Each tissue in the body has different requirements for metabolism, or how it uses energy to function — for example, a muscle needs different molecules to fuel a contraction compared to a pancreas that produces insulin. But because metabolic pathways are the same across tissues, it is not fully understood how each tissue regulates which one to predominantly use for its own specific needs. In a new study published in the journal Science, Harvard University researchers have identified a mechanism that controls the emergence of early precursors for red blood cells by regulating a metabolic program. By studying how red blood cells develop in zebrafish, the researchers found that a specific DNA-binding protein controls metabolism in the mitochondria. The pathway can be potentially targeted in diseases such as anemia to restore red blood cell production.
