• TRESK regulates brain to track time usin

    From ScienceDaily@1337:3/111 to All on Mon Sep 14 21:30:46 2020
    TRESK regulates brain to track time using sunlight as its cue

    Date:
    September 14, 2020
    Source:
    University of Kent
    Summary:
    Research has found that TRESK, a calcium regulated two-pore
    potassium channel, regulates the brain's central circadian clock
    to differentiate behavior between day and night.



    FULL STORY ========================================================================== Research from the University of Kent has found that TRESK, a calcium
    regulated two-pore potassium channel, regulates the brain's central
    circadian clock to differentiate behaviour between day and night.


    ==========================================================================
    It was previously understood that the brain's circadian clock, otherwise
    known as the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), depends on multiple mechanisms
    to ensure rhythmic electrical activity that varies between day and
    night. Yet, this research has clarified that TRESK plays a crucial role
    in this system. The mechanism was previously unknown.

    The study, led by Dr Gurprit Lall at the Medway School of Pharmacy and colleagues at the University of Oxford, investigated the role of TRESK
    in the brain's central circadian clock and found that when TRESK levels
    were reduced the biological rhythm was disrupted.

    The brain's circadian clock is usually active during daylight and
    not during the night. When the absence of TRESK was explored in the
    study, the clock had lost its day and night association and did not
    sense light. This further identifies that not only does TRESK affect
    cell membrane activity, it affects response behaviour and the clock's communication to the body. Humans need this to perform efficiently.

    Dr Lall said: 'This research has shown that TRESK is key to SCN function, regulating multiple aspects of SCN neurophysiology. TRESK provides
    a clear delineation of light responses between the day and night. It
    maintains the SCN in the appropriate state for nocturnal light-induced behavioural changes. These findings are significant to future research
    into how the circadian clock responds to environmental stimuli.'

    ========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by University_of_Kent. Original written
    by Olivia Miller.

    Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


    ========================================================================== Journal Reference:
    1. Tatjana Lalic, Aiste Steponenaite, Liting Wei, Sridhar R. Vasudevan,
    Alistair Mathie, Stuart N. Peirson, Gurprit S. Lall, M. Zameel
    Cader.

    TRESK is a key regulator of nocturnal suprachiasmatic nucleus
    dynamics and light adaptive responses. Nature Communications,
    2020; 11 (1) DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-17978-9 ==========================================================================

    Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200914083837.htm

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