Title: Revisiting lactate metabolism in energy homeostasis            

 

Lactate’s role in biochemistry and physiology has attracted considerable biochemical interest for over a century. Beyond its classical description as glycolytic byproduct, lactate is now recognized as a central energy metabolite, a redox shuttle, and a signaling molecule. In this seminar, I will discuss our work on an unexpected new dimension of lactate biology: lactate as a precursor for a bioactive lactate-derived metabolite called Lac-Phe. Lac-Phe levels rise upon increased glycolytic flux (e.g., exercise) or reduced mitochondrial oxidative capacity (e.g., metformin) and acts centrally to regulate food intake and body weight. Genetic studies have identified intestinal epithelial CNDP2+ cells as primary source of Lac-Phe production. Lastly I will discuss recent work identifying Lac-Phe transporters and how genetic mouse models clarify the role of these transporters in regulating Lac-Phe levels.

                   

Dr. Jonathan Long is an Associate Professor of Pathology and an Institute Scholar of Stanford ChEM-H (Chemistry, Engineering & Medicine for Human Health). His laboratory studies the molecular mechanisms of mammalian energy homeostasis. Dr. Long is the recipient of the Alfred P. Sloan Research Fellowship in Chemistry, the Breakthrough Sciences Award from the Ono Pharma Foundation, and the NIDDK Catalyst Award. Prior to arriving to Stanford, Dr. Long completed his Ph.D. in Chemistry at Scripps Research and his postdoctoral work at Harvard Medical School.