Our research uses Drosophila melanogaster as an experimental model to understand mitochondrial function in disease and chemical toxicity. Some questions we want to answer are, how does PINK-1 mutation affect mitochondrial function and how is this linked to Parkinson's Disease? How can we revert, or avert, the mitochondrial dysfunction associated with this mutation?

High-resolution respirometry requires specialized training for precise operation and data analysis. In addition, the system we used doesn't allow working with several samples simultaneously and is not educated for high-throughput analysis. Since it's only possible to run two samples at the same time, the experimental design must be well delineated.

Our findings indicate progressive impairment of the mitochondrial function we face in PINK1-Null mutants, which is characterized by decrease in OXPHOS CI link, and ETS CI&CII link, and a metabolic metabolic shift in ATP production from oxidative to glycolytic in pathways. These findings are closely related to Parkinson's Disease pathophysiology. One of the key points of high-resolution respirometry is its ability to provide direct and accurate measurements of oxygen consumption, allowing for detailed analysis of mitochondrial function and cellular metabolism.

Also, it's versatile. It can be used for wide range of sample types, including isolated mitochondria. Considering that mitochondrial dysfunction is a common feature of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson's disease, in the future, we will focus on investigating how mitochondrial function and energy elevation could be important targets for therapies directed to neurodegenerative diseases.