Function
The TIMELESS protein plays a crucial role in regulating various cellular processes, including DNA replication, replication fork stability, genome stability, DNA repair, and the circadian clock. It forms a complex with TIPIN, stabilizing replication forks during DNA replication. This complex regulates DNA replication processes under both normal and stressful conditions, ensuring replication fork stability and influencing CHEK1 phosphorylation and the intra-S phase checkpoint in response to genotoxic stress. TIMELESS also facilitates TIPIN's nuclear localization.
TIMELESS contributes to cell survival following DNA damage or replication stress by promoting DNA repair. It accumulates at DNA damage sites in response to double-strand breaks (DSBs) and facilitates homologous recombination repair through its interaction with PARP1. It may be specifically required for the ATR-CHEK1 pathway in the replication checkpoint triggered by hydroxyurea or ultraviolet light.
TIMELESS is involved in determining the length of the circadian cycle and influencing the DNA damage-dependent phase advancing of the circadian clock. It negatively regulates CLOCK|NPAS2-ARTNL/BMAL1|ARTNL2/BMAL2-induced transactivation of PER1, potentially by relocating PER1 into the nucleus. Additionally, TIMELESS may play a significant role in epithelial cell morphogenesis and the formation of branching tubules.
Tissue Specificity
Expressed in all tissues examined including brain, heart, lung, liver, skeletal muscle, kidney, placenta, pancreas, spleen, thymus and testis. Highest levels of expression in placenta, pancreas, thymus and testis.