Identification of Feeding Entrainment Mechanisms in a Calorie Restricted Diet
Calorie restriction (CR), a reduction in caloric intake without malnutrition, is a gold standard intervention that extends health and lifespan. The majority of the research in this field has focused on observing changes that occur from restricting calories alone and not the feeding pattern of the animal. A classical CR regimen, where animals are fed once per day have a distinct feeding pattern compared to that of ad libitum fed animal; therefore, the beneficial effect of CR may be driven by a habitual eating pattern which entrains the metabolism to utilize fuel sources efficiently based on time of day. The goal of the proposed project is to discover feeding entrainment mechanisms and understanding how this plays a role in driving the beneficial effects of a CR diet, and ultimately addressing long-standing questions regarding the mechanism by which CR promotes health and lifespan.
