CRY1 the gene that regulates our Circadian Clock
CRY1, short for CRY1 cryptochrome circadian regulator 1, is a gene. This gene encodes a flavin adenine dinucleotide-binding protein that is a key component of the circadian core oscillator complex, which regulates the circadian clock. Polymorphisms in this gene have been associated with altered sleep patterns. The encoded protein is widely conserved across plants and animals. Loss of the related gene in mouse results in a shortened circadian cycle in complete darkness.[1]
Circadian Rhythm
Every organism has an intrinsic biological rhythm that orchestrates biological processes in adjusting to daily environmental changes. The circadian rhythm functions as a master clock that regulates many physiological processes in humans including sleep, metabolism, hormone secretion, and neurobehavioral processes. Light is the strongest circadian stimulus that can be used to regulate the circadian phase.[2] Circadian rhythms are maintained by networks of molecular clocks throughout the core and peripheral tissues, including immune cells, blood vessels, and perivascular adipose tissues. Recent findings have suggested strong correlations between the circadian clock and cardiovascular diseases.[3]
Sleep is an essential component of overall human health but is so tightly regulated that when disrupted can cause or worsen health issues. An important part of this process is the presence of the hormone, melatonin. This compound assists in the governing of sleep and circadian rhythms.[4] Previous studies have postulated that dysregulation of melatonin rhythms is the driving force behind sleep and circadian disorders.[5][6]
The circadian clock is critical for cancer occurrence and progression.[7][8][9] It also plays an important role in food intake[10], aging[11][12], mental health[13] and the formation of new hippocampus-dependent memories.[14][15][16] Animal data based primarily on genetic manipulations and clinical data from biomarker and gene expression studies support the notion that circadian abnormalities underlie certain psychiatric disorders. In particular, bipolar disorder has an interesting link to rhythm-related disease biology; other mood disturbances, such as major depressive disorder, seasonal affective disorder and the agitation and aggression accompanying severe dementia (sundowning), are also linked to changes in circadian rhythm function.[1][2]
[1] Circadian rhythm dysregulation in bipolar disorder
[2] Effects of Daytime Blue-Enriched LED Light on Physiologic Parameters of Three Common Mouse Strains Maintained on an IVC System
[1] CRY1 cryptochrome circadian regulator 1 [ Homo sapiens (human) ]
[2] Time optimal entrainment control for circadian rhythm
[3] Man AWC, Li H, Xia N. Circadian Rhythm: Potential Therapeutic Target for Atherosclerosis and Thrombosis. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2021; 22(2):676. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22020676
[4] Huang W, Ramsey KM, Marcheva B, Bass J. Circadian rhythms, sleep, and metabolism. J Clin Invest. 2011 Jun;121(6):2133-41. doi: 10.1172/JCI46043. Epub 2011 Jun 1. PMID: 21633182; PMCID: PMC3104765.
[5] Vasey C, McBride J, Penta K. Circadian Rhythm Dysregulation and Restoration: The Role of Melatonin. Nutrients. 2021 Sep 30;13(10):3480. doi: 10.3390/nu13103480. PMID: 34684482; PMCID: PMC8538349.
[6] Sleep Deprivation and Circadian Disruption
[7] Huang C, Zhang C, Cao Y, Li J, Bi F. Major roles of the circadian clock in cancer. Cancer Biol Med. 2023 Jan 12;20(1):1–24. doi: 10.20892/j.issn.2095-3941.2022.0474. PMID: 36647780; PMCID: PMC9843445.
[8] The Relationship between Circadian Rhythm and Cancer Disease
[9] Circadian gene variants in cancer
[10] New Awareness of the Interplay Between the Gut Microbiota and Circadian Rhythms
[11] Disrupting the circadian clock: Gene-specific effects on aging, cancer, and other phenotypes
[12] Reciprocal interactions between circadian clocks and aging
[13] Sleep and Circadian Rhythm Disruption and Recognition Memory in Schizophrenia
[14] Role of Circadian Rhythm and REM Sleep For Memory Consolidation
[15] Circadian regulation of memory under stress: Endocannabinoids matter
[16] A local circadian clock for memory?
[17] Circadian rhythm dysregulation in bipolar disorder [18] Effects of Daytime Blue-Enriched LED Light on Physiologic Parameters of Three Common Mouse Strains Maintained on an IVC System
Cryptochromes
Do you use blue light filters on your screens? Did you know that some filters can increase the flicker rate, which can cause neurological damage?
Cryptochromes are related to a class of evolutionarily ancient light activated DNA repair enzymes known as photolyases, with which they share many common structural features. However, most cryptochromes do not repair DNA and instead have developed novel roles in signaling.[1] Cryptochromes are flavoproteins that respond to blue light and are involved in regulating various physiological processes, such as plant growth and development, flowering time, and circadian rhythms. They are found in plants, animals and people. [2] The blue light-dependent cryptochrome activation model proposes that blue light triggers the activation of cryptochromes, leading to changes in gene expression and physiological responses.[3][4] Blue light disrupts the circadian rhythm and create damage in skin cells.[5]
A disturbance in the cryptochromes can lead to proteotoxicity.[6] Proteotoxicity is a pathology that develops due to damaged or misfolded protein accumulations.[7] Retinal cryptochromes may be involved in the avian magnetic sense.[8][9] Human cryptochrome exhibits light-dependent magnetosensitivity. Human CRY2 has the molecular capability to function as a light-sensitive magnetosensor.[10]
LED light penetrates the human eye like nano-bullets
The most convincing role of serotonin is its apparent ability to modulate sensitivity of the circadian rhythm to light.[11] Radiation from LEDs can cause epileptic seizures[12], anxiety, anger, panic, migraines, psychological trauma, diminished cognitive performance[13] and thoughts of suicide.[14]
The Sun sends light out uniformly in all directions. The spheres of our eyes know how to absorb light from a curved surface. LEDs (Light Emitting Diode) emit light without curvature. LED light propels from the electronic chip surface in a defined angle which also causes the largest amount of light rays to intersect in the middle of the chip. The least amount of intersection occurs on the edge of the surface, which gives LEDs an energy profile resembling a bullet.[15]
Televisions in the 80’s had a flicker around 50 Hz (cycles per second), which we could all see with our naked eye. The LEDs of phones, smart TVs, and streetlights emit a flicker that is faster than what our brains can perceive. This is called the flicker fusion threshold – when our eyes can no longer distinguish between individual flickers. As a result, the flashes appear to fuse into a steady, continuous source of light.[16]
The electricity used by an incandescent bulb produces a smoother sine wave, which is more akin to the rhythms of our brain. LEDs emit a square wave, which can contribute to neurological effects such as seizures[17] due to the increased flicker rate.
Infrared light is a potent resource for the batteries of our cells – our mitochondria. In the case of LEDs, you’ll notice that very little infrared is present. The US government calls this type of light, found in incandescents, a waste product. Aside from the biological benefits, infrared also emits heat, which may decrease our electric bills during winter. A LED light that is programmed to emit 7000K (Kelvin) resembles an artificial blue sky, when you are in that kind of light in the evening, your brain will not get ready to sleep.
Dimmer switches in our home not only increase flicker, but they also can contribute to ramping up kilohertz frequencies that contribute to electromagnetic interference. When we dim incandescents, we lower the amount of electricity going to the bulb. LEDs are in fact not dimmed, but shut on and off rapidly, using pulse-width modulation (PWM). This rapid switching from on (duty cycle) to off contributes to more EMI, or dirty electricity. EMI not only degrades our electronics, it harms the electrical components of our bodies – our brains, hearts, and organs.
Be smart
Recently there was some consternation about younger people seemingly aging earlier in life. All of them grew up with a tablet, a cell phone, a laptop and a tv. Evaluate your blue light exposure, prevent by getting away from your screen, repair, use ultra red light, replace those LEDs and witch to incandescent lightbulbs or candles.
[1] https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/agricultural-and-biological-sciences/cryptochrome
[3] Cryptochromes and the Circadian Clock: The Story of a Very Complex Relationship in a Spinning World
[4] Blue light disrupts the circadian rhythm and create damage in skin cells
[5] Blue light disrupts the circadian rhythm and create damage in skin cells
[6] CRYPTOCHROMES promote daily protein homeostasis
[7] https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/biochemistry-genetics-and-molecular-biology/proteotoxicity
[8] Magnetic sensitivity of cryptochrome 4 from a migratory songbird
[9] Cryptochrome and Magnetic Sensing
[10] Human cryptochrome exhibits light-dependent magnetosensitivity
[11] Serotonin and the regulation of mammalian circadian rhythmicity
[12] Fisher, R.S., Archarya, J.N., Baumer, F.M., French, J.A., Parisi, P., Solodar, J.H., Szaflarski, J.P., Thio, L.L., Tolchin, B., Wilkins, A.J., & Kasteleijn-Nolst Trenité, D. (2022). Visually sensitive seizures: An updated review by the Epilepsy Foundation. Epilepsia, 63:739-768. DOI: 10.1111/epi.17175.)
[13] Evening exposure to a light-emitting diodes (LED)-backlit computer screen affects circadian physiology and cognitive performance
[14] http://www.softlights.org/what-are-the-harms-of-leds/
[15] https://romanshapoval.substack.com/p/why-sad-lamps-may-not-make-you-happy?open=false#%C2%A7temporal-properties
[16] https://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/ergonomics/lighting/lighting_flicker.html
