PER2
Description
The PER2 (period circadian regulator 2) is a protein-coding gene located on chromosome 2.
PER2 is a protein in mammals encoded by the PER2 gene. PER2 is noted for its major role in circadian rhythms. The per gene was first discovered using forward genetics in Drosophilla melanogaster in 1971. Mammalian Per2 was discovered by in 1997 through a search for homologous cDNA sequences to PER1. It is more similar to Drosophila per than its paralogs. Later experiments in also identified Per2 in humans. PER2 is a member of the Period family of genes and is expressed in a circadian pattern in the suprachiasmatic nucleus, the primary circadian pacemaker in the mammalian brain. Genes in this family encode components of the circadian clock, which regulates the daily rhythms of locomotor activity, metabolism, and behavior. Circadian expression of these genes and their encoded proteins in the suprachiasmatic nucleus. Human PER2 is involved in human sleep disorder and cancer formation.
PER2 is a core component of the circadian clock, a biological timekeeping system that regulates many physiological processes, including metabolism, sleep, body temperature, and blood pressure. PER2 helps to regulate gene expression and protein production, creating a 24-hour cycle that aligns with the Earth's rotation. It plays a crucial role in the feedback loop that drives the clock, inhibiting the activity of other clock proteins, such as CLOCK and BMAL1, to control the timing of gene expression. PER2 also contributes to the repression of clock-controlled target genes by interacting with various proteins, including RNA-binding proteins and helicases, and by modifying the structure of DNA. It influences transcription by recruiting complexes that remodel chromatin, and by orchestrating the recruitment of histone modifiers to target genes, ensuring proper timing of gene expression. PER2 plays a role in various cellular functions, including metabolism, cardiovascular health, and inflammatory responses. It interacts with numerous proteins and is involved in the regulation of gene expression, the formation of various protein complexes, and the control of circadian rhythms.
PER2 is also known as FASPS, FASPS1.
