Neuroenergetics: Importance of transport for the regulation of energy substrate fluxes in brain cells

Revision as of 00:56, 14 February 2009 by Sven (talk | contribs)

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

(Project in Course: "Solving Biological Problems that require Math")

Retrieved from "http://www2.unil.ch/cbg/index.php?title=Neuroenergetics:_Importance_of_transport_for_the_regulation_of_energy_substrate_fluxes_in_brain_cells&oldid=129"