Stochasticity in cellular metabolism and growth: Approaches and consequences

• Published in: Current opinion in systems biology Vol. 8; pp. 131 - 136
• Main Authors: Wehrens, Martijn, Büke, Ferhat, Nghe, Philippe, Tans, Sander J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01-04-2018
• Subjects: Cellular growth; Enzyme expression; Metabolism; Single cells; Stochasticity; Time-lapse microscopy; Stochasticity; Time-lapse microscopy; Metabolism; Enzyme expression; Cellular growth; Single cells
• ISSN: 2452-3100; 2452-3100
• DOI: 10.1016/j.coisb.2018.02.006

Advances in our ability to zoom in on single cells have revealed striking heterogeneity within isogenic populations. Attention has so far focussed predominantly on underlying stochastic variability in regulatory pathways and downstream differentiation events. In contrast, the role of stochasticity in metabolic processes and networks has long remained unaddressed. Here we review recent studies that have begun to overcome key technical challenges in addressing this issue. First findings have already demonstrated that metabolic networks are stochastic in nature, and highlight the plethora of cellular processes that are critically affected by it.
•Single cell data shows that metabolism undergoes stochastic fluctuations.•They produce fluctuations in cellular growth, gene expression, and other phenotypes.•They can be detrimental to populations, but also beneficial.•They raise new questions on the interplay between different enzymes and fluxes.