BMAL1 and Hepatic steatosis: In line with this model, the Fsp27/Cidec mRNA coding for a protein promoting lipid droplet formation that serves as a marker of liver steatosis displayed a high amplitude rhythm with a phase preceding the peak of droplets in MCDD fed mice, and this gene was previously reported to be bound by the CLOCK:BMAL1 heterodimer despite being not expressed in healthy liver46 .