Centre of Excellence in Metabolic Integration (MetaScale)

Katajisto, Pekka UH; Balboa, Diego UH; Helle, Emmi UH; Hietakangas, Ville Ilmari UH; Ikonen, Elina Maria UH; Najumudeen, Arafath Kaja UH; Wartiovaara, Anu UH

Metabolism constitutes the chemical foundations of life. In living organisms, such as humans, metabolism is divided into compartments. In these compartments, each cell organ, cell and tissue has its own internal metabolism. However, the separate metabolic compartments are interconnected as they exchange metabolites in a strictly regulated manner. The compartments form an interconnected and integrated metabolic network, where a change in one compartment is also reflected in another compartment.

The Centre of Excellence in Metabolic Integration (MetaScale) will explore how metabolic networks develop as cells differentiate and how they respond to external changes. In many diseases, such as diabetes or mitochondrial diseases, metabolism works in an abnormal manner. The CoE also aims to understand how the functioning of metabolic networks becomes disturbed in these conditions. This information will be applied to developing new precision therapies.