Mammalian Homologs For timeless
In 1998, researchers identified a mouse homolog and a human homolog of the Drosophila timeless gene. The exact role of TIM in mammals is still unclear, as Tim transcription does not oscillate rhythmically and the TIM protein remains in the nucleus. Moreover, mammalian tim is more orthologous the Tim-2 (Timeout) paralog of the Drosophila Timeless gene. The function of Timeout has yet to be identified.
The timeless protein is thought to directly connect the cell cycle with the circadian rhythm in mammals. In this model called a “direct coupling” the two cycles share a key protein whose expression exhibits a circadian pattern.
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