Difference between revisions of "Neuroenergetics: Importance of transport for the regulation of energy substrate fluxes in brain cells"

Line 20: Line 20:
 
'''1st meeting''': Fr. 27/2/09 ([[User:LucPellerin|Luc Pellerin]] & [[Aitana Morton de Lachapelle]])
 
'''1st meeting''': Fr. 27/2/09 ([[User:LucPellerin|Luc Pellerin]] & [[Aitana Morton de Lachapelle]])
 
* Biological introduction + literature to read. Discussion of the goals of the project.
 
* Biological introduction + literature to read. Discussion of the goals of the project.
[[Media:Neuro_notes_articles]]
+
[[Media:Neuro_notes_articles.jpg]]
  
 
----
 
----
Line 29: Line 29:
 
* Graphical representation of the metabolic flux as a function of neuronal glucose, in Matlab.
 
* Graphical representation of the metabolic flux as a function of neuronal glucose, in Matlab.
 
[[Media:Neuro_Intro0.jpg]]
 
[[Media:Neuro_Intro0.jpg]]
[[Media:Neuro_Intro1.jpg]]
+
[[Media:Neuro_intro1.jpg]]
 
[[Media:Neuro_Intro2.jpg]]
 
[[Media:Neuro_Intro2.jpg]]
 
[[Media:Neuro_Intro3.jpg]]
 
[[Media:Neuro_Intro3.jpg]]
Line 39: Line 39:
 
* Graphical representation of the net transport- and metabolic fluxes as a function of neuronal glucose, in Matlab.
 
* 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.
 
* Discussion on whether transport and/or metabolism are rate-limiting for glucose consumption by the neurons.
[[Media:Neuro_gluc_transp1]]
+
[[Media:Neuro_gluc_transp1.JPG]]
[[Media:Neuro_gluc_transp2]]
+
[[Media:Neuro_gluc_transp2.jpg]]
  
 
----
 
----

Revision as of 16:54, 23 April 2009

Description

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

Students: Elita Idrizi, Céline Pattaroni & Jennifer Tscherrig

Reference: <biblio>#barros pmid=15749163</biblio>

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.

Media:Neuro_notes_articles.jpg


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.

Media:Neuro_Intro0.jpg Media:Neuro_intro1.jpg Media:Neuro_Intro2.jpg Media:Neuro_Intro3.jpg


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.

Media:Neuro_gluc_transp1.JPG Media:Neuro_gluc_transp2.jpg


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")