The Metabolic Blueprint of Mammalian Gastrulation

This study redefines the role of metabolism in mammalian development, revealing how glucose metabolism orchestrates key stages of gastrulation. Through single-cell-resolution imaging of mouse embryos and stem cell models, researchers identified two distinct waves of glucose metabolism: the hexosamine biosynthetic pathway in the epiblast drives cell fate acquisition, while glycolysis guides mesoderm migration and lateral expansion. Glucose influences these processes through specific ERK signaling mechanisms, highlighting its role beyond energy production. By integrating metabolism with genetic and morphogenic factors, this work challenges the traditional view of metabolism as merely housekeeping, providing a new lens to understand developmental biology.