Uncovering the molecular effectors of diet and exercise

Despite the profound effects of nutrition and physical activity on human health, our understanding of the molecules mediating the salutary effects of specific foods or activities remains remarkably limited. Here, we share our ongoing studies that use unbiased and high-resolution metabolomics technologies to uncover the molecules and molecular effectors of diet and exercise. We describe how exercise stimulates the production of Lac-Phe, a blood-borne signaling metabolite that suppresses feeding and obesity. Ablation of Lac-Phe biosynthesis in mice increases food intake and obesity after exercise. We also describe the discovery of an orphan metabolite, BHB-Phe. Ketosis-inducible BHB-Phe is a congener of exercise-inducible Lac-Phe, produced in CNDP2+ cells when levels of BHB are high, and functions to lower body weight and adiposity in ketosis. Our data uncover an unexpected and underappreciated signaling role for metabolic fuel derivatives in mediating the cardiometabolic benefits of diet and exercise. These data also suggest that diet and exercise may mediate their physiologic effects on energy balance via a common family of molecules and overlapping signaling pathways.