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Abstract
In mammals, circadian control of physiology and behavior is driven by a master pacemaker
located in the suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN) of the hypothalamus. We have used gene
expression profiling to identify cycling transcripts in the SCN and in the liver.
Our analysis revealed approximately 650 cycling transcripts and showed that the majority
of these were specific to either the SCN or the liver. Genetic and genomic analysis
suggests that a relatively small number of output genes are directly regulated by
core oscillator components. Major processes regulated by the SCN and liver were found
to be under circadian regulation. Importantly, rate-limiting steps in these various
pathways were key sites of circadian control, highlighting the fundamental role that
circadian clocks play in cellular and organismal physiology.