Fine-tuning Metabolic Switches

Caitlin Sedwick

doi:10.1371/journal.pbio.1001664

Abstract

Fine-tuning Metabolic Switches

Highlights

Cells get the energy for most of their activities in the form of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which is generated through the breakdown of glucose and lipid molecules
Partial breakdown of a single glucose molecule through glycolysis yields 2 ATP molecules; and when glycolysis is followed by pyruvate decarboxylation and the tricarboxcylic acid (TCA) cycle, a cell can eke out between 30 and 38 ATP molecules per molecule of glucose
Disruptions to metabolic conditions are dangerous to many organisms, because while glycolysis can occur in the absence of oxygen the TCA cycle cannot

Summary

Introduction

Cells get the energy for most of their activities in the form of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which is generated through the breakdown of glucose and lipid molecules. Fine-tuning of the glycolytic pathway can be critical to meet cells’ energy needs in certain scenarios, as a pair of papers published in this month’s PLOS Biology demonstrate. If Hand1’s expression changes around the time of birth, the group reasoned, it’s possible Hand1 might be involved in the observed metabolic switch.

Results

Conclusion