Several other nuclear-localized metabolic enzymes may play similar roles in regulating chromatin dynamics and gene expression programs during cellular differentiation and development. One example is hexokinase 2 (HK2), which has been shown to localize to the nucleus of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells and influence stem cell function independently of its metabolic function. Nuclear HK2 has been implicated in regulating gene expression, DNA repair, and apoptosis, highlighting its non-canonical roles in cellular processes.
Another example is glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), which can translocate to the nucleus and bind to DNA, influencing gene expression and DNA repair mechanisms. Nuclear GAPDH has been shown to play a role in maintaining telomere length and regulating apoptosis, demonstrating its involvement in chromatin dynamics and gene expression regulation.
Overall, these examples suggest that various metabolic enzymes may have non-canonical functions in the nucleus that contribute to the regulation of chromatin dynamics and gene expression programs during cellular differentiation and development.