Use of a Drosophila model to study circadian control of metabolic health. (360G-Wellcome-207313_Z_17_Z)

Internal daily timekeeping systems known as circadian clocks are used by all types of organisms to regulate their metabolism. For example, the clock-controlled scheduling of food intake and use affects health and longevity in both mammals and insects. Time-restricted or nutrient-restricted feeding improves the health of both mice and fruit flies (Panda, Science 2016). The period gene, which plays a key role in the circadian clocks of animals, provides a link between daily timekeeping and metabolic health. Flies lacking the period gene store less glycogen and triglycerides in spite of ingesting more food and are, therefore, more sensitive to starvation. I propose to test where and how the period gene provides this metabolic function. In particular, I will ask whether its role in starvation resistance is due to its control of sleep/wake rhythms or its function in periperhal clocks of metabolic tissues such as the fat body. Moreover, Dr Wijnen's laboratory recently showed that the period gene is induced at colder temperatures (Goda et al., Proc Biosci 2014) and I will test whether period-mediated starvation resistance is found preferentially at colder temperatures.