HIF1 and the reprogramming of metabolism in somitogenesis
In collaboration with Dr. Mark Lewandoski at NCI, we recently established that HIF-1 is critical for spine development as its loss in the presomitic mesoderm impairs somitogenesis and causes spine and rib malformations that closely mimic those observed in patients with Jarcho-Levin Syndrome, a rare form of spondylothoracic dysplasia. A manuscript reporting those findings is in preparation.We are currently investigating whether the impairment of somitogenesis secondary to loss of HIF-1 is due to dysregulation of glycolysis and mitochondrial function in the presomitic mesoderm.