Mitochondrial and metabolic plasticity distinguish stem cells from progenitors in the male germline
- 1University of Newcastle
Abstract
Metabolism and mitochondrial remodelling are increasingly recognised as key regulators of stem cell identity, governing the balance between self-renewal and differentiation. Here we compared mitochondrial and metabolic properties of stem and progenitor cells from the male germline using transmission electron microscopy, quantitative proteomics and extracellular flux analysis. While the stem cell-to-progenitor transition was accompanied by increased mitochondrial abundance and cristae density, our analyses unveiled a remarkable and unexpected capacity for spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) to engage oxidative phosphorylation. When oxygen availability was unrestricted, SSCs displayed markedly greater maximal and spare respiratory capacity than progenitors, despite comparable glycolytic flux. SSCs were also enriched for glutathione-dependent antioxidant enzymes and maintained lower basal mitochondrial superoxide levels than progenitors. Collectively, these findings challenge the view that SSCs are predominantly glycolytic and instead identify metabolic plasticity, marked by latent oxidative capacity and enhanced redox control, as a hallmark of the stem cell state.
Related
- Dynamic Responses to an Inflammatory Challenge Distinguish Metabolic Health Across Lean and Obese Individuals
- Inhibiting 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase reveals the mechanisms and limits of metabolic plasticity in developing maize kernels
- OPA1-dependent mitochondrial remodeling coordinates TCR signaling and metabolic adaptation during iNKT cell differentiation
- Mitochondrial transfer mediates metabolic communication between beta cells and islet macrophages
- Mitochondrial genetic effects mediate the response to stress through development, but not adult metabolic rate in Drosophila melanogaster
BibTeX
@misc{damyanova2026mitochondrial,
title = {{Mitochondrial and metabolic plasticity distinguish stem cells from progenitors in the male germline}},
author = {K. B. Damyanova and J. J. Fisher and S. Acharya and B. Nixon and T. Lord},
howpublished = {bioRxiv},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.64898/2026.10.08.757768},
url = {https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.10.08.757768v1},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - UNPB
TI - Mitochondrial and metabolic plasticity distinguish stem cells from progenitors in the male germline
AU - K. B. Damyanova
AU - J. J. Fisher
AU - S. Acharya
AU - B. Nixon
AU - T. Lord
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/08
PB - bioRxiv
DO - 10.64898/2026.10.08.757768
UR - https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.10.08.757768v1
AB - Metabolism and mitochondrial remodelling are increasingly recognised as key regulators of stem cell identity, governing the balance between self-renewal and differentiation. Here we compared mitochondrial and metabolic properties of stem and progenitor cells from the male germline using transmission electron microscopy, quantitative proteomics and extracellular flux analysis. While the stem cell-to-progenitor transition was accompanied by increased mitochondrial abundance and cristae density, our analyses unveiled a remarkable and unexpected capacity for spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) to engage oxidative phosphorylation. When oxygen availability was unrestricted, SSCs displayed markedly greater maximal and spare respiratory capacity than progenitors, despite comparable glycolytic flux. SSCs were also enriched for glutathione-dependent antioxidant enzymes and maintained lower basal mitochondrial superoxide levels than progenitors. Collectively, these findings challenge the view that SSCs are predominantly glycolytic and instead identify metabolic plasticity, marked by latent oxidative capacity and enhanced redox control, as a hallmark of the stem cell state.
ER -