RESULTS

Pyruvate kinase M2, but not M1, allele maintains immature metabolic states of murine embryonic stem cells (Regen. Therap., 1, 63-71, 2015.)

The M2 isoform of pyruvate kinase, the final rate-limiting enzyme of aerobic glycolysis, is expressed during embryonic development, whereas the M1 isoform is expressed in differentiated cells due to alternative splicing.  By utilizing  murine embryonic stem cells (ESCs) ,  Konno et al showed  that the Pkm2 allele plays an important role in establishing intracellular redox conditions and modulating oxidative phosphorylation events to achieve an appropriate ESC differentiation program.