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Updated: Nov 18, 2025
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Lipid Droplet Isolation for Quantitative Mass Spectrometry Analysis
Published on: April 17, 2017
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Lipid droplets are formed in 2-cell-like cells
Asuka Furuta1, Toshinobu Nakamura1
1Laboratory for Epigenetic Regulation, Department of Bio-Science, Nagahama Institute of Bio-Science and Technology, Shiga 526-0829, Japan.
The Journal of Reproduction and Development
|February 10, 2021
Summary
Embryonic stem cells can transition into totipotent 2-cell-like cells. This transition involves lipid droplet formation and a unique energy pathway, offering new insights into early cell development and pluripotency.
Area of Science:
- Developmental biology
- Stem cell research
- Cellular metabolism
Background:
- Embryonic stem (ES) cells are pluripotent, originating from the blastocyst's inner cell mass.
- These cells typically form embryonic tissues, excluding extraembryonic ones.
- Rare totipotent 2-cell-like (2-C-L) cells, marked by MuERV-L reactivation, appear in ES cell cultures.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the cellular changes during the ES cell to 2-C-L cell transition.
- To identify unique metabolic characteristics of 2-C-L cells.
Main Methods:
- Observation of ES cell cultures.
- Identification of 2-C-L cells via MuERV-L reactivation.
- Analysis of cellular structures, specifically lipid droplets.
Main Results:
- A lipid droplet forms during the ES cell to 2-C-L cell transition.
- This suggests a distinct metabolic state in 2-C-L cells.
Conclusions:
- 2-C-L cells exhibit unique metabolic properties, including lipid droplet formation.
- These cells may utilize a specialized energy storage and production pathway for their totipotent state.
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