Neural function of Bmal1: an overview
Yuanjia Zheng, Lingyun Pan, Feixue Wang, Jinglan Yan, Taiyi Wang, Yucen Xia, Lin Yao, Kelin Deng, Yuqi Zheng, Xiaoye Xia, Zhikai Su, Hongjie Chen, Jie Lin, Zhenwei Ding, Kaitong Zhang, Meng Zhang, Yongjun Chen
Abstract
Bmal1 (Brain and muscle arnt-like, or Arntl) is a bHLH/PAS domain transcription factor central to the transcription/translation feedback loop of the biologic clock. Although Bmal1 is well-established as a major regulator of circadian rhythm, a growing number of studies in recent years have shown that dysfunction of Bmal1 underlies a variety of psychiatric, neurodegenerative-like, and endocrine metabolism-related disorders, as well as potential oncogenic roles. In this review, we systematically summarized Bmal1 expression in different brain regions, its neurological functions related or not to circadian rhythm and biological clock, and pathological phenotypes arising from Bmal1 knockout. This review also discusses oscillation and rhythmicity, especially in the suprachiasmatic nucleus, and provides perspective on future progress in Bmal1 research.