Biological responses of visual and non-visual opsins under exposition to different electromagnetic radiation energy

• Grant number: 22/02636-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research
• Start date: October 01, 2022
• End date: September 30, 2023
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Physics
• Principal Investigator: Marina Piacenti da Silva
• Grantee: Marina Piacenti da Silva
• Host Investigator: Petros Koutrakis
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências (FC). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Bauru. Bauru , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Harvard University, United States

Abstract

Opsins are membrane proteins acting as light sensors in animals, switching from a resting state to a signaling state after absorption of a photon in phototransduction processes. These proteins are involved in various visual and non-visual photoreceptive functions such as regulation of physiological processes, photorelaxation, regulation of circadian rhythm, control of melatonin secretion by the pineal gland, humor regulation, thermoregulation, and even tumor control. The role of opsins in physiological processes and their regulation based on exposure to light (mainly in the visible spectrum), has been widely studied, however, little is known about their biological response when exposed to other agents such as oxidizing pollutants like metallic nanoparticles (M-NPs), as well as to different energies of electromagnetic radiation. Therefore, the aim of this study is to evaluate and compare the biological responses of visual and non-visual opsins and their gene expression driven by variations of the 24h circadian cycle when exposed to different frequencies of electromagnetic radiation (in the range of radio frequency to UV radiation). Moreover, we will evaluate how the presence of M-NPs can affect the activities and regulation of opsins under these conditions. With this research, we expect to understand the physiological and behavioral effects due to radiation exposure at different energies and exposure times, especially the impacts on the central nervous system mediated by the processes coordinated by visual and non-visual opsins. (AU)