Advances in applications of metabolomics in pluripotent stem cell research

Stem cells undergo extensive metabolic rewiring during reprogramming, proliferation and differentiation, and numerous studies have demonstrated a significant role of metabolism in controlling stem cell fates. Recent applications of metabolomics, the study of concentrations and fluxes of small molecules in cells, have advanced efforts to characterize and maturate stem cell fates, assess drug toxicity in stem cell tissue models, identify biomarkers, and study the effects of environment on metabolic pathways in stem cells and their progeny. Looking to the future, combining metabolomics with other -omics approaches will provide a deeper understanding of the complex regulatory mechanisms of stem cells.