Table 1. Metabolic defects in mice harboring mutations in clock genes.

“Core clock genes” are represented in blue and “Clock-controlled genes” are in Red.

Clock Gene	Function	Metabolic Defects in mutant mice
Clock	bHLH-PAS domain containing transcription factor, Positive Regulator, Histone Acetyltransferase	Metabolic syndrome (in clock/clock mice)2 Reduced arterial blood pressure, altered renal function and excretion of diluted urine (in Clock−/− mice)50
Bmal1	bHLH-PAS domain containing transcription factor, Positive Regulator	Abolished oscillations in plasma glucose and triglycerides52 Fasting hypoglycemia (in liver-specific KO)53 Diabetes mellitus (in pancreas-specific KO)3,54
Per1	PAS-domain containing negative regulator	Increased urinary sodium excretion77
Per2	PAS-domain containing negative regulator	Altered lipid metabolism, lower body weight22
Cry1,Cry2	Negative Regulator	Hyperglycemia78 Salt-sensitive hypertension76
Rev-erbα	Nuclear Receptor, Negative Regulator	Increased serum triglycerides79
Rorα	Nuclear Receptor, Positive Regulator	Reduced plasma triglycerides and HDL80 Enhanced atherosclerosis80
Pgc-1α	Transcriptional coactivator	Increased sensitivity to insulin81 Altered thermogenesis82
Nocturnin	mRNA Deadenylase	Resistant to diet-induced obesity83 Altered lipid metabolism84