Keaton Nahan
Current Research:
Titanium dioxide, TiO2, is known as the most widely used nanoscale metal oxide. TiO2 nanoparticles are used in a variety of sunscreens and cosmetics (Botta et. al., 2011). Though nano-TiO2 has previously been found to have negligible toxic effects, studies have shown that nano-TiO2 generates reactive oxygen species (ROS) (Hartmann et. al., 2010). Previous studies have focused on the nano-TiO2 toxicity in the European Committee for Standardization (CEN) ISO 8692:2012 test organism, Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata (Hartmann et. al., 2010).
The goal of the current research includes examining changes in cell signaling, through analysis of signaling changes via differential protein phosphorylation, to uncover molecular level changes occurring in Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata. The proteins were extracted and analyzed via Size Exclusion using an Agilent 1100 High Performance Liquid Chromatographic System coupled to an Agilent 8800 Inductively Coupled Plasma Triple Quadrupole Mass Spectrometer. The Agilent 8800 provides greater sensitivity and lower detection limits for phosphorous by using reaction cell technology. Fractions of interest were collected and freeze dried. Future studies include subjecting fractions to enzymatic digestions and analyzing the digests using Electrospray Ionization/Iontrap Mass Spectrometry to obtain MS/MS data to identify and quantify potential proteins.
Titanium dioxide, TiO2, is known as the most widely used nanoscale metal oxide. TiO2 nanoparticles are used in a variety of sunscreens and cosmetics (Botta et. al., 2011). Though nano-TiO2 has previously been found to have negligible toxic effects, studies have shown that nano-TiO2 generates reactive oxygen species (ROS) (Hartmann et. al., 2010). Previous studies have focused on the nano-TiO2 toxicity in the European Committee for Standardization (CEN) ISO 8692:2012 test organism, Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata (Hartmann et. al., 2010).
The goal of the current research includes examining changes in cell signaling, through analysis of signaling changes via differential protein phosphorylation, to uncover molecular level changes occurring in Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata. The proteins were extracted and analyzed via Size Exclusion using an Agilent 1100 High Performance Liquid Chromatographic System coupled to an Agilent 8800 Inductively Coupled Plasma Triple Quadrupole Mass Spectrometer. The Agilent 8800 provides greater sensitivity and lower detection limits for phosphorous by using reaction cell technology. Fractions of interest were collected and freeze dried. Future studies include subjecting fractions to enzymatic digestions and analyzing the digests using Electrospray Ionization/Iontrap Mass Spectrometry to obtain MS/MS data to identify and quantify potential proteins.