Nickel Oxide Nanoparticles Trigger Caspase- and Mitochondria-Dependent Apoptosis in the Yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2019

Authors

Cátia A. Sousa (Author) Other; Helena M. V. M. Soares (Author) FEUP; Eduardo V. Soares (Author) Other

Journal

Title: Chemical Research in Toxicology

Vol. 32 No. 2

Pages: 245-254

ISSN: 0893-228X

Publisher: American Chemical Society

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 0 Citations

Scopus - 3 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00Q-8B6

DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrestox.8b00265

Abstract (EN): The, expansion of the industrial use of nickel oxide (NiO) nanoparticles (NPs) raises concerns about their potential adverse effects. Our work aimed to investigate the mechanisms of toxicity induced by NiO NPs, using the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a cell model. Yeast cells exposed to NiO NPs exhibited typical hallmarks of regulated cell death (RCD) by apoptosis [loss of cell proliferation capacity (cell viability), exposure of phosphatidylserine at the outer cytoplasmic membrane leaflet, nuclear chromatin condensation, and DNA damage] in a process that required de novo protein synthesis. The execution of yeast cell death induced by NiO NPs is Yca1p metacaspase-dependent. NiO NPs also induced a decrease in the mitochondrial membrane potential and an increase in the frequency of respiratory-deficient mutants, which supports the involvement of mitochondria in the cell death process. Cells deficient in the apoptosis-inducing factor (aif1 Delta) displayed higher tolerance to NiO NPs, which reinforces the involvement of mitochondria in RCD by apoptosis. In summary, this study shows that NiO NPs induce caspase- and mitochondria-dependent apoptosis in yeast. Our results warn about the possible harmful effects associated with the use of NiO NPs.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 10