Description:

The Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Genetics presents:

Joseph Takahashi, PhD
Professor and Chair, Department of Neuroscience
Investigator, Howard Hughes Medical Institute
UT Southwestern Medical Center
Dallas, TX

Presentation:

"Circadian Clocks and their Importance for Metabolism, Aging and Longevity"

Abstract:

The long-term goals of the Takahashi laboratory are to understand the molecular and genetic basis of circadian rhythms in mammals and to utilize forward genetic approaches in the mouse as a tool for gene discovery for complex behavior. We have focused our attention on three areas: 1) identification of circadian clock genes and assignment of their function in the molecular mechanism of the circadian pacemaker; 2) the role of the circadian clock system in regulating metabolism; 3) the importance of circadian timing for aging and longevity; and 4) the role of the clock in parasitic diseases such as sleeping sickness and malaria. We also work on the structural biology of circadian clock proteins and on genome-wide analysis of transcription factor binding and gene expression using next generation sequencing. We have analyzed the circadian regulation of genome-wide regulation of nascent transcription, RNA polymerase II occupancy and epigenomic regulation of chromatin. In addition to circadian genes, we have identified genes involved in cocaine responsiveness, sleep, and learning and memory using forward genetic approaches. In the last five years, we have shifted our focus to study the role of circadian timing in aging and longevity. Recently, we have obtained compelling evidence that the timing of nutrient consumption is critical for extending both health span and lifespan in mouse models. This behavioral intervention is important because it likely applies to human health and because lifestyle and behavioral interventions can be adopted to ameliorate the effects of aging in people.

Host: Dr. Clara Peek, Assistant Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics and Medicine (Endocrinology)