Shogo Sato

Research Interests

Postdoc Position Available

A broad range of physiological functions exhibits daily variations, such as the sleep/wake cycle, the endocrine system, and metabolism, which are precisely controlled by molecular circadian clocks. Importantly, genetic deletion of the circadian clock components results in robust phenotypes related to metabolic disorders and premature aging, while simultaneously the circadian clock functions are reprogrammed by metabolic and epigenetic modifications. Molecular insights of how the circadian clock affiliates with metabolism underscore the interaction between disrupted circadian clockwork, abnormal behavioral rhythms, and metabolic diseases. This points to a potential strategy for the promotion of metabolic health and the treatment of metabolic diseases through systemic and local activation of the circadian regulation of homeostasis. This notion is strongly supported by mounting evidence indicating that dietary intervention exerts beneficial impacts on the circadian core clock machinery and thus clock-controlled metabolic pathways. Undoubtedly, the prevention and treatment of metabolic diseases are placed as a crucial health problem.

Dr. Sato has a broad research background in circadian biology combined with growing knowledge in biochemistry, epigenetics, and metabolism. Especially during his second postdoctoral career in the laboratory of the late Paolo Sassone-Corsi at UCI, he has been tackling the question of how the circadian clock links to metabolic functions. Dr. Sato demonstrated the circadian control of metabolic pathways is reprogramed by aging, which is rescued by caloric restriction (Sato et al., Cell 2017). More recently, Dr. Sato investigated the time-dependent impact of exercise, revealing exercise at the early active phase (fasted phase) exerts robust metabolic responses in skeletal muscle (Sato et al., Cell Metab 2019) and illustrating the atlas of exercise metabolism unique to different exercise timing (Sato et al., Cell under revision). Lastly, Dr. Sato discovered a novel non-canonical role played by the circadian clock specific to pluripotent stem cells (Sato et al., in preparation). Taken together, his past/ongoing studies contribute to the accumulation of evidence underscoring a healthy lifestyle relied on biological clocks.

The goals of Sato lab will be to 1) achieve a fundamental understanding of the intertwined link between metabolism, epigenetics, and the circadian clock, and 2) establish translational interventions targeting the circadian clock system to promote human health by using molecular, biochemical, physiological, and bioinformatics approaches.

Laboratory Details

Laboratory Address:
Biological Sciences Building West
Room 309