EXC 1003 FF-2014-12 – Metabolic crosstalk across the blood brain barrier

Basic data for this project

Description

The nervous system is a highly complex structure that consists of several different cell types, the most abundant ones being glia and neurons. Neurons are a highly specialized cell type and need support from the surrounding glia. In addition they have to be separated from body fluids by a blood brain barrier (BBB). In Drosophila as well as in primitive vertebrates the BBB is build by glial cells. They are polarized and form an endothelium, which supplies the nervous system with all nutrients required for proper function. We are using Drosophila melanogaster to study barrier function of the BBB and subsequent metabolic coupling of glia and neurons. Using advanced genetic approaches and imaging techniques we seek to understand how the transport of nutrients over the BBB is orchestrated and how it is adjusted to the changing needs of the neurons. We determine the metabolic profile by HPLC-MS mass spectrometry of FACS sorted glial or neuronal cells to determine which metabolites the glia deliver to the neurons.