A real-time documentation and mechanistic investigation of quantum dots-induced autophagy in live Caenorhabditis elegans.
Autophagy is a highly important intracellular process for the degradation of endogenous or foreign contents in the cytoplasm. Though nanomaterials-induced autophagy has been extensively studied, real-time information about the autophagic process induced by nanomaterials in live organisms remains unknown. Here by using Caenorhabditis elegans as the model organism and fluorescent semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) as a representative nanomaterial, we systematically investigated the phenomenon of QDs-induced autophagy in live organisms. Our results demonstrated that the internalized QDs trigger a complete autophagic process in C. elegans intestinal cells. Further investigations revealed that this QD-induced autophagy in C. elegans is neither a response to released heavy metal ions by the QDs, nor an attempt to engulf exogenous QD materials, but a defensive strategy of the organism to clear and recycle damaged endosomes. Of particular significance, for the first time, we presented real-time tracking of autophagosomes formation in live organisms, providing detailed temporal-spatial information of this process. This study may help us better understand the relationship between nanomaterials and autophagy in vivo, and provide invaluable information for safety evaluation and bio-application of nanomaterials.
Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Collaborative Innovation Center of Suzhou Nano Science and Technology, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China; Institutes of Biology and Medical Sciences (IBMS), Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China.
Yanfeng
Y
Zhou
Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Collaborative Innovation Center of Suzhou Nano Science and Technology, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China; Institutes of Biology and Medical Sciences (IBMS), Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China.
Qin
Q
Wang
Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Collaborative Innovation Center of Suzhou Nano Science and Technology, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China.
Bin
B
Song
Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Collaborative Innovation Center of Suzhou Nano Science and Technology, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China.
Sicong
S
Wu
Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Collaborative Innovation Center of Suzhou Nano Science and Technology, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China.
Yuanyuan
Y
Su
Institutes of Biology and Medical Sciences (IBMS), Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China. Electronic address: zhanghuimin@suda.edu.cn.
Huimin
H
Zhang
Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Collaborative Innovation Center of Suzhou Nano Science and Technology, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China. Electronic address: yaohe@suda.edu.cn.
Yao
Y
He
D000818:Animals; D001343:Autophagy / Q000187:drug effects; D019187:Cadmium Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects; D003199:Computer Systems; D004705:Endocytosis / Q000187:drug effects; D011992:Endosomes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D007422:Intestines / Q000166:cytology; D010588:Phagosomes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D045663:Quantum Dots / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013347:Subcellular Fractions / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D013691:Tellurium / Q000494:pharmacology
D019187:Cadmium Compounds; D013691:Tellurium; C028337:cadmium telluride
Autophagy; Caenorhabditis elegans; Endosome; In vivo; Quantum dots