Live cell imaging of ATP levels reveals metabolic compartmentalization within motoneurons and early metabolic changes inFUSALS motoneurons

Abstract

Motoneurons are one of the highest energy demanding cell types and a primary target in Amyo-trophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a debilitating and lethal neurodegenerative disorder without current-ly available effective treatments. Disruption of mitochondrial ultra-structure, transport and metabo-lism is a commonly reported phenotype in ALS models and can critically affect survival and proper function of motor neurons. However, how changes in metabolic rates contribute to ALS progression are not fully understood yet. Here we utilize hiPCS derived motoneuron cultures and live imaging quantitative techniques to evaluate metabolic rates in Fused in Sarcoma (FUS)-ALS model cells. We show that differentiation and maturation of motoneurons is accompanied by an overall upregulation of mitochondrial components and significant increase in metabolic rates that corresponds to their high energy-demanding state. Detailed compartment-specific live measurements using a fluorescent ATP sensor and FLIM imaging show significantly lower levels of ATP in the somas of cells carrying FUS-ALS mutations. These changes lead to the increased vulnerability of disease motoneurons to further metabolic challenges with mitochondrial inhibitors and could be due to the disruption of mi-tochondrial inner membrane integrity and an increase in its proton leakage. Furthermore, our measurements demonstrate heterogeneity between axonal and somatic compartments with lower relative levels of ATP in axons. Our observations strongly support the hypothesis that mutated FUS impacts metabolic states of motoneurons and makes them more susceptible to further neurodegener-ative mechanisms.