Anatase TiO2 Nanoparticles Induce Autophagy and Chloroplast Degradation in Thale Cress (Arabidopsis thaliana)

Timothy E. Shull, Jasmina Kurepa, Jan A. Smalle

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

20 Scopus citations

Abstract

The extensive use of TiO2 nanoparticles and their subsequent release into the environment have posed an important question about the effects of this nanomaterial on ecosystems. Here, we analyzed the link between the damaging effects of reactive oxygen species generated by TiO2 nanoparticles and autophagy, a housekeeping mechanism that removes damaged cellular constituents. We show that TiO2 nanoparticles induce autophagy in the plant model system Arabidopsis thaliana and that autophagy is an important mechanism for managing TiO2 nanoparticle-induced oxidative stress. Additionally, we find that TiO2 nanoparticles induce oxidative stress predominantly in chloroplasts and that this chloroplastic stress is mitigated by autophagy. Collectively, our results suggest that photosynthetic organisms are particularly susceptible to TiO2 nanoparticle toxicity.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)9522-9532
Number of pages11
JournalEnvironmental Science and Technology
Volume53
Issue number16
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 20 2019

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2019 American Chemical Society.

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Chemistry
  • Environmental Chemistry

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