Gene expression in zebrafish embryos following exposure to Cu-doped TiO2 and pure TiO2 nanometer-sized photocatalysts

[摘要] We investigated the comparative effects of Cu 15 mol % doped TiO₂ (anatase crystal phase, 20 ppt) nanoparticles and pure TiO₂ (anatase crystal phase, 20 ppt) nanoparticles on cellular toxicity, penetration, and gene expression in zebrafish embryogenesis. HRTEM analysis observed that pure TiO₂ particles were in the form of small balls (<10 nm), while Cu-doped (15 mol %) TiO₂ particles were large (20�?70 nm) squares and balls. Both Cu/TiO₂ and pure TiO₂ nanoparticles penetrated into cells. Cu/TiO₂ nanoparticles penetrated into the yolk sac epithelial cells of zebrafish larvae as aggregated particles. Mitochondria in embryos exposed to Cu/TiO₂ nanoparticles were damaged and did not contain cristae. In microarray analysis, several genes involved in apoptosis and endocytosis regulation were differentially expressed according to nanoparticle type. Bcl2 gene expression was significantly upregulated in embryos exposed to both Cu/TiO₂ and pure TiO₂ in comparison to the control group. Cu/TiO₂ nanoparticles caused more damage than pure TiO₂ nanoparticles and resulted in apoptosis during zebrafish development.

[学科分类] 分子生物学，细胞生物学和基因

[关键词] Regulation endocytosis