0
Article ? AI-assigned paper type based on the abstract. Classification may not be perfect — flag errors using the feedback button. Tier 2 ? Original research — experimental, observational, or case-control study. Direct primary evidence. Sign in to save

Report: Nanoplastic-induced lysosomal membrane remodeling may sequester WDR44, creating a 'hotspot' for α-synuclein aggregation initiation.

Original title: Report: Nanoplastic-induced lysosomal membrane remodeling may sequester WDR44, creating a 'hotspot' for α-synuclein aggregation initiation. - PathMap Publication #000076

Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) 2026
Joshua Dungan

Summary

Tiny plastic particles (nanoplastics) that build up inside our cells may disrupt the membranes of lysosomes—the cell's "recycling centers"—and trap a protein called WDR44 in a way that could kickstart the clumping of alpha-synuclein, a protein linked to Parkinson's disease. This is early-stage, computationally-generated research meant to guide future lab studies, not a confirmed cause-and-effect finding, but it adds to growing concerns about how the microplastics and nanoplastics we're exposed to daily might affect brain health over time.

PathMap Literature Based Discovery Engine Publication Report This report was generated by PathMap. The underlying dataset and raw JSON traces can be found at the related Dataset DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.21496501 For more publications, datasets, and custom research, and other opportunities visit PathMap.org. Tags Attractor Table Extracted Keywords & Entities Nanoplastics internalization, _gates_from_nanoplastics_internalization, Lysosomal accumulation, _gates_to_lysosomal_accumulation, _gates_from_lysosomal_accumulation, Lysosomal Membranes, _gates_to_lysosomal_membranes, WDR44, _gates_from_wdr44, WDR44 protein, _gates_from_wdr44_protein, Protein Aggregation, _gates_to_protein_aggregation, Anionic Nanoplastics, _gates_from_anionic_nanoplastics, Lysosomal Membrane, _gates_to_lysosomal_membrane, _gates_from_lysosomal_membrane, _gates_to_wdr44, Nanoparticles, _gates_from_nanoparticles, α-synuclein aggregation, _gates_to_α-synuclein_aggregation, Plastics, _gates_from_plastics, Membrane Lipids, _gates_to_membrane_lipids, _gates_from_membrane_lipids, alpha-Synuclein, _gates_to_alpha-synuclein

Share this paper