Ina and María J. Rodríguez-Colman have co-authored a new perspective in Cell Stem Cell titled “Signaling switches: Metabolism regulates gastruloid self-organization”. This article discusses how metabolic activity influences gastruloid formation from mouse embryonic stem cells, revealing that the balance between glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation plays a crucial role in regulating the self-organizing behavior of these in vitro models of early development.
The authors highlight recent studies that demonstrate how metabolic shifts can act as signaling switches, affecting the patterning and morphogenesis of gastruloids. By integrating metabolic and signaling pathways, this work provides new insights into the dynamic regulation of early developmental processes.