GeroMetabolism Core

University Of Texas Hlth Science Center, San Antonio TX

Investigators

Linked publications, trials & patents

Abstract

The GeroMetabolism Core (GMC) provides intellectual and technical support and services to internal and external investigators on the selection, design, and performance of age-relevant metabolic assays in animals models at the molecular, cellular, tissue/organ, and whole-organism levels. The GMC has evolved from our previously named Integrated Physiology of Aging Core and is an essential part of the San Antonio Nathan Shock Center’s (SA NSC) overarching mission to operate a comprehensive platform for rapid expansion of knowledge on the biology of aging and identification of drug targets to promote healthy lifespan. Using the resources within the GMC, and the expertise of its leaders and members, the GMC specific aims are: 1. To assist investigators in designing experiments and assay selection for measuring age-associated changes in metabolic processes. 2. To coordinate GMC activities with other SA NSC Cores to maximize the impact of each individual project. 3. To identify the impact of gerotherapeutic interventions on molecular, cellular, and systemic function and provide expertise in assays, analyses, and interpretation of data. 4. To provide hands-on training, mentoring, and education to all levels of scientists regarding concepts and tools used in the GMC. The GMC accomplishes these aims by providing the ability to assist with enhanced functional lipidomics (in combination with the analyses of single cell RNA-seq and targeted protein expression), comprehensive metabolomics and stable isotope labeling to measure metabolic flux and energy expenditure, measurement of mitochondrial function at both cellular and tissue levels, and systemic physiology measurements with state-of- the art metabolic cages. During the current funding cycle, the core has shared resources with 159 investigators that have led to 85 publications (49% increase over our previous cycle), and 32 funded grants (38% increase), in addition to consistent consultation and training activities. The success of the GMC has allowed us to re-invest to improve and develop innovations in the GMC using emerging and advanced technologies for metabolic assessment at all levels. Advancements in the current cycle include enhanced functional lipidomics, including cellular dissection of the lipidome, and establishment of comprehensive and quantitative metabolomics. In this proposed renewal, new Core innovations include expanding the capability to perform comprehensive assessment of lipid signaling pathways and cellular functions, the ability to measure metabolic flux and energy expenditure by pairing stable isotopic tracers with metabolomics and mass spectrometry, assisting with biomarker and signaling pathways in aging with integrative assessment of metabolites, proteins, and RNA expression, and integrated assessment of the metabolic state across molecular and physiologic levels.