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Cortisol Shifts Cell Clocks The hormone cortisol sends a signal to cells to adjust their internal clocks, leading to a rapid increase in the production of the Per1 gene and PER1 protein. This process is crucial for synchronizing the cell's internal clock with the body's natural rhythm. Researchers found that cortisol, a glucocorticoid hormone, plays a key role in this process, and their findings were published in a preprint on August 13. The study revealed that the glucocorticoid receptor, a protein that binds to cortisol and transmits its signal to the cell, is essential for this process. The researchers used a selective activator of the receptor to shift the cell's clock, and two receptor-blocking compounds to cancel this effect. They also found that disabling the receptor gene prevented the cell from responding to cortisol, but introducing an artificial variant of the receptor that is constantly present in the nucleus restored the response. The researchers then focused on the Per1 gene, a key component of the molecular clock. They found that after a hormonal pulse, the level of mature Per1 RNA increased rapidly, and the level of PER1 protein increased within 12 minutes in human cells. The study also showed that this rapid response is due to enhanced RNA processing, rather than new RNA synthesis, and that it is mediated by the glucocorticoid receptor. The findings were published in preprint, August 2026. 🔗 Read original →