Lipid metabolism in focus: how the build-up and breakdown of lipids affects stem cells

ABSTRACT Cellular metabolism has recently emerged as a key regulator of stem cell behavior. Various studies have suggested that metabolic regulatory mechanisms are conserved in different niches, suggesting common level regulation across tissues. Although the balance between glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation been shown to be distinct cells their differentiated progeny, much less is known about lipid regulation. In this Review, we focus on how affected by two major pathways: build-up lipids, called de novo lipogenesis, breakdown fatty acid beta-oxidation. We cover recent literature hematopoietic cells, intestinal neural stem/progenitor cancer where these pathways studied more depth.