Chain elongation of fatty acid in brain: a comparison of mitochondrial and microsomal enzyme activities

The activities of mitochondrial and microsomal fatty acid-elongating enzymes have been measured in rat brain during postnatal development and in brains of jimpy, msd, and quaking mice. The microsomal enzyme activity rose from a low in the immature brain to a maximum at 21 days of age and then declined to low levels in the mature brain. The developmental patterns were similar for all acyl-CoAs tested. The maximum activity fell sharply from C₁₆ to C₁₈ and then fell gradually with increase in fatty acid chain length up to C₂₄. The activities for monounsaturated acyl-CoAs were slightly higher than for corresponding saturated esters. The mitochondrial enzyme activity was high in the immature brain and remained virtually unchanged during further brain development. This activity steadily decreased with increasing chain length from C₁₆ to C₂₄. The microsomal enzyme activity was reduced in myelin-deficient mutants compared to their controls. The extent of reduction was most severe for C₂₀- to C₂₄-CoAs followed by C₁₈-CoA and then C₁₆-CoA, for which the activity was reduced only in the jimpy mouse. The activities for C₂₀- to C₂₄-CoAs in jimpy, msd, and quaking mice were 12, 38, and 52% of the control, respectively. The mitochondrial enzyme activity was not affected by these mutations. Fatty acid synthetase activity was similar in the mutant and control mice. These results suggest that the deficiency of long-chain fatty acids in the central nervous system of myelin-deficient mouse mutants is due to reduced synthesis by the microsomal enzyme, which is directly related to myelination. The brain mitochondrial enzyme appears to be unrelated to myelination.     

SYNTHESIS OF ETHANOLAMINE PHOSPHOGLYCERIDES BY MICROSOMES FROM THE BRAINS OF JIMPY AND QUAKING MICE

Abstract— —Brains of jimpy and quaking mice are known to be deficient in myelin and alkenylacyl-glycero-phosphorylethanolamines (alkenylacyl-GPE, ethanolamine plasmalogens). Ethanolamine plasmalogen synthetic activity appeared to be normal and ethanolamine phosphotransferase (EC 2.7.8.1) activities are higher in the brain microsomes from jimpy and quaking mice than in their littermate controls when the activities are assayed with alkylacylglycerols and CDP[¹⁴C]ethanolamine. When endogenous diradylglycerols were the substrate, the rate of synthesis of diacyl-GPE was normal but the rate of synthesis of the ether lipids, alkenylacyl-GPE and alkylacyl-GPE, was 33% and 8% below control levels for jimpy brain microsomes and quaking brain microsomes respectively. This difference is probably due to a normal content of diacylglycerols and a deficient content of alkylacylglycerols in the mutant brain microsomes. The apparent alkylacylglycerol deficiencies in the microsomes correspond with the ethanolamine plasmalogen deficiencies in the brains of these mutant mice.     

Proteolipids in the developing brains of normal mice and myelin deficient mutants

Abstract— A developmental study of proteolipids from brains of normal mice and two myelin deficient mutants, jimpy and quaking, was performed. The proteolipids were obtained by diethyl ether precipitation of washed total lipid extracts from whole brains and were analysed on polyacrylamide gels containing sodium dodecyl sulphate. The amount of ether precipitable material extractable from normal brains increased almost six-fold between 12 and 21 days posr partum. This increase was not observed with the mutant mice. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoretic analysis of the proteolipid fraction showed it to be heterogeneous, with eight major protein bands. Two of these proteins increased rapidly in quantity in normal mice between 13 and 21 days. These two proteins were present, in severely reduced quantities in the brains of jimpy and quaking mice at all ages examined. One of these proteolipids was the major species present in proteolipid extracts from the brains of normal mature mice. This protein coelectrophoresed with proteolipid isolated from purified myelin and has been tentatively identified as the myelin proteolipid. The other proteolipid which was deficient in jimpy and quaking brains was not characterized, but it appeared to be of extra-myelin origin, and suggests that parts of the brain other than the myelin sheath may be involved in the jimpy and quaking disorders.     

Studies on myelin basic protein-specific protein methylase I in various dysmyelinating mutant mice

Jimpy mice are dysmyelinating mutants characterized by producing near normal levels of myelin basic protein (MBP) in the brain but failing to incorporate these proteins into the myelin sheath. In this study, the activity of MBP-specific protein-arginine N-methyltransferase (protein methylase I) was studied in the brains of normal and jimpy mice of different ages. The enzyme activity varied little with age in normal mice but in 18 and 21 days-old homozygous jimpy mice the activity was reduced by 50% and 75% respectively from the level of their normal littermates. Interestingly, however, heterozygous jimpy mice who are phenotypically normal and quaking mice (a similar dysmyelinating mutant) showed unaltered enzyme levels.     

Expression of Myelin Proteolipid Protein and Basic Protein in Normal and Dysmyelinating Mutant Mice

Expression of myelin proteins was studied in the brains of 21-day-old normal mice and three dysmyelinating mutants-jimpy, quaking, and shiverer. Total brain polyribosomes and poly(A)+ mRNA were translated in two cell-free systems and the levels of synthesis of the myelin basic proteins (MBPs) and proteolipid protein (PLP) were determined. Synthesis of the MBPs in quaking homozygotes was at or above normal levels but PLP synthesis was significantly reduced to approximately 15% of control values, indicating independent effects on the expression of these proteins in this mutant. Immunoblot analysis of 21-day-old quaking brain homogenates showed a reduction in the steady-state levels of MBPs and PLP, suggesting a failure of newly synthesized MBPs to be incorporated into a stable membrane structure such as myelin. In the shiverer mutant very little synthesis of MBPs was observed, whereas greater synthesis of PLP occurred (approximately 50% of control). Almost no MBP, and low levels of PLP, were detected in the immunoblots, suggesting the possibility of a partial failure of PLP to be assembled into myelin in shiverer. In the jimpy mutant, low levels of MBP synthesis were observed in vitro (approximately 26% of controls) and very little synthesis of PLP was evident. The immunoblots of 21-day jimpy brain homogenates revealed no appreciable steady-state levels of PLP or MBP, again indicating that most newly synthesized MBPs were not incorporated into a stable membrane structure in this mutant. In sum, the data show that in the three cases examined, the mutation appears to affect the expression of the MBPs and PLP independently. Furthermore, regardless of their absolute levels of synthesis these proteins may or may not be assembled into myelin.     

A spin-label study of sciatic nerves from quaking, jimpy and trembler mice.

The spin labels, 5-nitroxide stearic acid and 16-nitroxide stearic acid were incorporated into whole sciatic nerves dissected from normal, quaking, jimpy and trembler mice. With 5-nitroxide stearic acid, we have studied the thermal variation of the maximal apparent coupling constant (T) between 0 degrees C and 50 degrees C. Within this range of temperatures, we obtained identical values of 2 T for nerves from normal and jimpy mice, whereas 2 T was smaller for nerves from quaking and trembler mice. With 16-nitroxide stearic acid, composite spectra were recorded, particularly in the high-field range. A line characteristic of myelin was clearly observed in the spectra of nerves from normal and jimpy mice; its intensity was somewhat less in nerves from quaking mice and much less in spectra from trembler mice. A shoulder in the principal highfield line of the spectrum is modified only with nerves from jimpy mice. The results agree well with those obtained by electron microscopy, which reveal normal myelination in nerves from jimpy mice, a slight modification of the myelin from those of quaking mice and a practically complete demyelination in peripheral nerves from trembler mice. However, the structure of the nerves of jimpy mice also seems to be modified at an, as yet, undetermined level.     

Brain nucleic acids and protein in various neurological mutant mice

A study was made to compare alterations in the cerebral contents of nucleic acids and protein of several mouse strains affected by different neurological mutations: jimpy, msd, quaking, reeler, weaver, and dwarf. In normal and affected jimpy and msd mice the brain components analyzed were very similar. On the other hand, the cerebral hemispheres of quaking mice showed significant decreases in total RNA and DNA, when compared with those of normal littermates. In the affected reeler and weaver mice, total protein, RNA, and DNA in the cerebellum differed markedly from controls. Protein decreased slightly, whereas nucleic acids showed no significant variation in the cerebral hemispheres of the same mutants. The cerebella and cerebral hemispheres of affected dwarf mice had wet weights and total protein contents that were about 20% lower than those of their controls; DNA did not vary significantly in the various brain regions analyzed. The decrease of DNA we report in reeler and weaver mutant cerebellum in toto quantifies the lack of cell number, in contrast to histological studies which give only semiquantitative information.     

PLASMALOGENASE ACTIVITIES IN THE BRAINS OF JIMPY AND QUAKING MICE

The activity of plasmalogenase, which hydrolyzes the vinyl ether linkage of the plasmalogen molecule, increased markedly in control mouse brains during the period of most active myelin deposition. Only a slight increase in plasmalogenase activity was found in brains from jimpy mice. At all ages studied, the jimpy mouse brains had less plasmalogenase activity than the littermate control brains and this disparity increased with increasing age. By 25 days of age the jimpy brains contained only 43% of the activity observed in control brains. Adult quaking mouse brains also had significantly less plasmalogenase activity when compared to littermate controls. Thus, the plasmalogenase activities correlate well with the degree of myelination.     

A spin-label study of sciatic nerves from quaking,jimpy and trembler mice

The spin labels, 5-nitroxide stearic acid and 16-nitroxide stearic acid were incorporated into whole sciatic nerves dissected from normal, quaking, jimpy and trembler mice. With 5-nitroxide stearic acid, we have studied the thermal variation of the maximal apparent coupling constant ($\text{T}{}_6$) between 0°C and 50°C. Within this range of temperatures, we obtained identical values of 2 $\text{T}{}_6$ for nerves from normal and jimpy mice, whereas 2 $\text{T}{}_6$ was smaller for nerves from quaking and trembler mice. With 16-nitroxide stearic acid, composite spectra were recorded, particularly in the high-field range. A line characteristic of myelin was clearly observed in the spectra of nerves from normal and jimpy mice; its intensity was somewhat less in nerves from quaking mice and much less in spectra from trembler mice. A shoulder in the principal highfield line of the spectrum is modified only with nerves from jimpy mice.The results agree well with those obtained by electron microscopy, which reveal normal myelination in nerves from jimpy mice, a slight modification of the myelin from those of quaking mice and a practically complete demyelination in peripheral nerves from trembler mice. However, the structure of the nerves of jimpy mice also seems to be modified at an, as yet, undetermined level.     

Developmental Expression of the Myelin Proteolipid Protein and Basic Protein mRNAs in Normal and Dysmyelinating Mutant Mice

Expression of the myelin proteolipid protein (PLP) was examined in the nuclei and polysomes of 12-27-day-old quaking, jimpy, and shiverer mouse brains and in 2-27-day-old normal brains and compared with expression of the myelin basic proteins (MBPs). Northern blots showed the presence of multiple mouse PLP RNAs, the developmental expression of which coincided with myelination. Two major mouse PLP RNAs, 3.5 and 2.6 kilobases in length, were observed in both cytoplasmic polyribosomes and nuclei, and, in addition, a larger 4.6-kilobase PLP RNA was observed in nuclei. Quantitative measurements with slot blot analyses showed that the levels of PLP and MBP RNAs peaked simultaneously at 18 days in nuclei but that maximal levels of PLP RNA lagged behind MBP RNA by several days in the polysomes. The developmental expression of both major classes of myelin protein mRNAs was affected in all three mutants. In shiverer brains, the levels of PLP mRNA in polysomes and nuclei were only 30-55% of control levels after 15 days. Thus, the deletion of a portion of the MBP gene appeared to have a major effect on the expression of the PLP gene in this mutant. In jimpy mice, where the mutation has been shown to involve the PLP gene, expression of MBP mRNA was also severely reduced, to less than 25% of control values. In quaking brains, the expression of each gene followed its own developmental course, different from each other and different from the normal mouse. The extent to which the expression of PLP and MBP was affected by the quaking mutation depended on the age at which it was examined.     

The early region of human papovavirus JC induces dysmyelination in transgenic mice

Transgenic mice containing the early region of human papovavirus JC were produced. Some of these mice exhibited a shaking disorder similar to the previously described mutant mice jimpy or quaking. Neuropathological analysis indicated a dysmyelination in the central nervous system, but not the peripheral nervous system. A high level of JCV T-antigen mRNA was present in the brains of the mice exhibiting the myelin disorder. JC virus is associated in humans with a degenerative demyelinating disease: progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy. The JCV-containing transgenic mice may therefore provide an animal model for studying this disease.     

Myelin Proteolipid Protein Gene Expression in Jimpy and Jimpymsd Mice

Proteolipid protein (PLP) gene expression was studied in the dysmyelinating mouse mutant jimpy(msd) (jpmsd; myelin synthesis deficient) and compared with that in wild-type mice and the allelic mutant, jimpy (jp). Southern analyses of genomic DNA from jpmsd mice revealed no major rearrangements of the PLP gene relative to the wild-type mouse PLP gene. PLP-specific mRNA levels were significantly reduced in these mutant mice, although both the 3.2- and 2.4-kilobase PLP-specific mRNAs were seen. Also, no size differences in either PLP or DM20 mRNAs were found by S1 nuclease assays of brain RNA from either jpmsd or wild-type mice. Both PLP and DM20 protein were detectable at low levels in jpmsd brain homogenates, and these proteins comigrated with PLP and DM20 protein from normal mice. Western analyses showed an altered PLP:DM20 ratio in jpmsd mice relative to wild-type mice; DM20 levels exceeded PLP levels. It is surprising that a similar pattern of expression was seen in normal mice at less than 10 days of age: DM20 protein expression preceding PLP expression. Thus, jpmsd mice are capable of synthesizing normal PLP and DM20 protein; however, the PLP gene defect has affected the normal developmental pattern of expression for these two proteins.     

X-ray diffraction study of myelin structure in immature and mutant mice

X-ray diffraction patterns were obtained from freshly dissected central and peripheral nerves of quaking, myelin synthesis deficiency ($\text{msd}$), and trembler mutants, as well as immature and adult normal mice. The patterns were compared with respect to strength of myelin diffraction, background scatter level, repeat period, and intensity and linewidth of Bragg reflections. The deficiency of myelin in optic nerves was found to be (in decreasing severity): quaking > immature > trembler ? normal adult; and in sciatic nerves: $\text{trembler > immature > quaking}\text{msd ?}\text{normal}$ adult. Repeat periods about 3 Å less than that for normal adult sciatic myelin were detected in corresponding nerves from immature, quaking, and trembler mice. In some trembler sciatic nerves a second phase having a 190–200 Å period and accounting for about 60% of the total ordered myelin was also evident. Comparison of electron density profiles of membrane units calculated from the repeat periods and diffracted intensities for sciatic myelins indicate structural differences at the molecular level. The main findings are: (1) quaking myelin shows a significant elevation of density in the external protein-water layer between membrane bilayers; (2) the membrane bilayer of immature myelin is ≈ 2 Å thinner than that for normal adult; (3) the membrane bilayer of the more compact phase in trembler myelin is ≈ 5 Å thinner than for normal; and (4) the difference in repeat periods for the two phases present in some of the trembler nerves can be accounted for predominantly by distinct membrane bilayer separations at the external boundary.     

QUAKING MOUSE: ISOLATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF MYELIN PROTEIN

A new technique, involving final purification on a continuous CsCl gradient, was utilized for the isolation of cerebral myelin from adult (4- to 6-month-old) quaking mice, littermate controls and young (10-day-old) normal mice. The yield of myelin from either adult quaking or normal young mice was 5-10 per cent of that from adult controls. After deli-pidation, myelin proteins were separated by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in buffers containing sodium dodecylsulphate. Two gel systems were utilized: (1) a high-resolution discontinuous electrophoresis system; and (2) a continuous system utilizing gels cross linked with ethylenediacrylate (EDA). The gels from the discontinuous system were stained with Fast Green and quantified by densitometry. The base lability of the EDA-linked gels permitted direct chemical determination of protein in specific bands. Myelin from brains of normal adult mice contained, as major components, one proteo-lipid and two basic proteins. There were also a number of high-molecular-weight proteins which represented a significant portion of the total. Myelin from quaking mice had qualitatively a similar distribution of proteins but the high-molecular-weight fraction comprised a much greater percentage of the total protein. The ratio of basic to proteolipid protein in preparations from quaking mice was considerably higher than that in the myelin from control mice. The distribution pattern of the myelin proteins from 10-day-old mice was quantitatively similar to that of quaking mice. Altogether the evidence supports the hypothesis that the quaking mutant provides a model of an immature nervous system with respect to myelination.     

Expression of Myelin Basic Protein Genes in Several Dysmyelinating Mouse Mutants During Early Postnatal Brain Development

Northern blot and "dot" blot analyses using a myelin basic protein (MBP) specific cDNA probe and in vitro translation techniques were utilized to estimate the relative levels of myelin basic protein messenger RNA (mRNA) in the brains of C57BL/6J control mice, three dysmyelinating mutants (qk/qk, jp/Y, and shi/shi), and three heterozygote controls (qk/+, jp/+, and shi+) during early postnatal development. In general, the MBP mRNA levels measured directly by Northern blot and "dot" blot analyses correlated well with the indirect in vitro translation measurements. The Northern blots indicated that the size of MBP mRNAs in quaking and jimpy brain polysomes appeared to be similar to controls. Very low levels of MBP mRNAs were observed in shi/shi brain polyribosomes throughout early postnatal development. Compared to C57BL/6J controls, accumulation of MBP mRNAs in qk/qk and qk/+ brain polyribosomes was delayed by several days. That is, whereas MBP mRNA levels were below normal between 12 and 18 days, normal levels of message had accumulated in both qk/qk and qk/+ brain polyribosomes by 21 days. Furthermore, normal levels of MBP mRNAs were observed to be maintained until at least 27 days. MBP mRNA levels remained well below control levels in jp/Y brain polyribosomes throughout early postnatal development. The levels did, however, fluctuate slightly and peaked at 15 days in both jp/Y and jp/+ brains, 3 days earlier than in normal mice. Thus, it appears that jimpy and quaking mice exhibit developmental patterns of MBP expression different from each other and from C57BL/6J control mice.     

Protein-catalyzed exchange of phosphatidylinositol between rat brain microsomes and myelin.

Exchange of phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidylcholine between microsomal and myelin membranes has been demonstrated. This exchange is reversible and catalyzed by soluble proteins from the brain homogenate precipitated at pH 5.1. The extent of exchange of phosphatidylinositol from microsomal membrane to myelin is dependent upon pH and temperature, with an optimum around pH 7 and at 50 degrees C. Maximum exchange was observed at approximately equal amounts of microsomal, myelin, and supernatant proteins. The extent of the catalyzed exchange increases 4- to 8-fold upon using sonicated or heat-treated myelin as an acceptor membrane. Heating of microsomal membranes results in no change. The extent of catalyzed exchange of phosphatidylcholine is less than that of the phosphatidylinositol. The exchange of other phospholipids and glycolipids between microsomal and myelin membranes cannot be demonstrated. The catalytic activity of the pH 5.1 supernatant proteins in rat brain for the exchange of phosphatidylinositol increases with age after birth and reaches a maximum around 21 days of age analogous to the process of myelination. The pH 5.1 supernatant proteins from quaking and jimpy mutant mice has normal catalytic activity.     

Decreased Long-Chain Fatty Acyl CoA Elongation Activity in Quaking and Jimpy Mouse Brain: Deficiency in One Enzyme or Multiple Enzyme Activities?

Using long-chain fatty acyl CoAs (arachidoyl CoA and behenoyl CoA), a decrease in overall fatty acid chain elongation activity was observed in the quaking and jimpy mouse brain microsomes relative to controls. Arachidoyl CoA (20:0) and behenoyl CoA (22:0) elongation activities were depressed to about 50% and 80% of control values in quaking and jimpy mice, respectively. Measurement of the individual enzymatic activities of the elongation system revealed a single deficiency in enzyme activity; only the condensation activity was reduced to the same extent as total elongation in both quaking and jimpy mice. The activities of the other three enzymes, beta-ketoacyl CoA reductase, beta-hydroxyacyl CoA dehydrase, and trans-2-enoyl CoA reductase, in both mutants were similar to the activities present in the control mouse. In addition, the activities of these three enzymes were more than two to three orders of magnitude greater than the condensing enzyme activity in all three groups, establishing that the condensing enzyme catalyzes the rate-limiting reaction step of total elongation. When the elongation of palmitoyl CoA was measured, only a 25% decrease in total elongation occurred in both mutants; a similar percent decrease in the condensation of palmitoyl CoA also was observed. The activities of the other three enzymes were unaffected. These results support the concept of either multiple elongation pathways or multiple condensing enzymes.     

Hydrolase activities in brain of neurological mutants: cerebroside galactosidase, nitrophenyl galactoside hydrolase, nitrophenyl glucoside hydrolase and sulphatase

Abstract—

• 1 The brains of 17-day-old quaking and jimpy mice were compared with those of the corresponding normal phenotypes. The concentrations of cerebroside and sulphatide were found to be markedly lower in the affected mutants, while the relative amounts of ceramide and free fatty acid appeared normal.
• 2 The concentration of cerebroside glactosidase was not significantly abnormal in the jimpy mice but was about 17 per cent lower in quaking mice. In contrast, the relative amount of the enzyme that could be dispersed by sonication was considerably higher in the jimpy animals. It is suggested that this increase is a causative factor in the aetiology of the latter disease.
• 3 The concentrations of other acid hydrolases were determined, as well as the relative amounts dispersible by sonication. No difference was seen between the phenotypes with NPGalH, NPGluH, and nitrocatechol sulphate hydrolase.
• 4 An improved solvent system for the TLC detection of ceramide in brain lipids is described.

     

Myelin subfractions isolated from mouse brain. Studies of normal mice during development, quaking mutants, and three brain regions.

Myelin isolated from three areas of mouse brain, from whole brain at several ages in normal mice, and from whole brain of adult quaking mutant mice was separated into seven bands and a pellet on discontinuous density gradients using 0.32, 0.45, 0.55, 0.60, 0.70, 0.75 and 0.85 M sucrose. The distribution of myelin in the subfractions was independent of homogenization and shocking conditions employed to isolate the myelin preparations, but was related to the type of myelin applied to the gradient. Compared to myelin isolated from older animals, myelin isolated from 18-24 day old mice displayed a distribution pattern with greater proportions of material banding at lesser sucrose densities. Similarly, myelin obtained from hindbrain contained proportionately more material layering at lesser sucrose densities compared to myelin isolated from cerebral cortex. Myelin subfraction patterns observed for 8-12 day old control mice and quaking mutants were unlike each other or any other myelin preparation examined. In the 18-90 days old animals, the markers studied were not uniformly distributed among the myelin subfractions. The pellet and the layer banding at the 0.75/0.85 M sucrose interface contained the highest specific concentrations of sialic acid, nucleic acid, and total adenosine triphosphatase activity. In contrast, the specific activity of 2',3'-cyclicnucleotide-3'-phosphohydrolase was lowest in the pellet as well as the three bands obtained above 0.60 M sucrose and was highest in the fraction banding at the 0.65/0.70 M sucrose interface. The results obtained were not consistent with an artifactual origin of the myelin subfractions, but instead suggested that the subfraction have physiological significance. One explanation for the different banding patterns observed between young and mature myelin may be the different amount of myelin in various brain regions during development.