VOLUME 1, ISSUE 4, 2017

Using Antioxidants to Counteract Mitochondrial Dysfunction and Alphanuclein Aggregation in Parkinson's Disease

Authors: Elin Hu and Vanessa Zhang

Published: June 26, 2017

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Abstract
This study aimed to use antioxidants as potential therapeutics for mitochondrial dysfunction and α- synuclein aggregation. It was hypothesized that mitochondria-targeted antioxidants, MitoQ (1 and 5 µM) and MitoTEMPO (10 and 50 µM) will decrease mitochondrial dysfunction in C. elegans and Vitamin C (80 uM) and Curcumin (80 uM) will decrease effects of a-synuclein aggregation in Drosophila melanogaster. In aspect 1, mitochondrial pathways of Parkinson’s disease, the overproduction of ROS and complex malfunction, were assessed. Lead nitrate exposed C. elegans expressing GFP in the nuclei and mitochondria of body wall muscle cells were assessed in locomotion and chemosensation. It was found that exposure to MitoQ and MitoTEMPO greatly increased locomotion and chemosensation. Fluorescence microscopy was used to study mitochondria in C. elegans and results were quantified using Image J software. MitoQ and MitoTEMPO greatly increased the fluorescence of Parkinson’s disease affected C. elegans. In aspect 2 Drosophila expressing GFP fluorescence in dopaminergic neurons, mutant α-synuclein in dopaminergic neurons, and lead nitrate exposed Drosophila expressing GFP fluorescence in dopaminergic neurons were tested in their sleep behavior and climbing ability. When exposed to Vitamin C and Curcumin, the climbing ability of mutant α-synuclein and lead nitrate exposed Drosophila was significantly increased and their sleep behavior was returned to normal (p<0.05). Fluorescence microscopy was used to study dopaminergic neurons in Drosophila and results were quantified using Image J software. It was found that Vitamin C and Curcumin significantly increased the fluorescence of dopaminergic neurons in Parkinson’s disease model Drosophila.

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Keywords: Parkinson’s disease; Mitochondria; α-synuclein; MitoQ; MitoTEMPO; Vitamin C; Curcumin