Coordinating the circadian clock: Molecular pair controls time-keeping and fat metabolism

Coordinating the circadian clock: Molecular pair controls time-keeping and fat metabolism: Disruption in circadian rhythms leads to increased incidence of many diseases, including cancer. Each cell of the body has its own internal timing mechanism. A clock protein, called Rev-erb alpha, was thought to have a subordinate role because the clock runs fairly normally in its absence. New work has found that a closely related protein called Rev-erb beta serves as a back-up. When both are not functioning, the cellular clock loses its time-keeping function.