Lac-Phe: a central metabolic regulator and biomarker

N-lactoyl-phenylalanine (Lac-Phe), an exercise-induced metabolite that suppresses appetite, has quickly emerged as a key molecule in metabolic signaling networks. Lac-Phe, following its CNDP2-mediated synthesis, mediates key appetite- and weight-modulating effects of metformin, which acts primarily by mitochondrial inhibition in gut epithelial cells. Both Lac-Phe and related N-lactoyl-amino acids serve as potent biomarkers of mitochondrial dysfunction. Elevated levels of these metabolites are found in genetic mitochondrial diseases, offering potentially superior prognostic value compared to lactate in conditions alike. Despite uncertainties regarding its specific receptor(s) and signaling mechanisms, the expanding roles of Lac-Phe underscore its critical position at the intersection of exercise physiology, pharmacology, energy metabolism, and disease pathology, suggesting significant potential for future diagnostics and therapeutics in mitochondrial and metabolic disorders.