Influency of metal chelators in the cellular redox potential

• Grant number: 18/24870-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: February 01, 2019
• End date: January 31, 2020
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Inorganic Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Giselle Cerchiaro
• Grantee: Gabriela Trindade Coutinho
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Naturais e Humanas (CCNH). Universidade Federal do ABC (UFABC). Ministério da Educação (Brasil). Santo André , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Understanding the role of copper and zinc transition metals in biological systems is very important because of the metabolic and physiological functions they present. Copper functions as a cofactor for several metallo-enzymes, but is toxic when present in high concentrations or in pathologies. Zinc, depending on concentration, can cause both positive and negative physiological changes. Therefore the objective of this project will be to understand the effects of the imbalance of these metals in the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in neuronal cell models such as the NSC-34 motor neuron model and the SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma model. To do this, we will first perform in vitro tests of the ROS generation power of 2 specific chelators, whose cellular conditions have already been studied by our research group. Later the same cell studies will be done to verify if the tests are applied in samples of cytoplasmic lysates. Cells will be treated with copper and zinc specific chelators, such as N, N-diethylethylcarbamate (DeDTC) and N, N, N ', N'-tetrakis (2-pyridylmethyl) ethylenediamine (TPEN), and tests such as oxidation of NADH and TBARS (thiobarbituric acid method) will be applied. The results will be evaluated in conjunction with what our research group has been obtaining in several projects.