The mitochondrial unfolded protein response is activated upon hematopoietic stem cell exit from quiescence

The mitochondrial unfolded protein response (UPR (mt)), a cellular protective program that ensures proteostasis in the mitochondria, has recently emerged as a regulatory mechanism for adult stem cell maintenance that is conserved across tissues. Despite the emerging genetic evidence implicating the UPR (mt) in stem cell maintenance, the underlying molecular mechanism is unknown. While it has been speculated that the UPR (mt) is activated upon stem cell transition from quiescence to proliferation, the direct evidence is lacking. In this study, we devised three experimental approaches that enable us to monitor quiescent and proliferating hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) and provided the direct evidence that the UPR (mt) is activated upon HSC transition from quiescence to proliferation, and more broadly, mitochondrial integrity is actively monitored at the restriction point to ensure metabolic fitness before stem cells are committed to proliferation.