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Denley MCS, Straub MS, Marcionelli G, Güra MA, Penton D, Delvendahl I, Poms M, Vekeriotaite B, Cherkaoui S, Conte F, von Meyenn F, Froese DS, Baumgartner MR. Mitochondrial dysfunction drives a neuronal exhaustion phenotype in methylmalonic aciduria. Commun Biol 2025; 8:410. [PMID: 40069408 PMCID: PMC11897345 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-025-07828-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2024] [Accepted: 02/26/2025] [Indexed: 03/15/2025] Open
Abstract
Methylmalonic aciduria (MMA) is an inborn error of metabolism resulting in loss of function of the enzyme methylmalonyl-CoA mutase (MMUT). Despite acute and persistent neurological symptoms, the pathogenesis of MMA in the central nervous system is poorly understood, which has contributed to a dearth of effective brain specific treatments. Here we utilised patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells and in vitro differentiation to generate a human neuronal model of MMA. We reveal strong evidence of mitochondrial dysfunction caused by deficiency of MMUT in patient neurons. By employing patch-clamp electrophysiology, targeted metabolomics, and bulk transcriptomics, we expose an altered state of excitability, which is exacerbated by application of dimethyl-2-oxoglutarate, and we suggest may be connected to metabolic rewiring. Our work provides first evidence of mitochondrial driven neuronal dysfunction in MMA, which through our comprehensive characterisation of this paradigmatic model, enables first steps to identifying effective therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew C S Denley
- Division of Metabolism and Children's Research Center, University Children's Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, CH-8032, Switzerland
| | - Monique S Straub
- Division of Metabolism and Children's Research Center, University Children's Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, CH-8032, Switzerland
| | - Giulio Marcionelli
- Division of Metabolism and Children's Research Center, University Children's Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, CH-8032, Switzerland
| | - Miriam A Güra
- Division of Metabolism and Children's Research Center, University Children's Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, CH-8032, Switzerland
| | - David Penton
- Electrophysiology Core Facility, University of Zurich, Zurich, CH-8057, Switzerland
| | - Igor Delvendahl
- Department of Molecular Life Sciences, University of Zurich, Zurich, CH-8057, Switzerland
| | - Martin Poms
- Clinical Chemistry and Biochemistry and Children's Research Center, University Children's Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, CH-8032, Switzerland
| | - Beata Vekeriotaite
- Laboratory of Nutrition and Metabolic Epigenetics, Institute for Food, Nutrition and Health, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zurich, Zurich, CH-8603, Switzerland
| | - Sarah Cherkaoui
- Pediatric Cancer Metabolism Laboratory, Children's Research Center, University Children's Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, CH-8032, Switzerland
| | - Federica Conte
- Department of Neurology, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Radboud, University Medical Center, Nijmegen, 6525 GA, Netherlands
| | - Ferdinand von Meyenn
- Laboratory of Nutrition and Metabolic Epigenetics, Institute for Food, Nutrition and Health, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zurich, Zurich, CH-8603, Switzerland
| | - D Sean Froese
- Division of Metabolism and Children's Research Center, University Children's Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, CH-8032, Switzerland.
| | - Matthias R Baumgartner
- Division of Metabolism and Children's Research Center, University Children's Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, CH-8032, Switzerland.
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O'Neill PS, Baccino-Calace M, Rupprecht P, Lee S, Hao YA, Lin MZ, Friedrich RW, Mueller M, Delvendahl I. A deep learning framework for automated and generalized synaptic event analysis. eLife 2025; 13:RP98485. [PMID: 40042890 PMCID: PMC11882139 DOI: 10.7554/elife.98485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/13/2025] Open
Abstract
Quantitative information about synaptic transmission is key to our understanding of neural function. Spontaneously occurring synaptic events carry fundamental information about synaptic function and plasticity. However, their stochastic nature and low signal-to-noise ratio present major challenges for the reliable and consistent analysis. Here, we introduce miniML, a supervised deep learning-based method for accurate classification and automated detection of spontaneous synaptic events. Comparative analysis using simulated ground-truth data shows that miniML outperforms existing event analysis methods in terms of both precision and recall. miniML enables precise detection and quantification of synaptic events in electrophysiological recordings. We demonstrate that the deep learning approach generalizes easily to diverse synaptic preparations, different electrophysiological and optical recording techniques, and across animal species. miniML provides not only a comprehensive and robust framework for automated, reliable, and standardized analysis of synaptic events, but also opens new avenues for high-throughput investigations of neural function and dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philipp S O'Neill
- Department of Molecular Life Sciences, University of Zurich (UZH)ZurichSwitzerland
- Neuroscience Center ZurichZurichSwitzerland
- Institute of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of FreiburgFreiburgGermany
| | | | - Peter Rupprecht
- Neuroscience Center ZurichZurichSwitzerland
- Brain Research Institute, University of ZurichZurichSwitzerland
| | - Sungmoo Lee
- Department of Neurobiology, Stanford UniversityStanfordUnited States
| | - Yukun A Hao
- Department of Neurobiology, Stanford UniversityStanfordUnited States
| | - Michael Z Lin
- Department of Neurobiology, Stanford UniversityStanfordUnited States
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford UniversityStanfordUnited States
| | - Rainer W Friedrich
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical ResearchBaselSwitzerland
- Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of BaselBaselSwitzerland
| | - Martin Mueller
- Department of Molecular Life Sciences, University of Zurich (UZH)ZurichSwitzerland
- Neuroscience Center ZurichZurichSwitzerland
- University Research Priority Program (URPP), Adaptive Brain Circuits in Development and Learning (AdaBD), University of ZurichZurichSwitzerland
| | - Igor Delvendahl
- Department of Molecular Life Sciences, University of Zurich (UZH)ZurichSwitzerland
- Neuroscience Center ZurichZurichSwitzerland
- Institute of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of FreiburgFreiburgGermany
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