Dear Colleagues,

The circadian clock coordinates biochemical, physiological, and behavioural processes in every living organism. As Albert Einstein said, "The only reason for time is so that everything does not happen at once". The internal timekeeping mechanisms operate at the cell, organ/tissue and organism levels to ensure temporal separation of the molecular events.

An essential outcome of the circadian regulatory process is achieving cellular synchrony that influences the collective outcome of the cellular response. The cellular response to a variety of stimuli is more efficient in a population of synchronized than asynchronized cells. It may be hypothesized that any inefficiency in managing oxidative stresses and inflammatory responses, the two hallmarks of most non-communicable diseases, underlies the phenomenon of cellular asynchrony.

The mammalian circadian clock’s three distinct hierarchical levels (the central clock in the suprachiasmatic center, the peripheral clocks of organs/tissues and the clock gene system at the cell level) enable constant interaction with the environmental cues (zeitgebers). While the role of photic zeitgebers in setting the biological rhythm has been widely investigated, non-photic zeitgebers, particularly the dietary ingredients (nutrients and non-nutrients), have just started to be researched.

Dietary polyphenols are powerful zeitgebers that can directly influence the circadian clock system (regulation of the clock genes) and/or indirectly (via gut microflora). Understanding the bi-directional interaction between dietary ingredients and central and peripheral clocks and clock genes may pave the way for developing novel strategies for preventing, managing, and treating non-communicable diseases.

This Special Issue of the International Journal of Molecular Sciences will showcase original research on the regulation of the mammalian circadian clock using various zeitgebers, including dietary bioactive molecules in the context of non-communicable disease models.

Topics of interest to this Special Issue include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. The interaction of the master clock, peripheral clock and clock genes with the nutrient and non-nutrient bioactive molecules;
2. Nutraceuticals (polyphenols), the metabolites and gut microbiome in the regulation of the circadian clock system, cellular synchrony and molecular entrainment;
3. Regulation of cell synchrony in different biological models by various stimuli including hormonal (melatonin, cortisol), nutritional, xenobiotics, drugs, toxins, etc.;
4. Molecular pathways of clock gene in energy homeostasis, satiety and hunger-energy mechanisms, insulin resistance and diabetes, neurodegenerative diseases, aging and cancers;
5. Biomarkers for the assessment of the state of circadian rhythm at the three hierarchical levels.

In addition, review articles on the exploration of pharmacological and nutritional approaches targeting the circadian clock for the prevention and treatment of non-communicable diseases are also welcomed.

Dr. Bojlul Bahar
Guest Editor

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• circadian clock
• cell synchrony
• bioactive
• polyphenol
• oxidative stress
• metabolic syndrome