The circadian rhythm is a 24-hour cycle that maintains multiple bodily functions by regulating the production and dimerization of many specific proteins and their respective genes. During normal circadian rhythm functioning, transcription factor proteins BMAL1 and CLOCK dimerize, enter the nucleus, and bind to a regulatory segment of DNA, which controls the expression of circadian rhythm genes <i>per</i> and <i>cry.</i> Previous work showed that when we subjected cells to 12 hours hypo-osmotic stress, transcription of circadian genes decreased. To understand this phenomenon, we observed the localization and expression of BMAL1 under hypo-osmotic conditions using microscopic and immunofluorescent techniques. We found that BMAL1 intensity decreases inside nuclei of cells subjected to hypo-osmotic stress for 12 hours, inducing cell cycle arrest, and inhibiting BMAL1 function and transcription of circadian rhythm genes. This important finding provides insight into the role of BMAL1 during the circadian rhythm and shows a wide variety of applications, including cancer therapeutics.

Cell synchronization induced by hypo-osmotic stress

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