Metabolic strategies of epidermal stem cells

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Rudolf Wiesner
• Subject Area: Dermatology ; Anatomy and Physiology
• Term: from 2007 to 2017
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 50029202

We showed that epidermal progenitor/stem cells (EPSCs) in vivo are independent of the mitochondrial electron transport chain (ETC) and can use glycolysis alone to cover their energy demand. In the present application, we will use gene expression profiling as well as high-resolution polarography to characterize the metabolic phenotype of highly purified mouse EPSCs and hair follicle bulge stem cells (HFBSCs). We will also determine whether these cells have a capacity for adaption after genetic inactivation of the ETC in vivo. In parallel, we will generate mice with ETC inactivation specifically in HFBSCs and characterize their phenotype to show if our initial findings in EPSCs can be extended to other SCs populations. A mouse model with inactivation of Hypoxia Inducible Factor 1alpha (HIF1alpha) as well as the ETC in EPSCs will show if HIF1alpha is crucial for their metabolic strategy as well as their adaptation.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• Co-Investigator: Dr. Olivier Baris