Studying the Human Microbiota: Advances in Understanding the Fundamentals, Origin, and Evolution of Biological Timekeeping

• Published in: International journal of molecular sciences Vol. 24; no. 22; p. 16169
• Main Authors: Siebieszuk, Adam, Sejbuk, Monika, Witkowska, Anna Maria
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 01.11.2023
• Subjects: Bacteria; biological clock; Biological clocks; Cell division; cellular timekeeping; Circadian Clocks - genetics; Circadian rhythm; Circadian Rhythm - physiology; Cyanobacteria; Empowerment; Evolution; Evolutionary biology; Gene expression; Humans; Immune system; Melatonin; metabolic oscillations; Metabolism; Metabolites; microbiome; Microbiota; Microbiota (Symbiotic organisms); Microorganisms; Organisms; Oxidation-Reduction; peroxiredoxins; Photosynthesis; Physiology; Prokaryotes; Protein Processing, Post-Translational; TTFL; cellular timekeeping; biological clock; metabolic oscillations; peroxiredoxins; circadian rhythm; evolution; microbiome
• ISSN: 1422-0067; 1661-6596; 1422-0067
• DOI: 10.3390/ijms242216169

The recently observed circadian oscillations of the intestinal microbiota underscore the profound nature of the human-microbiome relationship and its importance for health. Together with the discovery of circadian clocks in non-photosynthetic gut bacteria and circadian rhythms in anucleated cells, these findings have indicated the possibility that virtually all microorganisms may possess functional biological clocks. However, they have also raised many essential questions concerning the fundamentals of biological timekeeping, its evolution, and its origin. This narrative review provides a comprehensive overview of the recent literature in molecular chronobiology, aiming to bring together the latest evidence on the structure and mechanisms driving microbial biological clocks while pointing to potential applications of this knowledge in medicine. Moreover, it discusses the latest hypotheses regarding the evolution of timing mechanisms and describes the functions of peroxiredoxins in cells and their contribution to the cellular clockwork. The diversity of biological clocks among various human-associated microorganisms and the role of transcriptional and post-translational timekeeping mechanisms are also addressed. Finally, recent evidence on metabolic oscillators and host-microbiome communication is presented.