A <i>Period1</i> inducer specifically advances circadian clock in mice

Y Yoshifumi Takahata (Department of Genome Editing Research and Development Unit, Graduate School of Dentistry, University of Osaka) Y Yuki Kasashima (Division of Biological Science and Technology, Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Kanazawa University) T Takuya Yoshioka (Division of Biological Science and Technology, Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Kanazawa University) S Shusei Yashiki (Division of Biological Science and Technology, Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Kanazawa University) J Justina Kulikauskaite (Division of Biological Science and Technology, Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Kanazawa University) T Tomoaki Matsuura (Earth-Life Science Institute (ELSI)) Y Yuki Ohba (Division of Biological Science and Technology, Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Kanazawa University) H Hideaki Hasegawa (Division of Biological Science and Technology, Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Kanazawa University) N Naoki Yuri (Division of Biological Science and Technology, Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Kanazawa University) N Nagisa Iwai (Division of Biological Science and Technology, Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Kanazawa University) N Nanako Otsu (Division of Biological Science and Technology, Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Kanazawa University) M Mikiya Kitakata (Division of Biological Science and Technology, Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Kanazawa University) Y Yuta Kitaguchi (Division of Biological Science and Technology, Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Kanazawa University) H Haruki Furune (Division of Biological Science and Technology, Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Kanazawa University) C Chihiro Omori (Faculty of Biological Science and Technology, Institute of Science and Engineering, Kanazawa University) M Mutsumi Mukai (Laboratory of Chronogenomics, Mitsubishi Kagaku Institute of Life Sciences) Y Yuki Komamura-Kohno (Laboratory of Chronogenomics, Mitsubishi Kagaku Institute of Life Sciences) Y Yi-Ying Huang (Laboratory of Chronogenomics, Mitsubishi Kagaku Institute of Life Sciences) M Matsumi Hirose (Laboratory of Chronogenomics, Mitsubishi Kagaku Institute of Life Sciences) N Nobuya Koike (Laboratory of Chronogenomics, Mitsubishi Kagaku Institute of Life Sciences) Y Yoichi Yamada (Faculty of Biological Science and Technology, Institute of Science and Engineering, Kanazawa University) K Kazuo Nakazawa (Department of Applied Chemistry and Life Science, Toyohashi University of Technology) K Kumiko Ui-Tei (Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, University of Tokyo) Y Yoshiyuki Sakaki (Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo) R Rika Numano (Department of Applied Chemistry and Life Science, Toyohashi University of Technology) K Koichiro Uriu (Division of Biological Science and Technology, Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Kanazawa University) H Hajime Tei (Division of Biological Science and Technology, Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Kanazawa University)

Abstract

West-to-east transmeridian flights are more disruptive than east-to-west ones due to challenges in advancing the human circadian clock. Transient mammalian Period1 ( Per1 ) induction was predicted to predominantly advance the clock phase in our previous work. Here, we unravel a specific Per1 inducer, Mic-628, enabling abrupt phase advance in mouse behavioral rhythms, regardless of the timing of oral administration. Mic-628-treated mice re-entrain to phase-advanced light–dark cycles significantly faster. The direct interaction between Mic-628 and CRYPTOCHROME1 (CRY1) does not simply inhibit CRY1 repressor activity. Instead, the interaction facilitates the CLOCK-BMAL1 assembly, ensuring highly specific induction via a tandem E-box motif upstream of the Per1 promoter. Importantly, Mic-628-driven Per1 induction is repressed by PER1 itself. Mathematical modeling indicates that both the CRY1- and PER1-mediated transcriptional regulation fix the phase of Per1 induction irrespective of intake time, thereby predominantly advancing the clock phase. These findings underscore the potential of selective Per expression as a therapeutic approach for human circadian rhythm disorders.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 123, Issue 4
Published January 27, 2026
ISSN 0027-8424
Publisher National Academy of Sciences

Authors (27)

Y

Yoshifumi Takahata

Department of Genome Editing Research and Development Unit, Graduate School of Dentistry, University of Osaka

Y

Yuki Kasashima

Division of Biological Science and Technology, Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Kanazawa University

T

Takuya Yoshioka

Division of Biological Science and Technology, Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Kanazawa University

S

Shusei Yashiki

Division of Biological Science and Technology, Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Kanazawa University

J

Justina Kulikauskaite

Division of Biological Science and Technology, Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Kanazawa University

T

Tomoaki Matsuura

Earth-Life Science Institute (ELSI)

Y

Yuki Ohba

Division of Biological Science and Technology, Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Kanazawa University

H

Hideaki Hasegawa

Division of Biological Science and Technology, Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Kanazawa University

N

Naoki Yuri

Division of Biological Science and Technology, Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Kanazawa University

N

Nagisa Iwai

Division of Biological Science and Technology, Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Kanazawa University

N

Nanako Otsu

Division of Biological Science and Technology, Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Kanazawa University

M

Mikiya Kitakata

Division of Biological Science and Technology, Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Kanazawa University

Y

Yuta Kitaguchi

Division of Biological Science and Technology, Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Kanazawa University

H

Haruki Furune

Division of Biological Science and Technology, Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Kanazawa University

C

Chihiro Omori

Faculty of Biological Science and Technology, Institute of Science and Engineering, Kanazawa University

M

Mutsumi Mukai

Laboratory of Chronogenomics, Mitsubishi Kagaku Institute of Life Sciences

Y

Yuki Komamura-Kohno

Laboratory of Chronogenomics, Mitsubishi Kagaku Institute of Life Sciences

Y

Yi-Ying Huang

Laboratory of Chronogenomics, Mitsubishi Kagaku Institute of Life Sciences

M

Matsumi Hirose

Laboratory of Chronogenomics, Mitsubishi Kagaku Institute of Life Sciences

N

Nobuya Koike

Laboratory of Chronogenomics, Mitsubishi Kagaku Institute of Life Sciences

Y

Yoichi Yamada

Faculty of Biological Science and Technology, Institute of Science and Engineering, Kanazawa University

K

Kazuo Nakazawa

Department of Applied Chemistry and Life Science, Toyohashi University of Technology

K

Kumiko Ui-Tei

Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, University of Tokyo

Y

Yoshiyuki Sakaki

Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo

R

Rika Numano

Department of Applied Chemistry and Life Science, Toyohashi University of Technology

K

Koichiro Uriu

Division of Biological Science and Technology, Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Kanazawa University

H

Hajime Tei

Division of Biological Science and Technology, Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Kanazawa University