Fat Cell NAD Transporter SLC25A51 Drives Metabolic Aging and Obesity
Scientists have identified a protein called SLC25A51 that shuttles NAD — a critical energy molecule — into the mitochondria of fat cells. This transporter naturally declines with age in both humans and mice. When researchers deleted it from fat cells, mice developed obesity, insulin resistance, fatty liver, and other hallmarks of metabolic aging. When they boosted its expression, mice were protected from age-related obesity and insulin resistance. The mechanism involves reduced mitochondrial energy burning, impaired fat oxidation, and lower adiponectin — a hormone that keeps metabolism healthy. This research positions SLC25A51 as a potential therapeutic target for age-related metabolic disease and adds important nuance to the growing field of NAD biology in aging.