Cultured mouse embryonic stem cells are a heterogeneous population with diverse differentiation potential. In particular, the subpopulation marked by Zscan4 expression has high stem cell potency and shares with 2 cell stage preimplantation embryos both genetic and epigenetic mechanisms that orchestrate zygotic genome activation. Although embryonic de novo genome activation is known to rely on metabolites, a more extensive metabolic characterization is missing. Here we analyze the Zscan4⁺ mouse stem cell metabolic phenotype associated with pluripotency maintenance and cell reprogramming. We show that Zscan4⁺ cells have an oxidative and adaptable metabolism, which, on one hand, fuels a high bioenergetic demand and, on the other hand, provides intermediate metabolites for epigenetic reprogramming. Our findings enhance our understanding of the metastable Zscan4⁺ stem cell state with potential applications in regenerative medicine.

中文翻译：

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ZSCAN4 +小鼠胚胎干细胞具有氧化和灵活的代谢特性。

培养的小鼠胚胎干细胞是具有不同分化潜能的异质群体。特别地，以Zscan4表达为标志的亚群具有高干细胞效力，并且与2个细胞阶段植入前的胚胎共享协调合子基因组激活的遗传和后生机制。尽管已知胚胎从头基因组激活依赖于代谢物，但缺少更广泛的代谢特征。在这里，我们分析与多能性维持和细胞重编程有关的Zscan4 ⁺小鼠干细胞代谢表型。我们显示Zscan4 ⁺细胞具有氧化和适应性的新陈代谢，一方面促进了高的生物能需求，另一方面为表观遗传重编程提供了中间代谢产物。我们的发现增强了我们对亚稳态Zscan4 ⁺干细胞状态的了解，并有望在再生医学中得到应用。