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Ben Jackson

@btjackson.bsky.social

72 followers 113 following 12 posts

Cell biologist, metabolism enthusiast, incoming anesthesiologist at UCSF | Tri-I MD-PhD in NYC

Posts Replies Media

Ben Jackson @btjackson.bsky.social · 27/02/2026

What I love most about this paper is not only the science but how it harnessed the collaborative energy of two amazing lab mates to create something really special. What a week by @juliabrunner.bsky.social 🥳

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Ben Jackson @btjackson.bsky.social · 26/02/2026

Absolutely gorgeous and meticulous work from @juliabrunner.bsky.social that has been so fun to brainstorm about over the years. Another important reminder that even ‘core’ metabolic pathways are often differentially wired across cell states!

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Ben Jackson @btjackson.bsky.social · 28/04/2025

Thank you so much for the kind words and all your excellent feedback!

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Ben Jackson @btjackson.bsky.social · 28/04/2025

We welcome all feedback and hope you enjoy the paper! /end

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Ben Jackson @btjackson.bsky.social · 28/04/2025

Many other nuggets in the paper that couldn't have been done without my brilliant co-author Angela, the support of @lydiafinley.bsky.social and the lab (@juliabrunner.bsky.social, @katrinaparas.bsky.social and more) and a superb editorial process @naturemetabolism.bsky.social. 7/

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Ben Jackson @btjackson.bsky.social · 28/04/2025

In ESCs, we think pyruvate uptake is especially important in the uterine environment, which has a different nutrient composition (low glucose, high lactate) than plasma or tissue culture media. For more on how NAD+ regeneration is coordinated in other cell types, stay tuned! 6/

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Ben Jackson @btjackson.bsky.social · 28/04/2025

Pyruvate uptake by naive ESCs requires but is not limited by transporter (MCT1) levels. Rather, mitochondrial pyruvate oxidation creates a metabolic gradient that dictates the strength and direction of pyruvate transport. These are some of my favorite experiments in the paper! 5/

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Ben Jackson @btjackson.bsky.social · 28/04/2025

Using embryonic stem cells (ESCs) as a model where cell state is intertwined with TCA cycle dynamics, we show that avid pyruvate uptake from the extracellular environment by naive ESCs is required for NAD+ regeneration in the setting of mitochondrial pyruvate oxidation. 4/

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Ben Jackson @btjackson.bsky.social · 28/04/2025

Any pyruvate that is captured in the mitochondria comes at the expense of NAD+ regeneration in the cytosol by LDH; moreover, the conversion of glucose to pyruvate itself requires NAD+. How do cells that burn glucose-derived pyruvate efficiently regenerate their cytosolic NAD+? 3/

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Ben Jackson @btjackson.bsky.social · 28/04/2025

Across mammalian cell metabolism, pyruvate entry into the TCA cycle is a tightly regulated metabolic node. While TCA cycle oxidation is critical for cellular anabolism, it has important metabolic costs, specifically for cytosolic redox balance. 2/

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Ben Jackson @btjackson.bsky.social · 28/04/2025

I'm excited to share our latest story from the @lydiafinley.bsky.social lab, where we show that it's not just whether cells take up nutrients that matters, but how and where those metabolites are used. Out now in @naturemetabolism.bsky.social: rdcu.be/ejFTs 1/

rdcu.be

Intracellular metabolic gradients dictate dependence on exogenous pyruvate

Nature Metabolism - Jackson et al. provide insight into how metabolic adaptations that accompany cell state transitions drive reliance on exogenous nutrient availability, focusing on pyruvate as a...

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Reposted by Ben Jackson

Katrina Paras @katrinaparas.bsky.social · 20/01/2025

Thrilled that my thesis work in @lydiafinley.bsky.social's lab is out in the world! We found that methotrexate targets a specific metabolic vulnerability in a particularly aggressive form of pediatric rhabdomyosarcoma. Thank you to everyone who contributed to this project over the years!

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Reposted by Ben Jackson

Lydia Finley @lydiafinley.bsky.social · 20/01/2025

Our latest preprint identifies (targetable!) metabolic programs intrinsic to different cancer cell states in rhabdomyosarcoma, out just in time for @katrinaparas.bsky.social's thesis defense tomorrow!

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Ben Jackson @btjackson.bsky.social · 20/01/2025

Thrilled that my first post here is this absolutely monumental work by @katrinaparas.bsky.social and the @lydiafinley.bsky.social lab. It’s been so much fun to watch this story develop; read it if you have any interest in cell state, pediatric cancer, or of course metabolism!

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