title: What makes the cell differentiate?
abstract: In the present paper, I propose a hypothesis whereby the necessity to maintain the permanent energy-dissipating metabolic flux represents the primary force that determines the eukaryotic cell's choice to grow, divide and/or differentiate. This view is based on the universal structure and the strict redox neutrality of the core metabolic network. I propose that the direct substrate level coupling between metabolism and gene expression through epigenetic mechanisms provides a mechanistic explanation of how this control is implemented.
authors.affiliation: Inserm, U951, Genethon, Université d'Evry, Evry F91002, France. paldi@genethon.fr
authors.forename: Andras
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Paldi
mesh_terms: D002454:Cell Differentiation; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D010100:Oxygen / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D010100:Oxygen