PhD Seminar – 19 May 2025

Scientific talk by Benjamin Böbel (Macbes)
Keeping Track of Daytime: Insights into the Internal Circadian System

Abstract:

Circadian clocks are biological regulatory networks on the cell level that exist in most organisms on earth. These regulatory networks are able to produce rhythmic outputs due to negative feedback loops. The circadian clock regulates the cells behavior in a 24h manner, anticipating environmental changes due to the geophysical day-night schedule. In mammals, the coordinated output of clocks on an organ-level produces physiological rhythms, e.g., sleep-wake or feeding-fasting. We are interested in a model of the circadian clock that takes into account the two major feedback loops, especially its post-translational sequestration repression process. Using a time-scale separation and some simplifications, we can show that the model admits a periodic orbit under some conditions. We further show some entrainment properties of the model due to the sequestration repression and take a look at synchronization mechanisms between oscillators

When: Monday, May 19 at 2pm
Where: Euler Bleu