(211f) Integrated Regulation of Amino Acid and Fatty Acid Metabolism

Metabolism is central to virtually all cellular functions and contributes to a range of diseases.  A detailed understanding of how biochemical pathways are regulated is necessary to understand and control cell function.  Quantitative information describing the flow of metabolites through biochemical networks provides critical insights into how different nutrients contribute to energy metabolism and biosynthesis.  To this end we apply stable isotope tracers, mass spectrometry, and metabolic flux analysis (MFA) to study central metabolism in mammalian cells.  Using these approaches we have characterized how proliferating and differentiated cells regulate flux of glucose and amino acids into mitochondria for biosynthesis. Through this analysis we have characterized how these critical metabolic pathways are influenced by nutrient availability and the cellular microenvironment. Ultimately, the application of MFA to these cellular models has improved our ability to characterize intracellular metabolic processes, providing a mechanistic understanding of cellular physiology and metabolic function.