Chapter 8 Energy Metabolism of Cellular Activation, Growth, and Transformation

Abstract

Biological cells have the ability to regulate their energy metabolism such that, in the steady state, energy production equals energy consumption. Cells placed in culture require different amounts of energy when they are growing as compared to the quiescent state. Growth activation of quiescent cells causes a rapid increase in metabolic rate and substantial changes in metabolic patterns to sustain the increased metabolic demand. Similarly, differentiation and malignant transformation also elicit fundamental alterations in metabolic rates and patterns within the affected cells. This chapter provides examples of the metabolic control in a variety of tissues to discuss the changes in energy metabolism that occur during activation, growth, and differentiation. The chapter describes metabolic control in renal cells as an example of this process in cells that normally maintain a relatively constant metabolic rate. It also provides a variety of examples of energy activation used by adult cells that are quiescent most of the time but can be rapidly activated. The changes in energy metabolism are described that occur when cells are placed in culture and in cells that undergo malignant transformation.