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Abstract #1151

In Vivo High-Resolution Magic Angle Spinning Proton NMR Spectroscopy of Drosophila Melanogaster Flies as a Model System to Investigate Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Trauma

Nikolaos Psychogios1,2, Yiorgos Apidianakis3, Valeria Righi1,2, Hazel Szeto4, Ronald G. Tompkins, Laurence G. Rahme3, Aria A. Tzika1,2

1NMR Surgical Laboratory, Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital & Shriners Burn Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States; 2Department of Radiology, Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA, United States; 3Molecular Surgery Laboratory, Massachusetts General Hospital & Shriners Burn Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States; 4Department of Pharmacology, Joan & Sanford I. Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New Yor, Joan & Sanford I. Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, NY, United States


Using high-resolution MAS proton NMR spectroscopy in vivo, we evaluated in a Drosophila melanogaster fly trauma model the effects of a novel (Szeto-Schiller) SS-31 peptide known to be targeted to mammalian mitochondria. In old flies, our results showed that SS-31 peptide reduced both insulin resistance and apoptosis biomarkers. We thus provide evidence for the hypothesis that trauma in aging is linked to insulin signaling and thus mitochondrial dysfunction. Our approach advances the development of novel in vivo non-destructive research approaches in the model host D. melanogaster, and suggests biomarkers for investigation of biomedical paradigms that may contribute to the development of novel therapeutics.

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