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.

1. Sato, S, Hashimoto, Y, Sakamoto, A, Nakano, S, Yoshimura, M, Yamanokuchi, T et al.. Changes in Retinal Hemodynamics in the Optic Nerve Head of Healthy Participants Measured Using Laser Speckle Flowgraphy after a Cold Pressor Test. Korean J Ophthalmol. 2024;38 (2):147-155. doi: 10.3341/kjo.2023.0063. PubMed PMID:38476060 PubMed Central PMC11016682.
2. Kanno, C, Sato, S, Maeda, Y, Ando, R, Park, CH, Kawaguchi, H et al.. Epididymitis with Pasteurella multocida isolated from two male Japanese Black beef calves. Reprod Domest Anim. 2024;59 (3):e14550. doi: 10.1111/rda.14550. PubMed PMID:38465367 .
3. Sato, S, Kanno, C, Ando, R, Ono, HK, Nakamura, T, Hashimoto, Y et al.. Surgical treatment of bovine nasal granuloma and an allergological exploration. Vet Res Commun. 2024; :. doi: 10.1007/s11259-024-10343-x. PubMed PMID:38443589 .
4. Ando, R, Okada, N, Sato, S, Kanno, C, Maeda, Y, Iamohbhars, N et al.. Cardiac tumor comprising a malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor and spontaneous atrial osseous metaplasia in a sheep. J Vet Med Sci. 2024;86 (1):111-115. doi: 10.1292/jvms.23-0247. PubMed PMID:37967950 PubMed Central PMC10849854.
5. Bennett, S, Sato, S. Metabolic elasticity: A new measure of age. Cell Metab. 2023;35 (9):1495-1497. doi: 10.1016/j.cmet.2023.08.006. PubMed PMID:37673034 .
6. Sato, S, Yokokawa, H, Hosobuchi, M, Kataoka, J. A simulation study of in-beam visualization system for proton therapy by monitoring scattered protons. Front Med (Lausanne). 2023;10 :1038348. doi: 10.3389/fmed.2023.1038348. PubMed PMID:37521357 PubMed Central PMC10375415.
7. Sato, S, Hishida, T, Kinouchi, K, Hatanaka, F, Li, Y, Nguyen, Q et al.. The circadian clock CRY1 regulates pluripotent stem cell identity and somatic cell reprogramming. Cell Rep. 2023;42 (6):112590. doi: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112590. PubMed PMID:37261952 .
8. Sato, T, Sato, S. Circadian Regulation of Metabolism: Commitment to Health and Diseases. Endocrinology. 2023;164 (7):. doi: 10.1210/endocr/bqad086. PubMed PMID:37253106 .
9. Sato, S, Kakizaki, T, Kondo, K, Kanno, C, Maeda, Y, Ando, R et al.. Arnold Chiari malformation classified as Chiari 1.5 malformation in a Japanese black calf. J Vet Med Sci. 2023;85 (5):546-550. doi: 10.1292/jvms.22-0463. PubMed PMID:37019664 PubMed Central PMC10209467.
10. Bennett, S, Sato, S. Enhancing the metabolic benefits of exercise: Is timing the key?. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2023;14 :987208. doi: 10.3389/fendo.2023.987208. PubMed PMID:36875451 PubMed Central PMC9974656.