Energy is essential for the proper functioning of every system in a living organism. The brain, in particular, is a highly energy-intensive organ, consuming about 20% of the body’s metabolic energy. However, the distribution of energy within the nervous system has remained a mystery. In a recent study conducted by scientists at Yale University, part of this mystery has been unraveled. Using a novel biosensor, the researchers were able to map the energy metabolism in single cells of a living organism, the nematode worm C. elegans.
The technology, developed by Yale scientists, enabled the researchers to create a landscape of energy distribution across cells, including individual neurons. The findings of the study have been published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Understanding the body’s energy metabolism and how it is distributed has long been a subject of interest for scientists. Previous neuroimaging technologies, such as functional MRI, have provided insights into changes in energy distribution in the brain during different activity states. However, these technologies lack the cellular resolution needed to understand how energy metabolism is distributed within individual cells in the nervous system.
“Our study aimed to answer two key questions: where exactly is energy production happening in the brain, and how does its distribution influence the function of the nervous system?” explained Aaron Wolfe, lead author of the study and a postdoctoral associate in neuroscience at Yale School of Medicine.
To address these questions, the Yale team, led by Wolfe and Daniel Colón-Ramos, used a biosensor called HYlight to study metabolic activity within individual neurons of C. elegans under different conditions. The biosensor, originally developed by a research group led by Richard Goodman, allows for the visualization of energy production in living animals.
The researchers discovered that energy is distributed unevenly across specific cells and corresponds to the identity of individual neurons. This unequal distribution creates energy landscapes that may impact the flow of information through neurons and influence behavior.
“Energy is the driving force behind life. In the context of the nervous system, it fuels thought and behavior,” said Colón-Ramos, the Dorys McConnell Duberg Professor of Neuroscience and Cell Biology. “By visualizing and understanding energy metabolism at a cellular level, we can gain insights into how its distribution affects nervous system function in health, disease, and aging.”
Furthermore, the researchers found that energy is not only distributed across different cells but also within compartments of the cells. “Our findings indicate that this distribution occurs near synapses, which are structures that neurons use to communicate with each other,” Wolfe explained. “We can create new maps for energy distribution as animals perform behaviors, just as we have maps for synaptic connections.”
Understanding energy production at a cellular level is crucial for identifying deficits that may impair neuronal function. This knowledge has implications for various fields, including neurodegenerative diseases and age-related cognitive decline. By shedding light on energy distribution within single cells, scientists can gain a better understanding of the brain’s energy demands and how they impact its overall functioning. This knowledge may ultimately lead to advancements in the prevention and treatment of neurological disorders.
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1. Source: Coherent Market Insights, Public sources, Desk research
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