METABOLIC ANALYSIS INSTRUMENTATION TO ENHANCE TARGETED THERAPEUTICS STUDIES

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The COBRE Center for Targeted Therapeutics (CTT) at the University of South Carolina (UofSC) supports research that seeks to develop new and more effective classes of drugs against various diseases, by aiming these drugs at molecular and cellular targets that play a key role in the disease. Many therapeutic targets in different diseases either regulate or are functionally impacted by cellular metabolism. The ability to interrogate the metabolic effects of genetic or pharmacological modulation of such targets is critical to many CTT-affiliated investigators. The purpose of this proposal is to acquire an Agilent Seahorse Extracellular Flux (XF) Analyzer, including a module to facilitate data imaging and normalization. This will replace an older version of this instrument that cannot perform the high content imaging analyses and is no longer supported by the manufacturer. This instrument will belong to the Microscopy and Flow Cytometry Core of the CTT and will be overseen by a highly experienced investigator in cellular metabolic studies. There are several laboratories, including former and present CTT-funded investigators, which will be able to use the metabolic analysis instrument to increase their ability to achieve their research goals. Some of the projects by CTT-affiliated investigators that have an immediate need for the Seahorse Analyzer to investigate (i) the impact of metabolite derived protein modifications on neurodegenerative diseases (ii) metabolic effects of HIV-related changes in brain microglia, (iii) metabolic analysis of age-related changes in neurotransmission, (iii) effects of transcriptional Mediator kinase on cellular metabolism, (iv) cellular metabolic effects of nanoparticle and scaffold implants that deliver therapeutics to support tissue regeneration. Acquisition of this instrument will allow the continuation of these targeted therapeutics projects and will offer a more reliable way to use the data acquired. The capacity to measure cellular metabolism responses and adaptations will enhance the current CTT-supported projects and will allow CTT to extend its umbrella to other targeted therapeutics researchers whose research areas incorporate metabolic analyses.