Molecular Phenotyping Resource Core (MPRC)

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The Molecular Phenotyping Resource Core, led by Blake B. Rasmussen, PhD, Xianlin Han, PhD, and Yuji Ikeno, MD, PhD, is a vital component of the SA OAIC, providing expertise, resources, and technical support to assist OAIC investigators in integrating molecular, cellular, histologic, and tracer methodologies into their studies. By supporting research in both non-human primates and humans, the Core aims to facilitate studies that unveil the mechanisms underlying specific pathophysiologic responses in older adults.

This core offers essential tools to determine the dynamic molecular and metabolic changes at multiple levels – whole-body, tissue, cellular, and subcellular – in older individuals. These will enable the quantification of the
metabolic effects of age, disease, physical activity, and geroscience interventions; identification of the fundamental mechanisms driving these changes; and discovery of novel biomarkers and predictors of the responses to interventions.

In addition to analytic support for biomarker assessment/discovery and evaluating the efficacy of geroscience interventions on molecular targets, this Core provides research training for early-career investigators and supports the dissemination of findings in alignment with the OAIC mission.

The Molecular Phenotyping Resource Core offers a comprehensive suite of laboratory analytical services for OAIC investigators, including:

• Molecular Phenotyping
  Techniques including but not limited to metabolomics, lipidomics, single cell/nucleus RNAseq, and RT-PCR.
• Cellular Senescence Biomarker Assessment
  Histologic assessments, analysis of SASP (senescence-associated secretory phenotype) proteins and related gene expression profiling.
• Metabolic Phenotyping
  Assessment of mitochondrial function, cell signaling pathways, and hormone and drug assays.
• Stable Isotope Tracer Methodologies
  For protein/amino acid metabolism, fatty acid kinetics, glucose kinetics, and energy expenditure.