MicroRNAs modulate core-clock gene expression in pancreatic islets during early postnatal life in rats

Aims/hypothesis Evidence continues to emerge detailing a fine-tuningof the regulation of metabolic processes and energy homeostasisby cell-autonomous circadian clocks. Pancreatic beta cellfunctional maturation occurs after birth and implies transcriptional changes triggered by a shift in the nutritional supply that occurs at weaning, enabling the adaptation of insulin secretion. So far, the developmental timing and exact mechanisms involved in the initiation of the circadian clockin the growing pancreatic isletshave never been addressed.