How light activates receptors in your skin and adipose tissue
Light responsive fat cells? Light impacting airways and asthma? Tell me more...
Hi there,
Long-time Genetic Lifehacks readers know that I'm fascinated by circadian rhythm and how it underlies health and wellness. This week's new article takes an in-depth look at the melanopsin receptor (OPN4 gene), which plays a key role in setting circadian rhythms.
I started researching this topic in part because I was trying to figure out the best lighting options for the baby chicks that I got last week. I have them in an enclosed area with no windows, and I wanted to optimize their light/dark schedule. It turns out that chickens have two different OPN4 genes, and there is quite a bit of research on lighting for egg laying, brooding, meat production, etc. Long story short - I'm still not sure what's optimal for my chicks, but they get the lights turned off when it gets dark and turned on when the sun starts to creep over the mountains here.
For humans, the research into the melanopsin receptor turns out to be even more interesting than just the circadian rhythm aspects. We actually have these blue-wavelength light receptors in our fat tissue, and activating the OPN4 receptor with blue-wavelength light reduces fat (in the lab). The OPN4 receptors are also found next to blood vessels and activation causes relaxation.
I'll let you read the rest of the story in the article.
Stay curious :-)
Debbie
Melanopsin: Light response, circadian rhythm, and blue light exposure
Key takeaways:
~ Melanopsin is a receptor that is activated by specific wavelengths of light.
~ It is found in the retina of the eye and controls circadian rhythms and melatonin production.
~ Melanopsin is also found in the skin, blood vessels, and adipose tissue, and exposure to blue-wavelength light can also affect these tissues.
~ Genetic variants in the melanopsin (OPN4) gene affect mood, seasonal affective disorder, and sensitivity to blue light.
What I've been reading:
This article explains how the ketogenic diet is being used by mental health professionals. It was written by a clinician to explain the therapeutic potential of a ketogenic diet in people diagnosed with mental health disorders.
2) Bitten: The Secret History of Lyme Disease and Biological Weapons
Bitten is a non-fiction book by Kris Newby that explains her research into the origins of Lyme disease. It is written more like a mystery than a scientific treatise, and it was an interesting read. The author explores the life and work of Willy Burgdorfer, a tick researcher at the NIH lab in Montana and at Ft. Detrick. Well written and extremely well documented, I found that it left me unsettled and with many questions.
3) The person-to-person transmission landscape of the gut and oral microbiome
Have you ever wondered where your gut microbes come from? Well, you inherit some at birth and from your mom, but you also pick up a lot from the people you live with. "There was substantial strain sharing among cohabiting individuals, with 12% and 32% median strain-sharing rates for the gut and oral microbiomes, and time since cohabitation affected strain sharing more than age or genetics did." I'll let you ponder how this happens...