Fat metabolism articles from across Nature Portfolio

M⁶A RNA modifications mediate RNA processing and stability. Ceramides are lipid metabolites containing an amino acid-based backbone, which promote metabolic dysfunction. Wang et al. describe a novel m⁶A-dependent regulatory node that tunes ceramide-generating enzymes.

Fatty acids generated through lipolysis are constantly re-esterified into triglycerides in what is known as the glyceride–fatty acid futile cycle. A recent quantification of the activity of this futile cycle in adipocytes suggests that it may have manifold implications for systemic energy homeostasis.

Adipose tissue is highly versatile, dynamic and essential for metabolic health. In 2022, several exciting discoveries provided a high-resolution view of cellular composition and cell–cell communication within the adipose niche, and revealed how adipose tissue communicates with other organs and modulates metabolism during normal and pathophysiological states.

Sustained weight loss and weight maintenance are key challenges for the treatment of obesity. Here, the authors show that a high-protein diet following weight loss can protect against weight regain, through a process dependent on the gut microbiome.

PRDM16 is a key mediator of thermogenic fat, counteracting adipose fibrosis and inflammation. Kajimura and co-authors demonstrate that a CUL2–APPBP2 ubiquitin E3 ligase complex destabilizes the PRDM16 protein, resulting in declined metabolic activity in an age-dependent manner.