PC12 cells grown on nanostructured titanium oxide

Neuronal differentiation is a crucial event in the regeneration of nervous tissues and adhesion on a substrate is critical for neurite extenction. The initiation and guidance of a neurite rely on extra-cellular signals, such as substrate energy of adhesion. Therefore it is of great interest to unveil the substrates characteristics that are sensed by the growth cone and translated into neurite extention. In the present work a proteomic approach is used to characterize at the molecular level PC12 cells cultured on nanostructured TiOx in order to evaluate how the nanoscale topography may modulate the dynamic of adhesion and control the shape and functions of cells as well as of tissues. Protein patterns and post-translational modifications are evaluated by immunochemistry and mass-spectrometry with particular emphasis on nitration, which is involved in neuronal proliferation and differentiation.