FGF21: a missing link in the biology of fasting.
A sufficient energy supply is essential for life; consequently, multiple mechanisms have evolved to ensure both energy availability and conservation during fasting and starvation. Two reports in this issue of Cell Metabolism (Badman et al., 2007; Inagaki et al., 2007) demonstrate that FGF21, a circulating protein produced in the liver in response to the PPARalpha transcription factor, is a "missing link" in the biology of fasting, inducing adipose tissue lipolysis, liver ketogenesis, and metabolic adaptation to the fasting state.
Reitman
Marc L
ML
Department of Metabolic Disorders, Merck Research Laboratories, Rahway, NJ 07065, USA. marc_reitman@merck.com
D005215:Fasting / Q000502:physiology*; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D047493:PPAR alpha / Q000502:physiology
D047493:PPAR alpha; C414620:fibroblast growth factor 21; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors