Cover Story Current Issue

Maternal nutrition exerts profound and lasting effects on infant development, with implications extending beyond somatic growth to long-term brain function and metabolic health. For example, newborns from mothers with obesity or diabetes exhibit increased susceptibility to metabolic disorders, including insulin resistance (IR) and type 2 diabetes (T2D), often emerging in childhood or adolescence. While genetic inheritance contributes to this intergenerational risk, early-life nutritional exposures are increasingly recognized as primary drivers of persistent metabolic programming. Among key classes of nutrients, branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs)—leucine, isoleucine, and valine—have emerged as potent modulators of metabolic health in human adults. Elevated circulating BCAAs are among the most accurate predictors of future insulin resistance (IR) and T2D, with a two-fold increase in serum levels conferring a 2.5-fold risk of diabetes onset within 6–10 years. This elevation can directly cause organ toxicity, exacerbating metabolic deficits in a feed-forward loop. However, the extent to which maternal BCAA overnutrition during gestation and lactation impacts offspring metabolic programming and predisposes to dysfunction remains unclear.

Full text

 

Current Issue

Nuclear functional role of metabolic enzymes and related metabolites: Focus on gene expression regulation

Simona Todisco, Dominga Iacobazzi, Anna Santarsiero, Paolo Convertini, Vittoria Infantino

Nuclear functional role of metabolic enzymes and related metabolites: Focus on gene expression regulation

 

 

Background

Many biological processes from physiological development to different pathological conditions are closely linked to dynamic energetic metabolism and its dysregulations. Mounting evidence shows that metabolic rewiring allows cells to adapt to stress conditions, changes in extracellular cues, and nutritional fluctuations in a timely and precise manner by modulating gene expression. Recent studies reveal non-strictly metabolic functions of metabolic enzymes and related metabolites often confined to the nucleus. Indeed, beyond the diffusion of metabolites through nuclear pores, several metabolic enzymes translocate to the nucleus during cellular differentiation, macrophage activation, tumorigenesis, and so on.

Scope of review

This review aims to outline recent advances in the nuclear functions of metabolic enzymes, focusing on gene expression regulation through transcription factors and epigenetic mechanisms.

Major conclusions

The nuclear localization of metabolic enzymes and metabolites underlines the dual role of metabolism as both a driver and a controller of cellular processes by linking energy metabolism directly to gene expression and cellular reprogramming. The main involvement of respiratory enzymes in nuclear functions suggests a ready interplay between energy status and transcriptional regulation. We trust that these insights will contribute to a more extensive knowledge of the cellular and nuclear landscape and could inspire future investigations on metabolic-mediated gene regulation mechanisms with the aim of developing more effective therapies against diseases.

 

Articles in Press

Nuclear functional role of metabolic enzymes and related metabolites: Focus on gene expression regulation

Simona Todisco, Dominga Iacobazzi, Anna Santarsiero, Paolo Convertini, Vittoria Infantino

Nuclear functional role of metabolic enzymes and related metabolites: Focus on gene expression regulation

 

 

Background

Many biological processes from physiological development to different pathological conditions are closely linked to dynamic energetic metabolism and its dysregulations. Mounting evidence shows that metabolic rewiring allows cells to adapt to stress conditions, changes in extracellular cues, and nutritional fluctuations in a timely and precise manner by modulating gene expression. Recent studies reveal non-strictly metabolic functions of metabolic enzymes and related metabolites often confined to the nucleus. Indeed, beyond the diffusion of metabolites through nuclear pores, several metabolic enzymes translocate to the nucleus during cellular differentiation, macrophage activation, tumorigenesis, and so on.

Scope of review

This review aims to outline recent advances in the nuclear functions of metabolic enzymes, focusing on gene expression regulation through transcription factors and epigenetic mechanisms.

Major conclusions

The nuclear localization of metabolic enzymes and metabolites underlines the dual role of metabolism as both a driver and a controller of cellular processes by linking energy metabolism directly to gene expression and cellular reprogramming. The main involvement of respiratory enzymes in nuclear functions suggests a ready interplay between energy status and transcriptional regulation. We trust that these insights will contribute to a more extensive knowledge of the cellular and nuclear landscape and could inspire future investigations on metabolic-mediated gene regulation mechanisms with the aim of developing more effective therapies against diseases.

 

SAVE THE DATE!

13th
Helmholtz Diabetes Conference 
Munich, 21-23. Sep 2026                                                                                                                             

2024 impact factor: 6.6

You are what you eat

Here is a video of Vimeo. When the iframes is activated, a connection to Vimeo is established and, if necessary, cookies from Vimeo are also used. For further information on cookies policy click here.

Auf Werbeinhalte, die vor, während oder nach Videos von WEBSITE-URL eingeblendet werden, hat WEBSITE-URL keinen Einfluss. Wir übernehmen keine Gewähr für diese Inhalte. Weitere Informationen finden Sie hier.