Bioenergetic Research Core

Director: Yufeng Zhang, PhD

Research Focus

The Bioenergetic Research Core (BRC) aims to delve into energy metabolism in biomedical and organismal biology research. The BRC employs integrative approaches spanning molecular biology, biochemistry, cell biology and animal and human physiology to decipher the regulatory networks orchestrating metabolic homeostasis. We support research activities funded by the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation, the Nathan Shock Centers, the Glenn Foundation for Medical Research and various private companies.

The BRC is especially involved in three streams of studies including research on evolution and energy metabolism in organisms, bioenergetic disorders and human health, and the role of bioenergetics in exercise performance. This center uses isolated mitochondria, primary cells and cell lines, traditional and nontraditional animal models and human subjects to address these questions.

The BRC houses a range of state-of-the-art equipment to understand mitochondrial respiratory function, cellular metabolism and related processes. These include an Oroboros O2k-FluoRespirometer for respiration measurement in isolated mitochondria and suspension cells and a Seahorse extracellular flux analyzer for the real-time measurement of cellular respiration and glycolytic capacity in cells. The core has a Beckman Avanti J-26 XPI centrifuge allowing for mitochondria isolation from animal cells or human biopsy samples. We are also able to perform a variety of respirometry to metabolic rate measurements in animal models and/or human subjects.

The BRC utilizes the Biochemistry Laboratory and Molecular Biology Laboratory for cell culture, including multiple biosafety cabinets and CO2/N2 incubators, a multimodal plate reader, a western blot imaging system and PCR systems. We provide bioenergetic support for research programs