# Single-Cell Molecular Pathway Analysis in Aging Systems via Novel Mass Cytometry Methods

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA · 2024 · $490,776

## Abstract

Summary
Different cell types, each with unique composition, properties, and functions, are essential to
sustain life in an organism. Bulk analysis of such heterogeneous mixtures of cells does not
distinguish the characteristics of a given cell type or differences between cells within the same
type, missing information that is key to understanding molecular mechanisms foundational to
the rational design of therapies for disease and ailments. The goal of this proposal is to develop
single-cell and imaging methods using metal-bearing probes to monitor metabolic processes in
live cells such as siRNA delivery, protein synthesis, and post-translational modification. The
cells will then be fixed and processed for subsequent detection of protein and mRNA markers.
There are three aims: (1) Delivering molecular probes to viable cells to explore molecular
pathways in single cells by CyTOF. (2) Barcoding prenylation probes to explore molecular
pathways in mixed samples of single cells. (3) Exploring the effect of aging in murine primary
cells by CyTOF and murine tissue by MIBI-ToF. The proposed work will expand the use of multi-
parametric capabilities of mass cytometry (i.e. cytometry by time-of-flight, CyTOF, and
multiplexed ion beam imaging by time-of-flight, MIBI-ToF) in the biotechnological and
biomedical fields. The development of these methodologies will explore the causal relationship
between autophagy and senescence in murine liver models, exploring the hypothesis that the
mevalonate pathway provides a link between the two. The ultimate goal is to understand the
relationship between autophagy, mevalonate, and senescence pathways in aging and inform
emerging treatments to counteract the detrimental effects of senescent cells.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10777154
- **Project number:** 1R01AG084804-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA
- **Principal Investigator:** EDGAR A ARRIAGA
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $490,776
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2024-06-01 → 2029-02-28

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10777154

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10777154, Single-Cell Molecular Pathway Analysis in Aging Systems via Novel Mass Cytometry Methods (1R01AG084804-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10777154. Licensed CC0.

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