Difference between revisions of "Neuroenergetics: Importance of transport for the regulation of energy substrate fluxes in brain cells"
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| + | == Description of the project == | ||
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'''Background''': Brain cells were shown to rely on two energy subtrates to sustain their activity: glucose and lactate. Each of these substrates are taken up by brain cells via specific transporters and metabolized in classical biochemical pathways. The critical question remains: Between metabolism and transport, what is the limiting step for the utilization of each energy substrate under resting vs. activated condition? | '''Background''': Brain cells were shown to rely on two energy subtrates to sustain their activity: glucose and lactate. Each of these substrates are taken up by brain cells via specific transporters and metabolized in classical biochemical pathways. The critical question remains: Between metabolism and transport, what is the limiting step for the utilization of each energy substrate under resting vs. activated condition? | ||
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'''Supervisors''': [[User:LucPellerin|Luc Pellerin]] & [[Aitana Morton de Lachapelle]] | '''Supervisors''': [[User:LucPellerin|Luc Pellerin]] & [[Aitana Morton de Lachapelle]] | ||
| − | '''Reference''': | + | '''Reference''': <biblio>#barros pmid=15749163</biblio> |
| + | |||
| + | == Course outline == | ||
| + | |||
| + | '''1st meeting''': Fr. 27/2/09 ([[Luc Pellerin]] & [[Aitana Morton de Lachapelle]]) | ||
| + | * Biological introduction + literature to read. Discussion of the goals of the project. | ||
---- | ---- | ||
| − | + | ||
| + | '''2nd meeting''': Fr. 6/3/09 ([[Luc Pellerin]] & [[Aitana Morton de Lachapelle]]) | ||
| + | * Introduction to derivatives, ordinary differential equations and analytical vs numerical resolution. | ||
| + | * Glucose metabolism: irreversible Michaelis-Menten kinetics. | ||
| + | * Graphical representation of the metabolic flux as a function of neuronal glucose, in Matlab. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ---- | ||
| + | |||
| + | '''3rd meeting''': Fr. 13/3/09 ([[Aitana Morton de Lachapelle]]) | ||
| + | * Glucose transport: reversible Michaelis-Menten kinetics. | ||
| + | * Graphical representation of the net transport- and metabolic fluxes as a function of neuronal glucose, in Matlab. | ||
| + | * Discussion on whether transport and/or metabolism are rate-limiting for glucose consumption by the neurons. | ||
| + | |||
---- | ---- | ||
| + | '''4th meeting''': Fr. 20/3/09 ([[Aitana Morton de Lachapelle]]) | ||
| + | * Exercises on Matlab to solve ordinary differential equations numerically. | ||
| + | * Outline of the mid-term presentation. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ---- | ||
| + | |||
| + | '''5th meeting''': Fr. 27/3/09 ([[Luc Pellerin]] & [[Aitana Morton de Lachapelle]]) | ||
| + | * Discussion of the paper by Barros ''et al.'' <cite>barros</cite>. | ||
| + | * Small visit of the [http://www.unil.ch/physiologie/page14426.html Physiology Institute] to have an overview of the experimental techniques used (group of [[Luc Pellerin]]) | ||
| + | * Preparation of the mid-term presentation. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ---- | ||
| + | '''6th meeting - Midterm presentation''': Fr. 3/4/09 | ||
| + | [[Media:Neuroenergetics_midterm_presentation.ppt]] | ||
| + | |||
| + | ---- | ||
(Project in [[Course: "Solving Biological Problems that require Math"]]) | (Project in [[Course: "Solving Biological Problems that require Math"]]) | ||
| + | ---- | ||
Revision as of 18:53, 3 April 2009
Description of the project
Background: Brain cells were shown to rely on two energy subtrates to sustain their activity: glucose and lactate. Each of these substrates are taken up by brain cells via specific transporters and metabolized in classical biochemical pathways. The critical question remains: Between metabolism and transport, what is the limiting step for the utilization of each energy substrate under resting vs. activated condition?
Goal: The goal of the project is to determine whether transport of the main energy substrates for the brain, glucose and lactate, can become rate-limiting following an increase in cerebral activity.
Mathematical tools: The student will learn to use a mathematical software (Matlab) in order to conduct simulations from a given set of parameters and equations derived from Michaelis-Menten kinetics.
Biological or Medical aspects: The “biology supervisor” will provide background of the main aspects related to brain energy metabolism and Michaelis-Menten kinetics.
Supervisors: Luc Pellerin & Aitana Morton de Lachapelle
Reference: <biblio>#barros pmid=15749163</biblio>
Course outline
1st meeting: Fr. 27/2/09 (Luc Pellerin & Aitana Morton de Lachapelle)
- Biological introduction + literature to read. Discussion of the goals of the project.
2nd meeting: Fr. 6/3/09 (Luc Pellerin & Aitana Morton de Lachapelle)
- Introduction to derivatives, ordinary differential equations and analytical vs numerical resolution.
- Glucose metabolism: irreversible Michaelis-Menten kinetics.
- Graphical representation of the metabolic flux as a function of neuronal glucose, in Matlab.
3rd meeting: Fr. 13/3/09 (Aitana Morton de Lachapelle)
- Glucose transport: reversible Michaelis-Menten kinetics.
- Graphical representation of the net transport- and metabolic fluxes as a function of neuronal glucose, in Matlab.
- Discussion on whether transport and/or metabolism are rate-limiting for glucose consumption by the neurons.
4th meeting: Fr. 20/3/09 (Aitana Morton de Lachapelle)
- Exercises on Matlab to solve ordinary differential equations numerically.
- Outline of the mid-term presentation.
5th meeting: Fr. 27/3/09 (Luc Pellerin & Aitana Morton de Lachapelle)
- Discussion of the paper by Barros et al. barros.
- Small visit of the Physiology Institute to have an overview of the experimental techniques used (group of Luc Pellerin)
- Preparation of the mid-term presentation.
6th meeting - Midterm presentation: Fr. 3/4/09 Media:Neuroenergetics_midterm_presentation.ppt
(Project in Course: "Solving Biological Problems that require Math")
