BioAcyl Corp

The clock coordinates appropriate metabolic responses within peripheral tissues with the light-dark cycle. For example, the liver clock promotes gluconeogenesis and glycogenolysis during the sleep/fasting period, while it promotes glycogen and cholesterol synthesis during the wake/feeding period. Proper functioning of peripheral clocks keeps metabolic processes in sync with the environment, which is critical for maintaining health of the organism. Different tissues exhibit distinct clock-controlled properties thus ablation of the clock in certain tissues will cause opposing effects on metabolic function as uncovered through dynamic challenges at different times in the cycle under different nutrient conditions. Aging, diet, and environmental disruption such as shift-work may also impact the integration of circadian and metabolic systems.