Molecular switch keeps circadian clock running on time

Circadian rhythms help everything from plants to humans coordinate with the daily light-dark cycle, but how this natural clock keeps accurate time, or why it goes awry in people with sleep disorders, is still under investigation. New findings suggest that a molecular switch balances the activity of two key proteins that keep the central timepiece of the clock -- the daily accumulation and degradation of the PER2 protein -- on schedule.

Originally published at http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/10/151001125640.htm