The circadian clock control of adipose tissue physiology and metabolism

Abstract

The circadian clock organizes the timing of physiological processes in anticipation of diurnal environmental changes that originate from the rotation of the Earth. Several of the metabolic functions of adipose tissues are under regulation by the circadian clock to achieve temporal coordination and whole body homeostasis. Adipose tissues, once believed to only express physiological phenotypes that are downstream of central nervous system regulation, are now well described to communicate not only to other peripheral tissues, but also to the central nervous system for temporal orchestration of metabolism. In this review, we will cover the involvement of the circadian clocks, both master and adipocyte clocks, in the regulation of adipose tissue physiology and the associated consequences for energy homeostasis.