. This allows EZH1 to regulate thousands of other genes associated with the biological watch of the body.
One of the key roles EZH1 is the stabilization of the RNA polymerase II, an enzyme that turns DNA instructions into RNA. At the same time, EZH1 changes chromatin, adding or removing chemical marks, which makes genes more or less accessible to work.
These two functions work together to maintain a clear rhythm of genetic activity. However, violation of the EZH1 leads to a malfunction of genes, which can cause problems with muscle restoration, metabolic disorders and increasing the risk of age-related diseases. Scientists have shown that the restoration of EZH1 function can return the normal rhythm of genes.
The study also revealed that EZH1 affects thousands of genes associated not only with muscle functions, but also with general metabolic and restoration processes. As scientists emphasized, a further study of protein can open new ways of treating age-related diseases and improve the general health of the body.