Effects of copper and zinc unbalance on cell viability and ROS generation in neuroblastoma cell culture

• Grant number: 11/22949-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate (Direct)
• Start date: April 01, 2012
• End date: February 28, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Inorganic Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Giselle Cerchiaro
• Grantee: Andreza Cândido Matias
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Naturais e Humanas (CCNH). Universidade Federal do ABC (UFABC). Ministério da Educação (Brasil). Santo André , SP, Brazil
• Associated scholarship(s): 12/06754-4 - Synthesis, characterization and application of tripodal ligands with selectivity for Cu(II) in the cellular environment, BE.EP.DD

Abstract

Elucidate the mechanisms by which free radicals and oxidative species act in physiological processes becomes increasingly complex, especially those involving transition metals with high redox activity such as copper, or participant in many cellular functions such as zinc. In this area of research, the role of transition metals homeostasis that is required for the metabolism, and their involvement in degenerative processes, are poorly understood especially at the molecular level. This project aims to elucidate how the unbalance and the availability of transition metals such as copper and zinc affect the cell cycle, apoptosis, metabolism and aspects of the generation of free radicals and oxidative damage in cells, especially in neuroblastoma cells, which are used as a model of neuronal cells, to verify whether this factor is involved in generation of protein aggregation and other consequential and causal aspects of some neurodegenerative diseases. (AU)