Image acquisition was performed in the LiM facility of iBiMED, a node of PPBI (Portuguese Platform of BioImaging): POCI-01-0145-FEDER-022122. This work was supported by FCT (EXPL/BTM-SAL/0902/2021) LCF (CI21-00276), a grant to DT from the Funda&#231;&#227;o para a Ci&#234;ncia e Tecnologia of the Minist&#233;rio da Educa&#231;&#227;o e Ci&#234;ncia (2020.02006.CEECIND), a grant from ATG-The Gabba Alumni Association to VP, and the Institute for Biomedicine-iBiMED, University of Aveiro.

NOTE: This protocol has two main steps: a wet lab step, involving cell culture and live confocal microscopy to obtain images of live mitochondria (Figure 1) and an in silico step to analyze obtained images (Figure 2). For automated data analysis of 3D live imaged mitochondria, the MATLAB application Mitometer was used as provided by Lefebvre et al.9. The Routine optimization is written in MATLAB. The software, updated versions an...

MATLAB Optimization for Analyzing Mitochondrial Networks in Neuroscience

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	<li>Trigo, D., Avelar, C., Fernandes, M., Sa, J., da Cruz, E. S. O. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Mitochondria,+energy,+and+metabolism+in+neuronal+health+and+disease.">Mitochondria, energy, and metabolism in neuronal health and disease.</a> FEBS Letters. 596 (9), 1095-1110 (2022).</li><li>Zong, W. X., Rabinowitz, J. D., White, E. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Mitochondria+and+cancer.">Mitochondria and cancer.</a> Molecular Cell. 61 (5), 667-676 (2016).</li><li>Clare, D. K., Saibil, H. R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=ATP-driven+molecular+chaperone+machines.">ATP-driven molecular chaperone machines.</a> Biopolymers. 99 (11), 846-859 (2013).</li><li>Tourniaire, F., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=All-trans+retinoic+acid+induces+oxidative+phosphorylation+and+mitochondria+biogenesis+in+adipocytes.">All-trans retinoic acid induces oxidative phosphorylation and mitochondria biogenesis in adipocytes.</a> Journal of Lipid Research. 56 (6), 1100-1109 (2015).</li><li>Psarra, A. M., Sekeris, C. E. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Nuclear+receptors+and+other+nuclear+transcription+factors+in+mitochondria:+regulatory+molecules+in+a+new+environment.">Nuclear receptors and other nuclear transcription factors in mitochondria: regulatory molecules in a new environment.</a> Biochimica et Biophysica Acta. 1783 (1), 1-11 (2008).</li><li>Trigo, D., Goncalves, M. B., Corcoran, J. P. 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Chapter 4 (Unit 4), 1-21 (2010).</li><li>Sajic, M., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Impulse+conduction+increases+mitochondrial+transport+in+adult+mammalian+peripheral+nerves+in+vivo.">Impulse conduction increases mitochondrial transport in adult mammalian peripheral nerves in vivo.</a> PLoS Biology. 11 (12), e1001754 (2013).</li><li>Lefebvre, A., Ma, D., Kessenbrock, K., Lawson, D. A., Digman, M. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Automated+segmentation+and+tracking+of+mitochondria+in+live-cell+time-lapse+images.">Automated segmentation and tracking of mitochondria in live-cell time-lapse images.</a> Nature Methods. 18 (9), 1091-1102 (2021).</li><li>Chu, C. -. H., Tseng, W. -. W., Hsu, C. -. M., Wei, A. -. 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Live cell imaging produces large files that require serious computing processing, but even the most recent tools require extensive manual input to process. This routine optimization is focused on simplifying the process of mitochondria analysis on the Mitometer because this tool presents a very good balance between user input and data output. A comprehensive comparison between different tools for mitochondria image analysis has previously been reviewed10. While other pipelines are more focused on ...

Cellular mitochondria sit at the center of all physiological states, and a thorough understanding of their homeostasis (mitostasis) and behavior is paramount to assist in identifying pharmacological treatment for a wide range of illnesses, including cancer and Alzheimer&#39;s disease1,2.
Mitochondria play crucial cellular roles in energy homeostasis, ATP generation, calcium buffering, and ROS regulation, and mitostasis is essential for maintaining protein homeostasis as molecular chaperones are energy-dependent3. These require a constant and dynamic network modulation and adaptation to efficiently meet cellular needs, and mitochondria transport is regulated by different signaling pathways; previous work has described one such pathway, that of retinoic acid receptors (RARs)4,5. Retinoic acid (RA) promotes axonal and neurite outgrowth via RAR activation. In mouse primary cortical neurons, activation of RAR-&#946; encourages mitochondrial growth, speed, and mobility in the neurite6.
Considering the mitochondrial network adaptability and dynamics, the possibility of assessing mitostasis in &#34;real time&#34; is essential not only for investigating energy homeostasis, but also for proteostasis, cellular health, proliferation, or signaling. A commonly used method for evaluating mitostasis relies on confocal microscopy after highlighting mitochondria using a fluorescent dye or marker, as well as a specific microscopy setup allowing temperature and/or CO2 regulation7. This type of experimental setup entails that one experimental replicate be performed at a time. In addition to experimental repetition of different treatments, it should be considered that most experiments should have their technical replicates (where more than one position is imaged per plate), with a series of focal planes (z-stacks) being recorded in a series of time points. Thus, an experimental design with three repetitions of one control and two treatments, with five imaging positions per plate, and 15 time points, results in 225 stacks to be processed. Classically, videos of live mitochondria were analyzed by plotting kymographs, which would be individually analyzed8, in a time-consuming process requiring extensive manual input, even when relying on computer tools.
An algorithm was recently described9 that allows automated segmentation and tracking of mitochondria in live-cell 2-D and 3-D time-lapse files. Other quantification techniques are available, and all have their limitations10. Mitometer, an automated open-source application, is particularly adequate for time lapse and mitochondria dynamics analysis, requiring low user input. This application has a series of advantages over other existing MATLAB-based tools, namely allowing the automatic processing of individual TIF stacks, using up to 13 different parameters, particularly interesting for neurosciences, as it differentiates between peri- and tele-nuclear mitochondria.
However, for an experiment such as the above described, these 13 parameters applied to 225 stacks result in 2,925 individual output files. These require four individual computer inputs, which sum up to over 10,000 manual inputs being required to download all output files. For large experimental designs, this results in a needlessly extremely time-consuming analysis of each file and data integration. Herein we present a routine optimization that allows swift file analysis, greatly reducing document reading and data processing, analyzing data in a defined manner, consistent with the output from existing tools.

<table border="1" fo:keep-together.within-page="1" fo:keep-with-next.within-page="always">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>AM580</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>A8843</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>BDNF&#160;</td>
			<td>Thermo-Fisher</td>
			<td>RP8642</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>BMS493</td>
			<td>Tocris Bioscience&#160;</td>
			<td>3409</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>CD2314</td>
			<td>Tocris Bioscience</td>
			<td>3824</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Ch55</td>
			<td>Tocris Bioscience&#160;</td>
			<td>2020</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Foetal Bovine Serum</td>
			<td>Thermo-Fisher</td>
			<td>10270106</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>GraphPad Prism v4.0</td>
			<td>GraphPad Software, La Jolla</td>
			<td>n/a</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Ham&#8217;s F12 Nutrient Mix</td>
			<td>Thermo-Fisher</td>
			<td>21765029</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>MATLAB R2022a&#160;</td>
			<td>MathWorks</td>
			<td>n/a</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Minimal Essential Medium</td>
			<td>Thermo-Fisher</td>
			<td>31095</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Nunc Glass Bottom Dishes</td>
			<td>Thermo-Fisher</td>
			<td>150680</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Phosphate Buffer Saline Solution</td>
			<td>Thermo-Fisher</td>
			<td>28372</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Retinoic acid</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>&#160;R2625</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>TMRM&#160;</td>
			<td>Thermo-Fisher</td>
			<td>T668</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Zeiss LSM 510</td>
			<td>Carl Zeiss</td>
			<td>n/a</td>
			<td>Equiped with live-cell imaging culture chamber and 63x oil immersion objective&#160;</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

optimized automated analysis of live neuronal mitochondria homeostasis modulation by isoform-specific retinoic acid receptors

The complex mitochondrial network makes it very challenging to segment, follow, and analyze live cells. MATLAB tools allow the analysis of mitochondria in timelapse files, considerably simplifying and speeding up the process of image processing. Nonetheless, existing tools produce a large output volume, requiring individual manual attention, and basic experimental setups have an output of thousands of files, each requiring extensive and time-consuming handling. 
To address these issues, a routine optimization was developed, in both MATLAB code and live-script forms, allowing for swift file analysis and significantly reducing document reading and data processing. With a speed of 100 files/min, the optimization allows an overall rapid analysis. The optimization achieves the results output by averaging frame-specific data for individual mitochondria throughout time frames, analyzing data in a defined manner, consistent with those output from existing tools. Live confocal imaging was performed using the dye tetramethylrhodamine methyl ester, and the routine optimization was validated by treating neuronal cells with retinoic acid receptor (RAR) agonists, whose effects on neuronal mitochondria are established in the literature. The results were consistent with the literature and allowed further characterization of mitochondrial network behavior in response to isoform-specific RAR modulation. 
This new methodology allowed rapid and validated characterization of whole-neuron mitochondria network, but it also allows for differentiation between axon and cell body mitochondria, an essential feature to apply in the neuroscience field. Moreover, this protocol can be applied to experiments using fast-acting treatments, allowing the imaging of the same cells before and after treatments, transcending the field of neuroscience.

Author Spotlight: An Optimized Automated Method for Investigating Retinoic Acid Receptors in Neuronal Mitochondria

Optimized Automated Analysis of Live Neuronal Mitochondria Homeostasis Modulation by Isoform-Specific Retinoic Acid Receptors

My research has focused on the area of neuroscience, and in particular, we want to understand the molecular basis of disease. This has led us to look at cells, their structure, and the organelles that carry out the different cellular functions. Increasingly, mitochondria, they have received more and more attention.Anomalies at the mitochondrial level are becoming absolutely fundamental to understand disease processes, and they may even provide interesting targets for novel drugs or therapeutic strategies. Here at the University of Aveiro, we have been able to develop tools that are of interest to study mitochondria. Not only microscopy and the more traditional approaches, but also we have been able to optimize automated analysis tools coupled with bioinformatic strategies to be able to quantify and provide more detailed analysis when addressing mitochondrial function.The most recent advances include the machine learning algorithms for image segmentation and quantification of mitochondrial parameters. And also the high throughput imaging platforms and deep learning algorithms for improving accuracy and efficiency of mitochondrial characterization. Technologies currently used to advance the field of mitochondrial analysis include high resolution microscopy, live imaging systems, computational analysis tools coupled with machine learning protocols, and CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing for mitochondrial morphology and biology analysis.Current experimental challenges in the field of mitochondria include developing reliable and accurate measurements of mitochondrial parameters, considering the heterogeneity of mitochondrial populations, analyzing the interplay between mitochondrial and cellular biology, and developing non-invasive tools for studying mitochondria in vivo. Our tool enhances efficiency and reliability, allowing for a robust automated analysis of mitochondria. Furthermore, we can explore the potential of hyaluronic acid receptor modulation in personalized medicine for mitochondria.

To enhance and accelerate the analysis of output files in .txt format, a routine optimization was coded that reads data consistent with Mitometer .txt output files, with columns representing a frame and lines representing identified mitochondria. The routine optimization produces data in a single value per parameter by averaging the frames for each identified mitochondria and then averaging the results of all mitochondria per visual field. The developed routine reads files from folders numbered from 1 upwards. The Live S...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Author Spotlight: An Optimized Automated Method for Investigating Retinoic Acid Receptors in Neuronal Mitochondria at JoVE.com

The mitochondrial network is extremely complex, making it very challenging to analyze. A novel MATLAB tool analyzes live confocal imaged mitochondria in timelapse images but results in a large output volume requiring individual manual attention. To address this issue, a routine optimization was developed, allowing for speedy file analysis.

The complex mitochondrial network makes it very challenging to segment, follow, and analyze live cells. MATLAB tools allow the analysis of mitochondria in ...

optimized-automated-analysis-live-neuronal-mitochondria-homeostasis