Key Role of Microtubule and Its Acetylation in a Zinc Oxide Nanoparticle–Mediated Lysosome–Autophagy System

Abstract Autophagy is a biological process that has attracted considerable attention as a target for novel therapeutics. Recently, nanomaterials (NMs) have been reported to modulate autophagy, which makes them potential agents for the treatment of autophagy‐related diseases. In this study, zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZNPs) are utilized to evaluate NM‐induced autophagy and debate the mechanisms involved. It is found that ZNPs undergo pH‐dependent ion shedding and that intracellular zinc ions (Zn 2+ ) play a crucial role in autophagy. Autophagy is activated with ZNPs treatment, which is inhibited after Zn 2+ sequestration via ethylenediamine tetra‐acetic acid. Lysosome‐based autophagic degradation is halted after ZNPs treatment for more than 3 h and is accompanied by blockage of lysophagy, which renews impaired lysosomes. Furthermore, the microtubule (MT) system participates in ZNP‐induced lysosome–autophagy system changes, especially in the fusion between autophagosomes and lysosomes. MT acetylation is helpful for protecting from ZNP‐induced MT disruption, and it promotes the autophagic degradation process. In conclusion, this study provides valuable information on NM‐induced lysosome–autophagy system changes, particularly with respect to the role of lysophagy and the MT system, which point to some attractive targets for the design of engineered nanoparticles.