Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40354412›Full record

ArticlePLoS biology2025

Upstream open reading frames dynamically modulate CLOCK protein translation to regulate circadian rhythms and sleep.

Yuanqiang Sun, Ke Shui, Qinyu Li, Chenlu Liu, Wanting Jin, Jian-Quan Ni, Jian Lu, Luoying Zhang

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in PLoS biology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 10 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
10citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

10 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Article
  5. Article
  6. Sleep regulation inFrontiers in neuroscience · 2026
    Review
  7. Article
  8. Article
  9. Article
  10. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Yuanqiang SunState Key Laboratory of Gene Function and Modulation Research, Center for Bioinformatics, School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China.
Ke ShuiCollege of Biomedicine and Health, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.
Qinyu LiKey Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of Ministry of Education, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
Chenlu LiuState Key Laboratory of Gene Function and Modulation Research, Center for Bioinformatics, School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China.
Wanting JinState Key Laboratory of Gene Function and Modulation Research, Center for Bioinformatics, School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China.
Jian-Quan NiGene Regulatory Lab, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.
Jian LuState Key Laboratory of Gene Function and Modulation Research, Center for Bioinformatics, School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4409-1667
Luoying ZhangKey Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of Ministry of Education, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5996-6975

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

The circadian rhythm is an evolutionarily conserved mechanism with translational regulation increasingly recognized as pivotal in its modulation. In this study, we found that upstream open reading frames (uORFs) are enriched in Drosophila circadian rhythm genes, with particularly conserved uORFs present in core circadian clock genes. We demonstrate evidence that the uORFs of the core clock gene, Clock (Clk), rhythmically and substantially attenuate CLK protein translation in Drosophila, with pronounced suppression occurring during daylight hours. Eliminating Clk uORFs leads to increased CLK protein levels during the day and results in a shortened circadian cycle, along with a broad shift in clock gene expression rhythms. Notably, Clk uORF deletion also augments morning sleep by reducing dopaminergic activity. Beyond daily circadian adjustments, Clk uORFs play a role in modulating sleep patterns in response to seasonal daylight variations. Furthermore, the Clk uORFs act as an important regulator to shape the rhythmic expression of a vast array of genes and influence multifaceted physiological outcomes. Collectively, our research sheds light on the intricate ways uORFs dynamically adjust downstream coding sequences to acclimate to environmental shifts.

Indexed as

Circadian RhythmCLOCK ProteinsDrosophila melanogasterDrosophila ProteinsOpen Reading FramesSleepAnimalsCircadian ClocksGene Expression RegulationProtein BiosynthesisClk protein, DrosophilaCLOCK ProteinsDrosophila Proteins

Identifiers

PMID40354412
PMCPMC12121920

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.