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A practical guide for the analysis, standardization and interpretation of oxygen consumption measurements

Nature Metabolism volume 4, pages 978–994 (2022)Cite this article

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Abstract

Measurement of oxygen consumption is a powerful and uniquely informative experimental technique. It can help identify mitochondrial mechanisms of action following pharmacologic and genetic interventions, and characterize energy metabolism in physiology and disease. The conceptual and practical benefits of respirometry have made it a frontline technique to understand how mitochondrial function can interface with—and in some cases control—cell physiology. Nonetheless, an appreciation of the complexity and challenges involved with such measurements is required to avoid common experimental and analytical pitfalls. Here we provide a practical guide to oxygen consumption measurements covering the selection of experimental models and instrumentation, as well as recommendations for the collection, interpretation and normalization of data. These guidelines are provided with the intention of aiding experimental design and enhancing the overall reputability, transparency and reliability of oxygen consumption measurements.

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Fig. 1: Microplate-based respirometry enables simultaneous measurement of oxygen consumption supported by different substrates.
Fig. 2: Calculation of respiratory rates in common measurement platforms.
Fig. 3: Importance of analysing raw, quantitative rates and potential pitfalls of scaling respiration data.
Fig. 4: Anoxia in the XF microchamber with high respiratory rates causes severe calculation artefacts.
Fig. 5: Common phenotypes observed during intact cell respirometry and their interpretations.

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Acknowledgements

A.S.D. is supported by National Institutes of Health grants R35GM138003, P30DK063491 and P50CA092131, as well as the W. M. Keck Foundation. M.J. is supported by the Novo Nordisk Research Fonden (NNF20OC0059646). We thank members of both of our laboratories for their helpful discussions during the preparation of this manuscript, as well as L. Stiles (UCLA), B. Desousa (UCSF) and A. Murphy (Cytokinetics) for their critical perspective.

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  1. Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA

    Ajit S. Divakaruni

  2. Department of Molecular Biosciences, The Wenner-Gren Institute, The Arrhenius Laboratories F3, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden

    Martin Jastroch

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A.S.D. and M.J. both contributed to the conceptualization, preparation, writing and editing of this manuscript.

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Nature Metabolism thanks Alexander Galkin, David Nicholls and the other, anonymous, reviewer(s) for their contribution to the peer review of this work. Primary Handling Editor: Christoph Schmitt, in collaboration with the Nature Metabolism team.

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Divakaruni, A.S., Jastroch, M. A practical guide for the analysis, standardization and interpretation of oxygen consumption measurements. Nat Metab 4, 978–994 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s42255-022-00619-4

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