Leucine and Arginine Availability Modulate Mouse Embryonic Stem Cell Proliferation and Metabolism

Overview

Journal Int J Mol Sci

Publisher MDPI

Specialties Biochemistry
Chemistry
Molecular Biology

Date 2022 Nov 26

PMID 36430764

Authors

Bibiana Correia

Maria Ines Sousa

Ana Filipa Branco

Ana Sofia Rodrigues

Joao Ramalho-Santos

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Amino acids are crucial nutrients involved in several cellular and physiological processes, including fertilization and early embryo development. In particular, Leucine and Arginine have been shown to stimulate implantation, as lack of both in a blastocyst culture system is able to induce a dormant state in embryos. The aim of this work was to evaluate the effects of Leucine and Arginine withdrawal on pluripotent mouse embryonic stem cell status, notably, their growth, self-renewal, as well as glycolytic and oxidative metabolism. Our results show that the absence of both Leucine and Arginine does not affect mouse embryonic stem cell pluripotency, while reducing cell proliferation through cell-cycle arrest. Importantly, these effects are not related to Leukemia Inhibitory Factor (LIF) and are reversible when both amino acids are reconstituted in the culture media. Moreover, a lack of these amino acids is related to a reduction in glycolytic and oxidative metabolism and decreased protein translation in mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs), while maintaining their pluripotent status.

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