Timing is everything

Time-restricted feeding regulates lipid metabolism and muscle endurance differently when restricted to the day versus the night. Recently, Chen et al. identified that the timing of AMPKα2 signalling in adipocytes enhances endurance in mice by modulating diurnal rhythms in skeletal muscle.

Multi-omics on adipocytes from mice entrained to different time-restricted feeding modes showed circadian rhythmicity of lipid metabolism and nutrient-sensing pathways. The authors found AMPKα2 expression in adipocytes regulates multiple metabolites including acyl-CoA. Furthermore, impairing AMPKα2 expression in adipocytes prevented the rhythmic muscle responses generated by time-restricted feeding. Small-molecule activation of AMPK improved exercise endurance when administered at certain times of the day that corresponded to a reverse-phase feeding mode.