Figure 3.
Stem cell biology and metabolism. Various recent mouse models have linked the intracellular metabolism of stem cells with certain specific alterations. For instance, mice deficient in a variety of kinases (ATM), transcription factors (FoxO family), or chromatin modifiers (Bmi1) exhibit alterations in mitochondrial function or redox homeostasis. Similarly, disruption of genes involved in energy sensing (LKB1) or regulation of metabolic enzymes (PDK2 and PDK4) alter stem cell metabolism. These models in turn appear to exhibit profound defects in stem cell function including alterations in stem cell self-renewal capacity or maintenance of quiescence.