Pathways of glycosphingolipid biosynthesis in SW13 cells in the presence and absence of vimentin intermediate filaments

We reported previously that the incorporation of sugars intoglycosphingolipids (GSL) is diminished in SW13 cells that lacka vimentin intermediate filament (IF) network (vim–) comparedto vim+ cells. To further analyze the nature of this abnormality,we double-labeled cells with ³H-serine and ^l4C-sugars. Therewas no difference between vim+ and vim– cells in the incorporationof serine into GSL, although the usual difference in sugar incorporationwas observed. This indicated that the defect in vim– cellswas not in the incorporation of sugars into ceramide synthesizedde novo by acylation of sphinganine (pathway 1). Sugars canalso be incorporated into ceramide synthesized from sphingosinethat is derived from catabolism of sphin-golipids (pathway 2),and into GSL that recycle through the Golgi apparatus from endosomes(pathway 3). The amount of galactose and glucosamine incorporatedinto GSL in these three pathways was analyzed by the use oftwo inhibitors of sphingolipid biosynthesis. ß-Chloroala-nineinhibits the de novo synthesis of sphinganine (pathway 1), andfumonisin Bl inhibits the acylation of sphinganine and sphingosine(pathways 1 and 2). We were surprised to observe that in bothvim+ and vim– cells only 20–40% of sugar incorporationinto GSL took place in pathway 1, and 60–80% of sugarincorporation took place in the recycling pathways. Moreover,in contrast to larger GSL, GlcCer was not synthesized in pathway3. Our observations indicate that vimentin IF facilitate therecycling of GSL and sphingosine, and that the differences betweenvim+ and vim– cells are predominantly in pathways 2 and3. Furthermore, although it is generally believed that virtuallyall GSL are synthesized in the de novo pathway, these data indicatethat the recyling pathways predominate in the incorporationof sugars into GSL in SW13 cells. glycosphingolipid biosynthesis intermediate filaments SW13 cells sphingolipid recycling vimentin     

De novo synthesis and recycling pathways of sphingomyelin in rat Sertoli cells

Sertoli cells from 19-day-old rats have two molecular species of sphingomyelin (SM1 and SM2) with different kinetic characteristics and fatty acid composition. Here, we have studied the incorporation of [14C]-choline and [14C]-palmitic acid into SM in presence or absence of fumonisin B1, an inhibitor of ceramide synthesis, and beta-chloroalanine, an inhibitor of sphinganine synthesis. The contributions of de novo synthesis and recycling pathways were estimated by analysis of the inhibition caused by these drugs. SM1 was synthesized more by sphingosine recycling, and SM2 was synthesized principally by ceramide recycling than SM1. De novo synthesis seems to be important for the two SM types, but our results showed that this pathway is more extensively utilized by SM2. In conclusion, using Sertoli cell cultures, we have shown for the first time that in the same cell different molecular species of SM are synthesized by different pathways.     

Decreased Synthesis of Glycosphingolipids in Cells Lacking Vimentin Intermediate Filaments

We are studying defects in glycosphingolipid synthesis in cells lacking vimentin intermediate filaments (vimentin−). Sugars can be incorporated into glycolipids whose ceramide is synthesized eitherde novo(pathway 1) or from sphingoid bases salvaged from hydrolysis of sphingolipids (pathway 2) and into glycolipids recycling from the endosomal pathway through the Golgi (pathway 3). Vimentin− embryonic fibroblasts, obtained from vimentin-knockout mice, incorporate less sugar into glycolipids than vimentin+ fibroblasts. Using two inhibitors of ceramide synthesis, β-chloroalanine and fumonisin B1, we found the major defect in synthesis to be in pathway 2 and not inde novosynthesis. We used two additional approaches to analyze the functions of pathways 2 and 3. First, we used exogenous glucosylthioceramide ([¹⁴C]C₈-Glc-S-Cer), a synthetic, nonhydrolyzable glycosphingolipid, as a precursor for synthesis of larger glycolipids. Vimentin− SW13 cells and embryonic fibroblasts glycosylated [¹⁴C]C₈-Glc-S-Cer less extensively than their vimentin+ counterparts. Second, we used chloroquine to inhibit the hydrolysis of sphingolipids in endosomes and lysosomes. Chloroquine markedly decreased the incorporation of sugars into glycolipids larger than glucosylceramide. The defect in glycolipid synthesis in vimentin− cells probably results from impaired intracellular transport of glycolipids and sphingoid bases between the endosomal/lysosomal pathway and the Golgi apparatus and endoplasmic reticulum. Intermediate filaments may accomplish this function by contributing to the organization of subcellular organelles and/or by binding proteins that participate in transport processes.     

Thyrotropin-releasing hormone and phorbol esters stimulate sphingomyelin synthesis in GH3 pituitary cells. Evidence for involvement of protein kinase C

Previous studies demonstrated that phorbol esters and thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) stimulated phosphatidylcholine synthesis via protein kinase C in GH3 pituitary cells (Kolesnick, R. N. (1987) J. Biol. Chem. 262, 14525-14530). Since phosphatidylcholine may serve as the precursor for sphingomyelin synthesis, studies were performed to assess the effect of protein kinase C on sphingomyelin synthesis. The potent phorbol ester, 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA), stimulated time- and concentration-dependent incorporation of 32Pi into the head group of sphingomyelin in cells short term labeled with 32Pi and resuspended in medium without radiolabel. TPA (10(-7) M) increased incorporation at a rate 1.4-fold of control after 2 h; EC50 congruent to 2 x 10(-9) M TPA. This correlated closely to TPA-induced phosphatidylcholine synthesis; EC50 congruent to 9 x 10(-10) M TPA. TRH (10(-7) M), which activates protein kinase C via a receptor-mediated mechanism, similarly stimulated 32Pi incorporation into sphingomyelin at a rate 1.5-fold of control; EC50 congruent to 5 x 10(-10) M TRH. This correlated closely with TRH-induced phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylinositol synthesis; EC50 congruent to 2 x 10(-10) and 1.5 x 10(-10) M TRH, respectively. In cells short term labeled with [3H]palmitate, TRH induced a time- and concentration-dependent reduction in the level of [3H]ceramide and a quantitative increase in the level of [3H]sphingomyelin. Compositional analysis of the incorporated [3H]palmitate revealed that TRH increased radiolabel into both the sphingoid base and the fatty acid moieties of sphingomyelin. Similarly, TRH increased incorporation of [3H] serine into sphingomyelin to 145 +/- 8% of control after 3 h. TPA also stimulated these events. Like the effect of TRH on phosphatidylcholine synthesis, TRH-induced sphingomyelin synthesis was abolished in cells "down-modulated" for protein kinase C. In contrast, TRH-induced phosphatidylinositol synthesis still occurred in these cells. These studies suggest that protein kinase C stimulates coordinate synthesis of phosphatidylcholine and sphingomyelin. This is the first report of stimulation of sphingomyelin synthesis via a cell surface receptor.     

Entamoeba invadens: Sphingolipids metabolic regulation is the main component of a PKC signaling pathway in controlling cell growth and proliferation

The sphingolipids biosynthesis pathway generates bioactive molecules crucial to the regulation of physiological processes. We have recently reported that DAG (diacylglycerol) generated during sphingomyelin synthesis, plays an important role in PKC (protein kinase C) activation, necessary for the transit through the cell cycle (G1 to S transition) and cell proliferation (Cerbon and Lopez-Sanchez, 2003. Diacylglycerol generated during sphingomyelin synthesis is involved in protein kinase C activation and cell proliferation in Madin-Darby canine kidney cells. Biochem. J. 373, 917-924). Since pathogenic Entamoeba invadens synthesize the sphingolipids inositol-phosphate ceramide (IPC) and ethanolamine-phosphate ceramide (EPC) as well as sphingomyelin (SM), we decided to investigate when during growth initiation, the synthesis of sphingolipids takes place, DAG is generated and PKC is activated. We found that during the first 6 h of incubation there was a significant increase in the synthesis of all three sphingolipids, accompanied by a progressive increment (up to 4-fold) in the level of DAG, and particulate PKC activity was increased 4-8 times. The enhanced DAG levels coincided with decrements in the levels of sphingoid bases, conditions adequate for the activation of PKC. Moreover, we found that inhibition of sphingolipid synthesis with myriocin, specific inhibitor of the synthesis of sphinganine, reduce DAG generation, PKC activation and cell proliferation. All these inhibitory processes were restored by metabolic complementation with exogenous d-erythrosphingosine, indicating that the DAG generated during sphingolipid synthesis was necessary for PKC activation and cell proliferation. Also, we show that PI (phosphatidylinositol), PE (phosphatidylethanolamine) and PC (phosphatidylcholine) are the precursors of their respective sphingolipids (IPC, EPC and SM), and therefore sources of DAG to activate PKC.     

Ceramide 1-phosphate, a novel phospholipid in human leukemia (HL-60) cells. Synthesis via ceramide from sphingomyelin

Prior studies demonstrated that conversion of sphingomyelin to ceramide via sphingomyelinase action resulted in the generation of free sphingoid bases and inactivation of protein kinase C in human leukemia (HL-60) cells (Kolesnick, R. N. (1989) J. Biol. Chem. 264, 7617-7623). The present studies define the novel phospholipid ceramide 1-phosphate in these cells and present evidence for formation of this compound by preferential utilization of ceramide derived from spingomyelin. A ceramide 1-phosphate standard, prepared enzymatically via diacylglycerol kinase, was utilized for localization. In cells labeled to equilibrium with 32Pi to label the head group of the molecule, the basal ceramide 1-phosphate level was 30 +/- 2 pmol/10(6) cells. Generation of ceramide via the use of exogenous sphingomyelinase resulted in time- and concentration-dependent formation of ceramide 1-phosphate. As little as 3.8 x 10(-5) units/ml was effective and a 3-fold increase was observed with a maximal concentration of 3.8 x 10(-2) units/ml; ED50 approximately 2 x 10(-4) units/ml. This effect was observed by 5 min and maximal at 30 min. Similarly, in cells labeled with [3H]serine to probe the sphingoid base backbone, the basal level of ceramide 1-phosphate was 39 +/- 5 pmol/10(6) and increased 2.5-fold with sphingomyelinase; ED 50 approximately 5 x 10(-5) units/ml. To determine the source of the phosphate moiety, studies were performed with cells short term labeled with 32Pi and resuspended in medium without radiolabel. Under these conditions, sphingomyelin was virtually unlabeled. Nevertheless, sphingomyelin (3.8 x 10(-2) units/ml) induced a 12-fold increase in radiolabel incorporation, suggesting ceramide 1-phosphate formation occurred via ceramide phosphorylation. This event appeared specific for ceramide derived from sphingomyelin since ceramide from glycosphingolipids was not converted to ceramide 1-phosphate. In sum, these studies demonstrate the novel phospholipid ceramide 1-phosphate in HL-60 cells and suggest the possibility that a path exists from sphingomyelin to ceramide 1-phosphate via the phosphorylation of ceramide.     

Staurosporine Induces Programmed Cell Death in Embryonic Neurons and Activation of the Ceramide Pathway

Abstract: We activated the death pathway in embryonic chick cerebral hemisphere neuron (E7CH) cultures with staurosporine (0.1–1.0 µ M ) and observed the morphological changes, DNA laddering patterns, and DNA fragmentation (determined by Hoechst 33258 dye) associated with apoptosis. N -Acylsphingosine (C2-ceramide), a soluble ceramide analogue, was also able to induce apoptosis in these cells with the same characteristics and in the same time frame. We then observed that staurosporine was effective in inducing hydrolysis of sphingomyelin to ceramide as measured by a threefold increase in ceramide mass and increased incorporation of [³H]-palmitate into ceramide, concurrent with activating the cell death program. Furthermore, the coaddition of a specific ceramidase inhibitor, oleoylethanolamine (15 µ M ), enhanced the formation of ceramide as well as the degree of DNA fragmentation and cell death. Exogenous addition of sphingomyelinase activated the death pathway whereas ceramide glycanase did not, and inhibitors of sphingomyelin or protein synthesis failed to block this type of killing. Our data suggest that the formation of ceramide from sphingomyelin is a key event in staurosporine-induced and potentially all programmed cell death.     

Recycling of sphingosine is regulated by the concerted actions of sphingosine-1-phosphate phosphohydrolase 1 and sphingosine kinase 2

In yeast, the long-chain sphingoid base phosphate phosphohydrolase Lcb3p is required for efficient ceramide synthesis from exogenous sphingoid bases. Similarly, in this study, we found that incorporation of exogenous sphingosine into ceramide in mammalian cells was regulated by the homologue of Lcb3p, sphingosine-1-phosphate phosphohydrolase 1 (SPP-1), an endoplasmic reticulum resident protein. Sphingosine incorporation into endogenous long-chain ceramides was increased by SPP-1 overexpression, whereas recycling of C(6)-ceramide into long-chain ceramides was not altered. The increase in ceramide was inhibited by fumonisin B(1), an inhibitor of ceramide synthase, but not by ISP-1, an inhibitor of serine palmitoyltransferase, the rate-limiting step in the de novo biosynthesis of ceramide. Mass spectrometry analysis revealed that SPP-1 expression increased the incorporation of sphingosine into all ceramide acyl chain species, particularly enhancing C16:0, C18:0, and C20:0 long-chain ceramides. The increased recycling of sphingosine into ceramide was accompanied by increased hexosylceramides and, to a lesser extent, sphingomyelins. Sphingosine kinase 2, but not sphingosine kinase 1, acted in concert with SPP-1 to regulate recycling of sphingosine into ceramide. Collectively, our results suggest that an evolutionarily conserved cycle of phosphorylation-dephosphorylation regulates recycling and salvage of sphingosine to ceramide and more complex sphingolipids.     

Sphingoid bases and ceramide induce apoptosis in HT-29 and HCT-116 human colon cancer cells

Complex dietary sphingolipids such as sphingomyelin and glycosphingolipids have been reported to inhibit development of colon cancer. This protective role may be the result of turnover to bioactive metabolites including sphingoid bases (sphingosine and sphinganine) and ceramide, which inhibit proliferation and stimulate apoptosis. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effects of sphingoid bases and ceramides on the growth, death, and cell cycle of HT-29 and HCT-116 human colon cancer cells. The importance of the 4,5-trans double bond present in both sphingosine and C(2)-ceramide (a short chain analog of ceramide) was evaluated by comparing the effects of these lipids with those of sphinganine and C(2)-dihydroceramide (a short chain analog of dihydroceramide), which lack this structural feature. Sphingosine, sphinganine, and C(2)-ceramide inhibited growth and caused death of colon cancer cells in time- and concentration-dependent manners, whereas C(2)-dihydroceramide had no effect. These findings suggest that the 4,5-trans double bond is necessary for the inhibitory effects of C(2)-ceramide, but not for sphingoid bases. Evaluation of cellular morphology via fluorescence microscopy and quantitation of fragmented low-molecular weight DNA using the diphenylamine assay demonstrated that sphingoid bases and C(2)-ceramide cause chromatin and nuclear condensation as well as fragmentation of DNA, suggesting these lipids kill colon cancer cells by inducing apoptosis. Flow cytometric analyses confirmed that sphingoid bases and C(2)-ceramide increased the number of cells in the A(0) peak indicative of apoptosis and demonstrated that sphingoid bases arrest the cell cycle at G(2)/M phase and cause accumulation in the S phase. These findings establish that sphingoid bases and ceramide induce apoptosis in colon cancer cells and implicate them as potential mediators of the protective role of more complex dietary sphingolipids in colon carcinogenesis.     

Uptake and metabolism of radioactively labeled sphingomyelin in cultured skin fibroblasts from controls and patients with Niemann-Pick disease and other lysosomal storage diseases

The metabolism of [stearoyl-1-14C]- and [choline-methyl-14C]sphingomyelin, [stearoyl-1-14C]ceramide-1-phospho-N,N-dimethylethanolamine (demethylsphingomyelin) and [choline-methyl-14C]phosphatidylcholine was measured 1, 3 and 5 days after uptake from the media of cultured skin fibroblasts. This was done to measure the relative contributions of lysosomal sphingomyelinase and plasma membrane phosphocholine transferase on the metabolism of sphingomyelin, a component of all cell membranes. By using cell lines from controls and from patients with Niemann-Pick disease and other lysosomal storage diseases, it was concluded that a significant portion (10-15%) of the observed degradation of sphingomyelin is due to exchange of the phosphocholine moiety producing phosphatidylcholine. Although cell lines from type A and B Niemann-Pick disease have only 0-2% of lysosomal sphingomyelinase activity measured in vitro, three cell lines from type B Niemann-Pick disease could metabolize 54.4% of the labeled sphingomyelin by day 3 while cell lines from type A Niemann-Pick disease could only metabolize 18.5% by day 3. This compares to 86.7% metabolized in control cells by day 3. Cells from one patient with juvenile Niemann-Pick disease and one with type D Niemann-Pick disease metabolized sphingomyelin normally while cells from two other patients with juvenile or type C Niemann-Pick disease could only metabolize 58.2% by day 3. Cells from patients with I-cell disease and 'lactosylceramidosis' also demonstrated decreased metabolism of sphingomyelin (55.1 and 54.9% by day 3, respectively). Cells from the patient with Farber disease accumulated [14C]stearic acid-labeled ceramide produced from [14C]sphingomyelin. Studies with choline-labeled sphingomyelin and phosphatidylcholine demonstrated that phosphocholine exchange takes place in either direction in the cells, and this is normal in Niemann-Pick disease. Studies in cells from patients with all clinical types of sphingomyelinase deficiency have led to new methods for diagnosis and prognosis and to a better understanding of sphingomyelin metabolism.     

Relationships Between Phosphatidylcholine, Phosphatidylethanolamine, and Sphingomyelin Metabolism in Cultured Oligodendrocytes

Abstract: In most cell types the major pathway of sphingomyelin synthesis is the direct transfer of the phosphocholine head group from phosphatidylcholine to ceramide catalyzed by the enzyme l -acylsphingosine:phosphatidylcholine phosphocholinetransferase (SM synthase; EC 2.7.8.-). Although this pathway has been demonstrated in brain tissue, its quantitative importance has been questioned. An alternative biosynthetic pathway for sphingomyelin synthesis in brain tissue has been proposed, viz., the direct transfer of phosphoethanolamine from phosphatidylethanolamine to ceramide, followed by methylation of the ethanolamine moiety to a choline group. We have evaluated various possible biosynthetic pathways of sphingomyelin synthesis in rat spinal cord oligodendrocytes, the myelin-forming cells of the CNS, by labeling cells in culture with radiolabeled choline, ethanolamine, or serine. Our results indicate that, in oligodendrocytes, most of the phosphocholine for the biosynthesis of sphingomyelin is provided by phosphatidylcholine, which is predominantly derived from de novo synthesis. No evidence was found for the operation of the alternative pathway via ceramide-phosphoethanolamine. Furthermore, our results indicate that a small pool of phosphatidylcholine is provided by methylation of phosphatidylethanolamine, which in turn is formed preferentially by decarboxylation of phosphatidylserine.     

Lipid metabolism in various regions of squid giant nerve fiber

The purpose of this investigation was to compare the incorporation of radioactivity from various precursors into lipids of different regions of squid giant nerve fiber systems including axoplasm, axon sheath, giant fiber lobes which contain stellate ganglion cell bodies, and the remaining ganglion including giant synapses. To identify the labeled lipids, stellate ganglia including giant fiber lobes and the remaining tissue were first incubated separately with [14C]glucose, [32P]phosphate, [14C]serine, [14C]acetate and [3H]myristate. The radioactivity from glucose, after conversion to glycerol and fatty acids, was incorporated into most lipids, including triacylglycerol, free fatty acids, cardiolipin, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylserine, sphingomyelin and ceramide 2-aminoethylphosphanate [corrected]. The radioactivity from serine was largely incorporated into phosphatidylserine and, to a lesser extent, into other phospholipids, mainly as the base component. The sphingoid bases of ceramide and sphingomyelin were also significantly labeled. Saturated and monounsaturated and, to a lesser extent, polyunsaturated fatty acids of these lipids were synthesized from acetate, glucose and myristate. Among the major lipids, cholesterol was not labeled by any of the radioactive compounds used. Ganglion residues incorporated the most radioactivity in total lipids from either [14C]glucose or [14C]serine, followed by giant fiber lobes and then sheath. Axoplasm incorporated the least. Among various lipids, phosphatidylethanolamine with shorter saturated fatty acids and phosphatidylglycerol contained the most radioactivity from glucose in all regions. Axoplasm was characterized by a higher proportion of glucose radioactivity in ceramide, sphingomyelin and phosphatidylglycerol. Axoplasm and sheath contained a higher proportion of serine radioactivity than did the other two regions in ceramide. Essentially no radioactivity from [14C]galactose was incorporated in any region.     

Sphingolipids are essential for the growth of Chinese hamster ovary cells. Restoration of the growth of a mutant defective in sphingoid base biosynthesis by exogenous sphingolipids.

We previously isolated a temperature-sensitive Chinese hamster ovary cell mutant (strain SPB-1) with thermolabile serine palmitoyltransferase, which is involved in the first step of sphingolipid synthesis (Hanada, K., Nishijima, M., and Akamatsu, Y. (1990) J. Biol. Chem. 265, 22137-22142). In this study, sphingolipid-deficient culture medium was used to examine the effect of exogenous sphingolipids on the cell growth of SPB-1. When cultivated in the sphingolipid-deficient medium, SPB-1 cells ceased growing at non-permissive temperatures. Under these conditions, de novo sphingolipid synthesis ceased in the SPB-1 cells, resulting in a decrease in levels of sphingomyelin and ganglioside sialyl lactosylceramide (GM3), whereas the parental CHO-K1 cells grew logarithmically with normal sphingolipid synthesis. Exogenous sphingosine restored the contents of both sphingomyelin and GM3 in the SPB-1 cells near to the parental levels through metabolic utilization and allowed the mutant cells to grow even at the non-permissive temperature. Similarly, exogenous sphingomyelin restored the sphingomyelin levels and only partly the GM3 levels and also suppressed the temperature-sensitivity of the SPB-1 cell growth. In contrast, exogenous glucosylceramide, which restored the GM3 levels but not the sphingomyelin levels, failed to suppress the temperature sensitivity of the SPB-1 cell growth. Combination of exogenous sphingomyelin with ceramide, glucosylceramide, GM3, or sphingoid bases did not show any synergistic or additive effect on the SPB-1 cell growth enhancement, compared with sphingomyelin alone. The results indicated that the temperature sensitivity of the SPB-1 cell growth was due to the lack of cellular sphingolipids, possibly that of sphingomyelin.     

Glycosphingolipid synthesis is essential for MDCK cell differentiation

Glycosphingolipids (GSLs), which are highly concentrated at the apical membrane of polarized epithelial cells, are key components of cell membranes and are involved in a large number of processes. Here, we investigated the ability of hypertonicity (high salt medium) to induce Madin-Darby Canine Kidney (MDCK) cell differentiation and found an increase in GSL synthesis under hypertonic conditions. Then, we investigated the role of GSLs in MDCK cell differentiation induced by hypertonicity by using two approaches. First, cultured cells were depleted of GSLs by exposure to D-threo-1-phenyl-2-decanoylamino-3-morpholino-1-propanol (D-PDMP). Second, cells were transfected with an siRNA specific to glucosylceramide synthase, the key enzyme in GSL synthesis. Exposure of cells to both treatments resulted in the impairment of the development of the apical membrane domain and the formation of the primary cilium. Enzymatic inhibitions of the de novo and the salvage pathway of GSL synthesis were used to determine the source of ceramide responsible of the GSL increase involved in the development of the apical membrane domain induced by hypertonicity. The results from this study show that extracellular hypertonicity induces the development of a differentiated apical membrane in MDCK cells by performing a sphingolipid metabolic program that includes the formation of a specific pool of GSLs. The results suggest as precursor a specific pool of ceramides formed by activation of a Fumonisin B1-resistant ceramide synthase as a component of the salvage pathway.     

Sphingolipid metabolism is a crucial determinant of cellular fate in nonstimulated proliferating Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells

The present report was addressed to study the influence of sphingolipid metabolism in determining cellular fate. In nonstimulated proliferating Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells, sphingolipid de novo synthesis is branched mainly to a production of sphingomyelin and ceramide, with a minor production of sphingosylphosphocholine, ceramide 1-phosphate, and sphingosine 1-phosphate. Experiments with (32)P as a radioactive precursor showed that sphingosine 1-phosphate is produced mainly by a de novo independent pathway. Enzymatic inhibition of the de novo pathway and ceramide synthesis affected cell number and viability only slightly, without changing sphingosine 1-phosphate production. By contrast, inhibition of sphingosine kinase-1 activity provoked a significant reduction in both cell number and viability in a dose-dependent manner. When sphingolipid metabolism was studied, an increase in de novo formed ceramide was found, which correlated with the concentration of enzyme inhibitor and the reduction in cell number and viability. Knockdown of sphingosine kinase-1 expression also induced an accumulation of de novo synthesized ceramide, provoking a slight reduction in cell number and viability similar to that induced by a low concentration of the sphingosine kinase inhibitor. Taken together, our results indicate that the level of de novo formed ceramide is controlled by the synthesis of sphingosine 1-phosphate, which appears to occur through a de novo synthesis-independent pathway, most probably the salvage pathway, that is responsible for the MDCK cell fate, suggesting that under proliferating conditions, a dynamic interplay exists between the de novo synthesis and the salvage pathway.     

The role of ceramide in regulating endoplasmic reticulum function

Sphingolipids (SLs) are an important class of membrane lipids containing a long chain sphingoid base backbone. SL synthesis is compartmentalized between two major cell organelles, the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and the Golgi apparatus. The initial steps of sphingolipid synthesis take place in the ER, where the simplest SL, ceramide, is synthesized. Although ceramide is a critical membrane component, an imbalance of ceramide levels can have significant deleterious effects on cell properties leading to events such as apoptosis. For this reason and others, ER ceramide levels must be tightly regulated. Here, we describe the biological and biophysical properties of ceramide and discuss how this might impact the ER membrane. This article is part of a special issue entitled: ER Platforms for Membrane Lipid Dynamics.     

Free ceramide, sphingomyelin, and glucosylceramide of isolated rat intestinal cells.

Free ceramide, glucosylceramide, and sphingomyelin were isolated from mature cells of adult rat small intestine. Free ceramide and ceramide cleaved from sphingomyelin by enzymatic hydrolysis were fractionated by thin-layer chromatography on borate-impregnated silica gel plates. Sphingoid bases were characterized by gas-liquid chromatography of aldehydes formed upon periodate oxidation. Fatty acids were quantified as methyl esters. Ceramide structures were confirmed by direct-inlet mass spectrometry. Free ceramide was found to contain two major long-chain bases in nearly equal quantity: sphingosine, mainly linked to palmitic acid, and 4D-hydroxysphinganine associated with C20 to C24 fatty acids, 22% being hydroxylated. Sphinganine occurred as a minor component linked to nonhydroxy fatty acids. Sphingomyelin contained the three long-chain bases and 63% of its ceramide was N-palmitoyl-sphingosine. Mass spectrometry of glucosylceramide confirmed 4D-hydroxyshingamine as the major sphingoid base associated preferentially with longer chain hydroxy fatty acids.     

Ceramide generation by two distinct pathways in tumor necrosis factor alpha-induced cell death

Ceramide accumulation in the cell can occur from either hydrolysis of sphingomyelin or by de novo synthesis. In this study, we found that blocking de novo ceramide synthesis significantly inhibits ceramide accumulation and subsequent cell death in response to tumor necrosis factor alpha. When cells were pre-treated with glutathione, a proposed cellular regulator of neutral sphingomyelinase, inhibition of ceramide accumulation at early time points was achieved with attenuation of cell death. Inhibition of both pathways achieved near-complete inhibition of ceramide accumulation and cell death indicating that both pathways of ceramide generation are stimulated. This illustrates the complexity of ceramide generation in cytokine action.