The Effects of Curcumin on the Response of Tetrahymena thermophila to Oxidative Stress
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Authors
Gannon, Sydney
Wald, Elliot
Date of Issue
2024
Type
Presentation
Language
en_US
Subject Keywords
Other Titles
Abstract
Studies have shown that curcumin, the active ingredient in turmeric, helps organisms recover from oxidative stress. However, the underlying mechanisms responsible for this benefit are not well understood. Exposing the model organism Tetrahymena thermophila (T. thermophila) to curcumin allowed for genetic and behavioral investigations into curcumin’s impact on stressed cells. Based on previous research, it was hypothesized that T. thermophila treated with curcumin would be better protected against oxidative stress, as indicated by higher OXR1 expression levels, lower Rad51 expression levels, increased growth, faster speed, and less interest in oxygen when compared to controls. The T. thermophila genes OXR1 and Rad51 are involved in the oxidative stress response as they encode protective factors against stress (OXR1) and DNA damage repair proteins (Rad51). In this study, three experimental groups were established to determine how oxidative stress, induced by hydrogen peroxide, was impacted by curcumin treatment. During the 48 hour treatment period, cell counts were taken to determine growth trajectories followed by cell motility and aerotaxis assays to examine cell viability. Following the behavioral assays, Reverse-Transcription quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-qPCR) was used to determine the expression of OXR1 and Rad51. Because curcumin protects organisms from oxidative stress, it was predicted that the presence of curcumin would increase OXR1 expression to enhance cellular protection and decrease Rad51 expression due to decreased DNA damage in T. thermophila. It was also predicted that T. thermophila treated with curcumin would better survive in an oxygen deprived environment and exhibit healthy behaviors.