If your genes could set an alarm clock, EZH1 might be the one ringing the bell.

A new study has revealed how this underappreciated protein ensures the rhythmic expression of genes in skeletal muscle, aligning them with the body’s 24-hour internal cycle.

A KAUST-led research team showed that EZH1 plays a dual role in circadian regulation. It both stabilizes a critical protein called RNA Polymerase II — the molecular engine of gene transcription — and reshapes the structure of chromatin, the tightly packed form of DNA, to activate or silence genes on schedule.

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