Feeding quickly resets the liver’s daily clock by rapidly increasing Per2 and Dec1 gene activity in rats

A 30 min feeding stimulus significantly induced the expression of Per2 and Dec1 within 1 hour in rat livers.

• The food-entrainable liver clock is more adaptable than the light-entrainable master clock and can reset at any time of day.
• Different feeding stimuli altered the expression and timing of multiple clock genes, including Bmal1, Cry1, Per1, Per3, Dec2, and Rev-erba.
• Among the clock genes studied, Per2 showed the highest sensitivity to food cues, responding to even minimal food intake.
• A 12-hour phase shift in Per2 could be rapidly achieved through feeding changes, independent of light/dark cycle shifts.
• Feeding-induced resetting of the liver's circadian clock is linked to the quick activation of Per2 and Dec1.

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