Current Methods of Mitochondrial and Metabolic Analysis in the Central Nervous System

TOPICAL COLLECTIONS

Guest Editors

Theresa C. Sutherland

Texas A&M Health Science Center

Dr. Theresa Sutherland completed a Bachelor of Forensic Biology from the University of Technology Sydney, followed by a Bachelor of Science (Honors) studying the acute cellular response to spinal cord injury (SCI). From there, Dr. Sutherland obtained her PhD in Neuroscience in the lab of Dr. Catherine Gorrie, studying the differences in injury progression and neuroinflammation after SCI between adult and pediatric rats. In 2019 she joined the Geoffrey lab at Texas A&M Health Science Center, where she is currently based, for her first postdoctoral research position. Here she continues working on the themes of age and SCI, trying to understand the age-dependent decline in recovery potential in older individuals. Her areas of focus include neuron-intrinsic alterations with age that affect axon growth and regeneration, as well as age-related alterations to the SCI lesion and the environment of the cord that impair functional recovery. The eventual goal of this research is to reduce injury severity in older SCI patients, restore regenerative potential to aged neurons, and find strategies to enhance axon growth and functional recovery after SCI irrespective of age.

Cedric G. Geoffroy

Texas A&M Health Science Center

After obtaining his BS from the University of Sciences of Montpellier, France (Cellular biology and Animal physiology), Cédric graduated as an Engineer in Biotechnology (MSc) from the College of Engineering, Applied Biology and Microbiology at Luminy (Polytech Marseille, former ESIL), Marseille, France. He then obtained his PhD from the University of Cambridge, UK, where he studied stem cells and transcription factors with Dr. Olivier Raineteau, at the Brain Repair Centre. He then moved to the Department of Neurosciences, University of California San Diego, USA, in the laboratory of Dr. Binhai Zheng. There, he worked on understanding how neuronal intrinsic and extrinsic molecules can modulate axon growth and functional recovery after spinal cord injury. In his lab, he continues to work on understanding the complexity of spinal cord injury, with the goal of finding strategies to promote locomotor functional recovery and reduce SCI-associated health complications.

Collection Overview

Mitochondria are essential to the survival, function, and proliferation of cells. These organelles are involved in many vital neuronal and glial cell functions in both the naïve and challenged central nervous system (CNS). Mitochondria are necessary for axonal sprouting and growth, as well as calcium buffering and antioxidant balance. The mitochondria’s most prominent role is in energy production and cellular respiration, which is significant in the CNS due to its especially high reliance on high energy consumption. Electron transport chain and oxidative phosphorylation dysfunctions may have substantial impacts on cell and/or tissue health and function. Furthermore, mitochondria are also implicated in calcium homeostasis and buffering, which is vital to neuronal function. At the synapse, these organelles are also involved in buffering calcium in the regulation of neurotransmission. Significantly; aging, disease, and trauma have all been associated with a decline in mitochondrial activity, energy, and dynamics in the central nervous system.

This collection aims to highlight novel methods of mitochondrial and metabolic analysis in the central nervous system. Multiple modalities have been applied to examine mitochondria and cell metabolism across the tissues of the body- in vitro, in vivo, and in situ. The central nervous system presents specific challenges for analysis. The goal of this collection is to bring attention to innovative methods of mitochondrial and metabolic analysis applied in the central nervous system, especially in areas of trauma, disease, and aging, where they can provide significant and important information.