The body clock controls fat metabolism in fat cells

Researchers identified a mitochondrial transport protein, SLC25A34, as a link between the circadian rhythm (the internal 24-hour clock), diet, and temperature in fat cells. This protein controls how much fatty acid is moved within the mitochondria, the energy-producing structures of the cell. The study, published in Science, shows that the expression of this protein fluctuates strongly across the day, driven by the circadian clock.

Clock, food, and temperature act together

The notable finding is that not only the time of day matters, but also what and when you eat, and the ambient temperature. These three factors together determine how active SLC25A34 is in fat cells, and therefore how efficiently those cells process fats. When the timing of meals does not align with the cell’s internal clock rhythm, fat metabolism can become dysregulated.

This connects to research on time-restricted eating, which restricts meals to a defined window of the day and shows that meal timing influences metabolic health independently of calorie intake. This new study offers a molecular explanation for part of that effect, though it represents a specific study that requires further confirmation.

Relevance for aging and metabolism

As we age, circadian rhythms weaken. Sleep patterns shift, clock genes are expressed less robustly, and coordination between organs declines. If a disrupted circadian rhythm impairs fat metabolism through proteins like SLC25A34, that could contribute to the metabolic problems many people experience later in life, including increased risks of excess body fat and glucose dysregulation. This connection has not yet been directly demonstrated and warrants further investigation.

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