Command centers for metabolic control can be in the most unexpected places

Energy homeostasis is achieved by integration of acute and chronic regulatory mechanisms that control uptake and utilization of substrates and their exchange between tissues. The existence of a number of differentially regulated pathways capable of regulating cellular fatty acid utilization has been documented recently. As in the case of glucose, these pathways provide an adaptive mechanism either at the level of the cell or between tissues to regulate nutrient distribution to match changing cellular needs. Since fatty acid and glucose homeostasis are inextricably linked, these new pathways contribute to overall metabolic regulation and are integral to peripheral glucose utilization and insulin responsiveness.