Researching Circadian Rhythms and the Molecular Team in Fat Metabolism

Fat production by the liver runs on a 24-hour cycle, the circadian rhythm, and is similar to the sleep-wake cycle.

Mitchell Lazar, MD, PhD, director of the Institute for Diabetes, Obesity, and Metabolism (IDOM) at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, discusses his research team's discovery of molecules that act as "shift workers" to maintain the daily rhythm of fat metabolism.

When those molecules do not do their jobs, the liver dramatically fills with fat. These findings were reported in the journal Science on March 10, 2011.

View the complete news release: http://www.uphs.upenn.edu/news/News_R...

Learn more about IDOM: http://www.med.upenn.edu/idom/

View Dr. Mitchell Lazar's profile: http://www.pennmedicine.org/wagform/m...