Charna Dibner

Biography

Circadian oscillation of biological processes has been described in most of the light-sensitive organisms on earth. It reflects the existence of underlying intrinsic biological clocks with near 24 hour oscillation periods. It is well established that circadian clocks play a crucial role in the regulation of key metabolic processes. Moreover, there is an emerging evidence for connection between metabolic pathologies and the circadian clockwork. The long-term goal of our laboratory is to identify the molecular basis of circadian rhythmicity in rodent and human peripheral tissues in physiological, and in obesity/type 2 diabetes conditions. We have setup the experimental system for long-term recording of circadian reporter oscillations in human primary cultured cells from different tissue types at population and single cell levels. Using this powerful approach, we scrutinize the role of the oscillators present in a- and ß- cells in pancreatic islet function, and the impact of glucose metabolism on a- and ß- cell oscillators, in mouse and human models. Also, human skeletal muscle clock molecular makeup and its roles in regulating myokine secretion and insulin resistance development have been tackled.

Research Interest

Nephrology