Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience (Mar 2013)

Small is Fast: Astrocytic Glucose and Lactate Metabolism at Cellular Resolution

  • L Felipe eBarros,
  • Alejandro eSan Martín,
  • Alejandro eSan Martín,
  • Tamara eSotelo-Hitschfeld,
  • Tamara eSotelo-Hitschfeld,
  • Rodrigo eLerchundi,
  • Rodrigo eLerchundi,
  • Ignacio eFernández-Moncada,
  • Ignacio eFernández-Moncada,
  • Iván eRuminot,
  • Iván eRuminot,
  • Robin eGutiérrez,
  • Robin eGutiérrez,
  • Rocío eValdebenito,
  • Sebastián eCeballo,
  • Karin eAlegría,
  • Felipe eBaeza-Lehnert,
  • Felipe eBaeza-Lehnert,
  • Daniela eEspinoza,
  • Daniela eEspinoza

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fncel.2013.00027
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 7

Abstract

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Brain tissue is highly dynamic in terms of electrical activity and energy demand. Relevant energy metabolites have turnover times ranging from milliseconds to seconds and are rapidly exchanged between cells and within cells. Until recently these fast metabolic events were inaccessible, because standard isotopic techniques require use of populations of cells and/or involve integration times of tens of minutes. Thanks to fluorescent probes and recently available genetically-encoded optical nanosensors, this Technology Report shows how it is now possible to monitor the concentration of metabolites in real-time and in single cells. In combination with ad hoc inhibitor-stop protocols, these probes have revealed a key role for K+ in the acute stimulation of astrocytic glycolysis by synaptic activity. They have also permitted detection of the Warburg effect in single cancer cells. Genetically-encoded nanosensors currently exist for glucose, lactate, NADH and ATP, and it is envisaged that other metabolite nanosensors will soon be available. These optical tools together with improved expression systems and in vivo imaging, herald an exciting era of single-cell metabolic analysis.

Keywords