alpha-synuclein and titanium-dioxide

Nanomaterials hold significant potential for industrial and biomedical application these years. Therefore, the relationship between nanoparticles and neurodegenerative disease is of enormous interest. In this contribution, zebrafish embryos and PC12 cell lines were selected for studying neurotoxicity of titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO

Topics: alpha-Synuclein; Animals; Brain; Dopaminergic Neurons; Embryo, Nonmammalian; Female; Gene Expression; Larva; Male; Metal Nanoparticles; Parkinsonian Disorders; PC12 Cells; Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; Rats; Reactive Oxygen Species; Titanium; Ubiquitin Thiolesterase; Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases; Zebrafish

Dopaminergic neurons (PC12 cells) were treated with different doses of titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2-NPs), to investigate their effects on α-Synuclein (α-Syn) aggregation and their mechanism of action. Western blotting and immunofluorescent staining were performed. Exposure to TiO2-NPs increased α-Syn expression (p < 0.05) and induced dose-dependent α-Syn aggregation. Pretreatment with N-acetylcysteine partially inhibited α-Syn expression induced by a 200 μg/ml dose of TiO2-NPs. TiO2-NPs reduced the expressions of parkin and ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolase protein, and were associated with oxidative stress in PC12 cells. Dysfunction of the ubiquitin-proteasome system also contributed to α-Syn aggregation. The potentially neurotoxic TiO2-NPs may cause Parkinson's disease.

Topics: alpha-Synuclein; Animals; Dopaminergic Neurons; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Gene Expression Regulation; Nanoparticles; Particle Size; PC12 Cells; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Protein Aggregates; Proteolysis; Rats; Titanium; Ubiquitin; Ubiquitin Thiolesterase; Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases

A simple biotemplating method for the synthesis of silica (SiO2) and titania (TiO2) nanowires was designed on a fibrillar protein (alpha-synuclein) template. The diameter of SiO2 and TiO2 nanowires could be varied, between 20-100 nm, by varying the processing conditions. The nanowires were characterized by energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS). Due to their high surface area and porosity, the nanowires were tested for potential applications in enzymatic biosensor design.

Topics: alpha-Synuclein; Macromolecular Substances; Molecular Conformation; Molecular Imprinting; Nanostructures; Particle Size; Silicon Dioxide; Surface Properties; Titanium