Cell Fate Decisions: Emerging Roles for Metabolic Signals and Cell Morphology
November 2017
in “
EMBO Reports
”
metabolic signals cell morphology reactive oxygen species ROS intracellular pH pHi metabolic reprogramming glycolysis oxidative phosphorylation stem cell differentiation epigenetic regulation acetyl-CoA S-adenosyl methionine SAM histone modifications DNA modifications cell shape cell pH metabolic changes stem cell changes gene regulation histone changes DNA changes
TLDR Metabolic signals and cell shape influence how cells develop and change.
The document reviewed the emerging roles of metabolic signals and cell morphology in cell fate decisions, emphasizing their influence on stem cell maintenance, differentiation, and function. It highlighted how metabolic pathways like AMPK, mTOR, and glycolysis, as well as metabolic reprogramming involving acetyl-CoA and mitochondrial activity, regulate stem cell pluripotency and differentiation. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and intracellular pH (pHi) dynamics were shown to be crucial for stem cell self-renewal and differentiation, with low ROS levels necessary for maintaining primitive hematopoietic stem cells. Mechanical cues from the extracellular matrix and cell adhesion, mediated by integrins and actin dynamics, also played significant roles in influencing cell fate. The integration of these metabolic and morphological signals was essential for proper cell fate determination and tissue regeneration, with potential applications in regenerative medicine and cancer treatment.
