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The field of developmental metabolism is experiencing a technological revolution that is opening entirely new fields of inquiry. Advances in metabolomics, small-molecule sensors, single-cell RNA sequencing and computational modeling present new opportunities for exploring cell-specific and tissue-specific metabolic networks, interorgan metabolic communication, and gene-by-metabolite interactions in time and space. Together, these advances not only present a means by which developmental biologists can tackle questions that have challenged the field for centuries, but also present young scientists with opportunities to define new areas of inquiry. These emerging frontiers of developmental metabolism were at the center of a highly interactive 2023 EMBO workshop 'Developmental metabolism: flows of energy, matter, and information'. Here, we summarize key discussions from this forum, emphasizing modern developmental biology's challenges and opportunities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developmental biologists have frequently pushed the frontiers of modern biomedical research. From the discovery and characterization of novel signal transduction pathways to exploring the molecular underpinnings of genetic inheritance, transcription, the cell cycle, cell death and stem cell biology, studies of metazoan development have historically opened new fields of study and consistently revealed previously unforeseen avenues of clinical therapies. From this perspective, it is not surprising that our community is now an integral part of the current renaissance in metabolic research. Amidst the global rise in metabolic syndrome, the discovery of novel signaling roles for metabolites, and the increasing links between altered metabolism and many human diseases, we as developmental biologists can contribute skills and expertise that are uniquely suited for investigating the mechanisms underpinning humanmetabolic health and disease. Here, we summarize the opportunities and challenges that our community faces, and discuss how developmental biologists canmake unique and valuable contributions to the field of metabolism and physiology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the fact that metabolic studies played a prominent role in the early history of developmental biology research, the field of developmental metabolism was largely ignored following the advent of modern molecular biology. Metabolism, however, has recently re-emerged as a focal point of biomedical studies and, as a result, developmental biologists are once again exploring the chemical and energetic forces that shape growth, development and maturation. In May 2017, a diverse group of scientists assembled at the EMBO/EMBL Symposium 'Metabolism in Time and Space' to discuss how metabolism influences cellular and developmental processes. The speakers not only described how metabolic flux adapts to the energetic needs of a developing organism, but also emphasized that metabolism can directly regulate developmental progression. Overall, and as we review here, this interdisciplinary meeting provided a valuable forum to explore the interface between developmental biology and metabolism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An abstract of an article on the role of the C. elegans developmental timing protein LIN-42 in regulating diapause in response to environmental cues is presented.