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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2014 May 1.
Published in final edited form as: Trends Endocrinol Metab. 2013 Jan 5;24(5):229–237. doi: 10.1016/j.tem.2012.12.002

Figure 3. The circadian clock network and nutrient sensing pathways cross-talk during lifespan.

Figure 3

In mammals, the circadian coordinator center, the suprachiasmatic cell nuclei (SCN), integrates light/dark cycles and nutrient cues from the environment. The SCN then relays signals to peripheral clocks. Nutrient sensing pathways in the SCN cross-talk with peripheral clocks, in a yet undefined manner. The crosstalk between nutrient sensing pathways and clock network leads to the oscillation of metabolites, ROS and hormones. These oscillations constitute individual “body time” and lead to the overall physiological homeostasis of the organism during development and reproduction. Desynchronization, disruption or decay of the clock network is associated with aging and age-associated diseases.