Back to Search Start Over

Phycocyanin protects against Alpha-Synuclein toxicity in yeast

Authors :
Diana Macedo
Telma Elita Bertolin
Tatiana Oro
Luana Taís Hartmann Backes
Inês Caldeira Brás
Cláudia Nunes Santos
Sandra Tenreiro
Tiago Fleming Outeiro
Source :
Journal of Functional Foods, Vol 38, Iss , Pp 553-560 (2017)
Publication Year :
2017
Publisher :
Elsevier, 2017.

Abstract

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is an age-related neurodegenerative disorder associated with the misfolding and aggregation of alpha-synuclein (aSyn) in proteinaceous inclusions. These inclusions are common to a wider spectrum of disorders known as synucleinopathies. While the molecular bases of PD are still unclear, oxidative stress and impairment of protein quality-control systems play an important role, and are regarded as valuable targets for therapeutic interventions. We employed a yeast model of synucleinopathies to test the cytoprotective potential of phycocyanin, a biliprotein used as a nutritional supplement. We found that phycocyanin effectively protected against aSyn toxicity in yeast and, importantly, the mechanism of action involves the reduction of aSyn inclusions and superoxide levels, through the regulation of genes and enzymes involved in oxidative stress response, glutathione metabolism, and cellular protein quality-control systems. Overall, this study highlights the potential of phycocyanin as a nutraceutical in neurodegenerative diseases associated with proteotoxicity, such as synucleinopathies.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
17564646
Volume :
38
Issue :
553-560
Database :
Directory of Open Access Journals
Journal :
Journal of Functional Foods
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
edsdoj.bd7417f5b11e40eb948cf59349e876c0
Document Type :
article
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jff.2017.09.044