UCLA Scientists Uncover Metabolic Molecule Accelerating Stem Cell Differentiation
University of California, Los Angeles/Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research (BSCRC) – Researchers at the UCLA BSCRC and the Laboratory of Dr. Michael Teitell have discovered that an intermediary metabolic molecule, α-ketoglutarate, is a significant factor in accelerating the differentiation of pluripotent stem cells into specialized cell types. This study, published online in press today in the journal Cell Metabolism, displays a foundation on which future work can be focused on studying how metabolite production promotes stem cell differentiation.