Research Overview

The Cluntun Lab is focused on understanding how metabolism drives cellular decisions, influences organ function, and shapes disease progression. Lactate is the second most abundant metabolite in circulation after glucose. With the heart being the highest consumer of lactate among organs and a critical site of energy demand, we investigate how lactate metabolism regulates cardiac function. Given that heart disease remains the leading cause of death worldwide, our research aims to uncover the metabolic underpinnings of cardiac health and disease. We study how lactate not only fuels cells but also intersects with signaling pathways, gene expression, and protein activity, particularly through post-translational modifications like lactoylation, which can affect both normal physiology and disease states.

Using a combination of molecular, cellular, and biochemical techniques—including stable isotope tracing, high-resolution mass spectrometry, metabolomics, ChIP-seq, and primary cultured cardiomyocytes—our lab seeks to elucidate the role of lactate in cardiac function and its contribution to pathologies such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and ischemic injury. While our primary focus is the heart, we also explore how metabolic dysregulation impacts other diseases and organs, aiming to identify therapeutic targets across a broad range of conditions. Through our interdisciplinary approach, we aim to bridge fundamental biological discoveries with their translational potential, advancing our understanding of metabolism’s profound impact on human health.