Mind your rhythms: an important role for circadian genes in neuroprotection.

Circadian rhythms govern nearly every physiological process in our brains and bodies. At the most basic level, the molecular clockwork in each cell interacts with metabolic cycles to influence the redox state, allowing for increased cellular activity at specific times of day. In this issue of the JCI, Musiek et al. show that genetic disruptions in the positive arm of the molecular clock can lead to severe astrogliosis, which likely occurs through disruptions in output genes that keep oxidative stress in check. This study demonstrates the importance of proper circadian protein function in the maintenance of neuronal integrity.