Effects of Exogenous Zinc on the Cellular Zinc Distribution and Cell Cycle of A549 Cells

Na YUAN; Yan-hong WANG; Ke-jin LI; Yue ZHAO; Xin HU; Li MAO; Wen-jie ZHAO; Hong-zhen LIAN; Wei-juan ZHENG

doi:10.1271/bbb.120216

Analytical Chemistry Regular Papers

Effects of Exogenous Zinc on the Cellular Zinc Distribution and Cell Cycle of A549 Cells

Na YUAN, Yan-hong WANG, Ke-jin LI, Yue ZHAO, Xin HU, Li MAO, Wen-jie ZHAO, Hong-zhen LIAN, Wei-juan ZHENG

Author information

Na YUAN
State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, School of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering and Center of Materials Analysis, Nanjing University
Yan-hong WANG
State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, School of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering and Center of Materials Analysis, Nanjing University
Ke-jin LI
State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Science, Nanjing University
Yue ZHAO
State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, School of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering and Center of Materials Analysis, Nanjing University
Xin HU
State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, School of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering and Center of Materials Analysis, Nanjing University
Li MAO
School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University
Wen-jie ZHAO
State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, School of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering and Center of Materials Analysis, Nanjing University
Hong-zhen LIAN
State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, School of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering and Center of Materials Analysis, Nanjing University
Wei-juan ZHENG
State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Science, Nanjing University

Keywords: human lung adenocarcinoma cell, zinc, subcellular distribution, soluble protein, cell cycle

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2012 Volume 76 Issue 11 Pages 2014-2020

DOI https://doi.org/10.1271/bbb.120216

View "Advance Publication" version (November 7, 2012).

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Abstract

As the second most abundant transition metal in humans, zinc plays essential roles in normal cellular biological functions, including metabolism, signalling, proliferation, gene expression and apoptosis. We use ZnSO₄ as a stressor in this study to investigate for the first time the effects of exogenous Zn²⁺ on both the cellular distribution of zinc and zinc-related proteins and the cell cycle of human lung adenocarcinoma (A549) cells. The cellular distribution of zinc and soluble proteins was determined in the whole cell as well as in the cytoplasmic and nuclear fractions. Exogenous zinc in the tested exposure range (0–100 µM) resulted in an altered cellular distribution of both zinc and the soluble proteins, together with total glutathione (GSx), the ratio of glutathione (GSH) to glutathione disulfide (GSSG) and non-protein sulphydryl (NPSH). Surprisingly, a turning point was observed in the re-distribution trend at a concentration of approximately 50 µM ZnSO₄. It is concluded that there exists a regulatory system in A549 cells that maintains the cellular zinc content stable in the presence of a certain range of extracellular zinc concentration. In addition, an MTT assay and flow cytometric analysis showed that the ZnSO₄ treatment led to a bi-phasic variation in viability and a slight fluctuation in the apoptosis of A549 cells. Our results will help to further elucidate zinc-related cell biology and biochemistry.

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