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Updated: Jul 19, 2025

Probing for Mitochondrial Complex Activity in Human Embryonic Stem Cells
Published on: June 17, 2008
The Key Role of Mitochondria in Somatic Stem Cell Differentiation: From Mitochondrial Asymmetric Apportioning to Cell
Ilario Amato1, Sébastien Meurant1, Patricia Renard1,2
1Ressearch Unit in Cell Biology (URBC), Namur Research Institute for Life Sciences (Narilis), University of Namur (UNamur), 5000 Namur, Belgium.
Abstract:
The study of the mechanisms underlying stem cell differentiation is under intensive research and includes the contribution of a metabolic switch from glycolytic to oxidative metabolism. While mitochondrial biogenesis has been previously demonstrated in number of differentiation models, it is only recently that the role of mitochondrial dynamics has started to be explored. The discovery of asymmetric distribution of mitochondria in stem cell progeny has strengthened the interest in the field. This review attempts to summarize the regulation of mitochondrial asymmetric apportioning by the mitochondrial fusion, fission, and mitophagy processes as well as emphasize how asymmetric mitochondrial apportioning in stem cells affects their metabolism, and thus epigenetics, and determines cell fate.
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