Clock genes and energy metabolism

Abstract

Circadian timekeeping is a ubiquitous feature of all eukaryotes and allows appropriate temporal regulation of an organism's physiology, behavior, and metabolism to anticipate and respond to recurrent daily changes in the environment. Animal models provide strong evidence that disruption of circadian pathways are associated with metabolic dysregulation and sleep-related pathologies, while high-fat feeding reveals disrupted circadian rhythms of feeding, activity, and sleep. In humans, short sleep duration is associated with increased risk of metabolic syndrome, including obesity, diabetes, ­cardiovascular diseases, and cancer. Here, we examine emerging insight into how the circadian clock network influences energy metabolism.