Activation of membrane cholesterol by displacement from phospholipids

We tested the hypothesis that certain membrane-intercalating agents increase the chemical activity of cholesterol by displacing it from its low activity association with phospholipids. Octanol, 1,2-dioctanoyl-sn-glycerol (a diglyceride), and N-hexanoyl-D-erythrosphingosine (a ceramide) were shown to increase both the rate of transfer and the extent of equilibrium partition of human red blood cell cholesterol to methyl-beta-cyclodextrin. These agents also promoted the interaction of the sterol with two cholesterol-specific probes, cholesterol oxidase and saponin. Expanding the pool of bilayer phospholipids with lysophosphatides countered these effects. The three intercalators also protected the red cells against lysis by cholesterol depletion as if substituting for the extracted sterol. As is the case for excess plasma membrane cholesterol, treating human fibroblasts with octanol, diglyceride, or ceramide stimulated the rapid inactivation of their hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA reductase, presumably through an increase in the pool of endoplasmic reticulum cholesterol. These data supported the stated hypothesis and point to competition between cholesterol and endogenous and exogenous intercalators for association with membrane phospholipids. We also describe simple screens using red cells in a microtiter well format to identify intercalating agents that increase or decrease the activity of membrane cholesterol.     

Release of dialkylglycerol from purple membrane phospholipids by phospholipase D

When the major polar lipid of purple membrane, a dialkyl analogue of phosphatidyl glycerophosphate, is treated with phospholipase D under the usual assay conditions for this enzyme, the reaction yields dialkylglycerol and glycerol bisphosphate, i.e. the kind of products that would be expected from a phospholipase C reaction. The effect is seen both in native purple membranes and with the pure phospholipid in the form of liposomes. The specific activity and kinetic parameters Km and Vmax of phospholipase D for the purple membrane phospholipid are similar to those for egg phosphatidylcholine. The presence of phospholipase C impurities in the phospholipase D preparations has been ruled out as an explanation for the above observations. A hypothesis is suggested, taking into account the peculiar headgroup structure of the bacterial lipid, to explain the seemingly anomalous enzyme behavior.     

Cholesterol interactions with phospholipids in membranes.

Mammalian cell membranes are composed of a complex array of glycerophospholipids and sphingolipids that vary in head-group and acyl-chain composition. In a given cell type, membrane phospholipids may amount to more than a thousand molecular species. The complexity of phospholipid and sphingolipid structures is most likely a consequence of their diverse roles in membrane dynamics, protein regulation, signal transduction and secretion. This review is mainly focused on two of the major classes of membrane phospholipids in eukaryotic organisms, sphingomyelins and phosphatidylcholines. These phospholipid classes constitute more than 50% of membrane phospholipids. Cholesterol is most likely to associate with these lipids in the membranes of the cells. We discuss the synthesis and distribution in the cell of these lipids, how they are believed to interact with each other, and what cellular consequences such interactions may have. We also include a discussion about findings in the recent literature regarding cholesterol/phospholipid interactions in model membrane systems. Finally, we look at the recent trends in computer and molecular dynamics simulations regarding phospholipid and cholesterol/phospholipid behavior in bilayer membranes.     

Release of phospholipids from liposomal model membrane damaged by antibody and complement

When liposomal membranes were attacked by antibody and complement, enzymatic degradation of membrane phospholipids was not observed. However, intact membrane phospholipids were released into the surrounding medium in amounts beyond that expected from nonspecific protein-phospholipid interaction. On the other hand, when liposomal membranes were treated with phospholipase A purified from venom of "Habu" snake (Trimeresurus flavoviridis), trapped glucose marker was easily released, but phospholipids or their degradation products were not released into the medium and remained in the membrane structure.     

Cholesterol,triacylglicerols and phospholipids during Xenopus embryo development

Cholesterol, triacylglicerol and phospholipid content was analysed in Xenopus embryos during their early development (from day 1 to day 6). Triacylglicerols decrease significantly during the analysed stages and this can be explained by their use as energy substrate. Cholesterol and phospholipids, on the contrary, remain constant and are probably redistributed inside the embryo. The different phospholipid classes were separated by HPTLC. A constant decrease of PC and a marked increase of PS has been observed. The fatty acid composition of the single phospholipid classes has been analysed.     

Characterization of phospholipids in membrane vesicles derived from Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Many Gram-negative bacteria release membrane vesicles (MVs), but their phospholipid properties are poorly understood. Phosphatidylglycerol was present at high levels in MVs derived from Pseudomonas aeruginosa, but not in the cellular outer membrane. The ratio of stearic acid in MVs was high compared to that in the cellular outer membrane. These findings suggest that membrane rigidity is associated with MV biogenesis.     

Alcohol oxidation by Candida guilliermondii yeasts grown on hexadecanol

A number of enzyme systems involved in the first steps of hexadecane oxidation can be induced by hexadecanol, an intermediate product of hexadecane degradation. It has also been found that, in Candida guilliermondii cells and in their mitochondrial fraction, an oxidase system is induced when the cells are grown on hexadecanol. This system is similar to that in cells grown on hexadecane; it oxidises higher alcohols at a high rate and is not inhibited by the inhibitors of the man phosphorylating respiration chain. The membrane-bound alcohol dehydrogenase and aldehyde dehydrogenase activities resistant to pyrazole, an inhibitor of cytosol ethanol dehydrogenase, are induced together with the oxidase activity when the cells are grown on hexadecanol as well as on hexadecane. The oxidation of higher alcohols by whole cells is entirely inhibited by azide although their oxidation by mitochondria is resistant to the action of azide; apparently, azide inhibits the transport of alcohols into the cell.     

Cholesterol and the cell membrane

Recent studies concerning cholesterol, its behavior and its roles in cell growth provide important new clues to the role of this fascinating molecule in normal and pathological states.     

Cholesterol and other membrane active sterols: from membrane evolution to "rafts".

The appearance of "membrane-active sterols" in biological membranes of eukaryocytes is one of the major steps in membrane evolution. This is exemplified best by membrane-active sterols of mammalia. The effect of membrane-active sterols on controlling membrane permeability by reducing average "fluidity" and free volume is well established. Recently it became clear that cholesterol also has a key role in the lateral organization of membranes and free volume distribution. The latter two parameters seem to be involved in controlling membrane protein activity and "raft" formation. Such an effect allows for the fine tuning of membrane lipid composition, organization/dynamics, and function.     

Activation of phosphorylase kinase through autophosphorylation by membrane component phospholipids

Phosphatidic acid (PtdOH) has been shown not only to stimulate autophosphorylation and autoactivation of phosphorylase kinase of rabbit skeletal muscle but also to decrease the apparent Ka for Ca2+ on autophosphorylation sharply [Negami et al. (1985) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 131, 712-719]. In this study we investigated the interaction between PtdOH and other phospholipids on autophosphorylation and autoactivation of this enzyme. Acidic phospholipids, such as phosphatidylserine (PtdSer), phosphatidylinositol (PtdIns) and PtdOH, stimulated this reaction about 2-4-fold, and the approximate Ka values of this reaction were 10 micrograms/ml, 6.3 micrograms/ml and 30 micrograms/ml respectively. The molar ratio of PtdIns and PtdSer with maximal effect on autophosphorylation was about 1:1. Under these conditions PtdOH stimulated the initial velocity of autophosphorylation about 5.2-fold. When fully autophosphorylated, about 12-13 mol phosphate per tetramer (alpha beta gamma delta) were incorporated in the presence of mixed acidic phospholipids (PtdOH:PtdIns:PtdSer = 2:1:1), which was about twice as much as values observed without effectors. In the presence of mixed acidic phospholipids there was a concomitant enhancement of kinase activity, about 30-40-fold at pH 6.8 and 2.5-3-fold at pH 8.2. Mixed acidic phospholipids sharply decreased an apparent Ka for Ca2+ from 4 X 10(-5) M to 8 X 10(-7) M. With mixed acidic phospholipids as effectors this autophosphorylation occurred through an intramolecular mechanism. Based on these results, autophosphorylation and autoactivation of phosphorylase kinase in the presence of acidic phospholipids may account for an important regulatory mechanism of glycogenolysis in muscle contraction.     

Hydrolysis of membrane phospholipids by phospholipases of rat liver lysosomes

(1) The hydrolysis of ³²P- or myo-[2-³H]inositol-labelled rat liver microsomal phospholipids by rat liver lysosomal enzymes has been studied. (2) The relative rates of hydrolysis of phospholipids at pH4.5 are: sphingomyelin>phosphatidylethanolamine>phosphatidylcholine> phosphatidylinositol. (3) The predominant products of phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine hydrolysis are their corresponding lyso-compounds, indicating a slow rate of total deacylation. (4) Ca²⁺ inhibits the hydrolysis of all phospholipids, though only appreciably at high (>5mm) concentration. The hydrolysis of sphingomyelin is considerably less sensitive to Ca²⁺ than that of glycerophospholipids. (5) Analysis of the water-soluble products of phosphatidylinositol hydrolysis (by using myo-[³H]inositol-labelled microsomal fraction as a substrate) produced evidence that more than 95% of the product is phosphoinositol, which was derived by direct cleavage from phosphatidylinositol, rather than by hydrolysis of glycerophosphoinositol. (6) This production of phosphoinositol, allied with negligible lysophosphatidylinositol formation and a detectable accumulation of diacylglycerol, indicates that lysosomes hydrolyse membrane phosphatidylinositol almost exclusively in a phospholipase C-like manner. (7) Comparisons are drawn between the hydrolysis by lysosomal enzymes of membrane substrates and that of pure phospholipid substrates, and also the possible role of phosphatidylinositol-specific lysosomal phospholipase C in cellular phosphatidylinositol catabolism is discussed.     

Polysialic acid can mediate membrane interactions by interacting with phospholipids

Polysialic acid (polySia) is expressed on the surface of neural cells, neuroinvasive bacterial cells and several tumor cells. PolySia chains attached to NCAM can influence both trans interactions between membranes of two cells and cis interactions. Here, we report on the involvement of phospholipids in regulation of membrane interactions by polySia. The pH at the surface of liposomes, specific molecular area of phosphatidylcholine molecules, phase transition of DPPC bilayers, cyclic voltammograms of BLMs, and electron micrographs of phosphatidylcholine vesicles were studied after addition of polysialic acid free in solution. The results indicate that polySia chains can associate with phosphatidylcholine bilayers, incorporate into the polar part of a phospholipid monolayer, modulate cis interactions between phosphatidylcholine molecules, and facilitate trans interactions between apposing phospholipid vesicles. These observations imply that polySia attached to NCAM or to lipids can behave similarly.     

Oxidation of unsaturated phospholipids in membrane bilayer mixtures is accompanied by membrane fluidity changes

Steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy has been used to obtain information on oxidation processes and associated dynamical and structural changes in model membrane bilayers made from single unilamellar vesicles (SUV's) of 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DOPC) mixed with increasing amounts of 1-stearoyl-2-arachidonoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (SAPC). The highly unsaturated arachidonoyl chain containing four double bonds is prone to oxidation. Lipid oxidation was initiated chemically by a proper oxidant and could be followed on line via the fluorescence changes of an incorporated fluorescent lipophilic fatty acid: 4,4-difluoro-5-(4-phenyl-1,3-butadienyl)-4-bora-3a,4a-diaza-s-indacene-3-undecanoic acid (BP-C11). The oxidation rate increases with an increasing amount of SAPC. Size measurements of different SUV's incorporated with a trace amount of a phosphatidylcholine analogue of BP-C11 using fluorescence correlation spectroscopy have demonstrated that an increase of lipid unsaturation results in smaller sized SUV's and therefore to a larger curvature of the outer bilayer leaflet. This suggests that the lipid-lipid spacing has increased and that the unsaturated fatty acyl chains are better accessible for the oxidant. Oxidation results in some characteristic physical changes in membrane dynamics and structure, as indicated by the use of specific fluorescence probes. Fluorescence measurements of both dipyrenyl- and diphenylhexatriene-labelled PC introduced in non-oxidised and oxidised DOPC-SAPC membranes clearly show that the microfluidity (local fluidity at the very site of the probes) significantly decreases when the oxidised SAPC content increases in the lipid mixture. A similar effect is observed from the lateral diffusion experiments using monopyrenyl PC in the same membrane systems: the lateral diffusion is distinctly slower in oxidised membranes.     

Neural membrane phospholipids in alzheimer disease

Phospholipids form the backbone of neural membranes, providing fluidity and permeability. Two plasma membrane fractions, one from synaptosomes (SPM), the other glial and neuronal cell bodies (PM), were prepared from different regions of autopsied Alzheimer disease (AD) brains. Corresponding fractions were prepared from age-matched control brains. All fractions from AD brains showed significantly lower levels of ethanolamine glycerophospholipids and significantly higher levels of serine glycerophospholipids than the control brain. No differences were observed in phosphatidylcholine levels among these membranes. These results suggest that altered phospholipid composition of plasma membranes may be involved in the abnormal signal transduction and neurodegeneration in AD.Special issue dedicated to Dr. Leon S. Wolfe.     

Cholesterol stabilizes recombinant exocytic fusion pores by altering membrane bending rigidity

SNARE-mediated membrane fusion proceeds via the formation of a fusion pore. This intermediate structure is highly dynamic and can flicker between open and closed states. In cells, cholesterol has been reported to affect SNARE-mediated exocytosis and fusion pore dynamics. Here, we address the question of whether cholesterol directly affects the flickering rate of reconstituted fusion pores in vitro. These experiments were enabled by the recent development of a nanodisc⋅black lipid membrane recording system that monitors dynamic transitions between the open and closed states of nascent recombinant pores with submillisecond time resolution. The fusion pores formed between nanodiscs that bore the vesicular SNARE synaptobrevin 2 and black lipid membranes that harbored the target membrane SNAREs syntaxin 1A and SNAP-25B were markedly affected by cholesterol. These effects include strong reductions in flickering out of the open state, resulting in a significant increase in the open dwell-time. We attributed these effects to the known role of cholesterol in altering the elastic properties of lipid bilayers because manipulation of phospholipids to increase membrane stiffness mirrored the effects of cholesterol. In contrast to the observed effects on pore kinetics, cholesterol had no effect on the current that passed through individual pores and, hence, did not affect pore size. In conclusion, our results show that cholesterol dramatically stabilizes fusion pores in the open state by increasing membrane bending rigidity.     

Calcium-dependent activation of a multifunctional protein kinase by membrane phospholipids.

The proenzyme of a Ca2+-dependent protease-activated protein kinase previously obtained from mammalian tissues (Inoue, M., Kishimoto, A., Takai, Y., and Nishizuka, Y. (1977) J. Biol. Chem. 252, 7610-7616) was enzymatically fully active without limited proteolysis when Ca2+ and a membrane-associated factor were simultaneously present in the reaction mixture. The activation process was reversed by removing Ca2+ with ethylene glycol bis(beta-aminoethyl ether)N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid. An apparent Ka value for Ca2+ was less than 5 x 10(-5) M. Other divalent cations were inactive except for Sr2+, which was 5% as active as Ca2+. The factor was almost exclusively localized in membrane fractions of various tissues including brain, liver, kidney, skeletal muscle, blood cells, and adipose tissue. It was easily extractable with chloroform/methanol (2:1), and was recovered in the phospholipid fraction. In fact, this membrane factor could be replaced by chromatographically pure phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylserine, phosphatidic acid, or diphosphatidylglycerol. Phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylcholine, and sphingomyelin were far less effective under the comparable conditions. Ca2+-dependent modulator protein was unable to support enzymatic activity. The enzyme thus activated showed an ability to phosphorylate five histone fractions and muscle phosphorylase kinase, and appeared to possess multifunctional catalytic activities.     

Interactions of annexins with membrane phospholipids.

The annexins are proteins that bind to membranes and can aggregate vesicles and modulate fusion rates in a Ca2(+)-dependent manner. In this study, experiments are presented that utilize a pyrene derivative of phosphatidylcholine to examine the Ca2(+)-dependent membrane binding of soluble human annexin V and other annexins. When annexin V and other annexins were bound to liposomes containing 5 mol % acyl chain labeled 3-palmitoyl-2-(1-pyrenedecanoyl)-L-alpha-phosphatidylcholine, a decrease in the excimer-to-monomer fluorescence ratio was observed, indicating that annexin binding may decrease the lateral mobility of membrane phospholipids without inducing phase separation. The observed increases of monomer fluorescence occurred only with annexins and not with other proteins such as parvalbumin or bovine serum albumin. The extent of the increase of monomer fluorescence was dependent on the protein concentration and was completely and rapidly reversible by EDTA. Annexin V binding to phosphatidylserine liposomes was consistent with a binding surface area of 59 phospholipid molecules per protein. Binding required Ca2+ concentrations ranging between approximately 10 and 100 microM, where there was no significant aggregation or fusion of liposomes on the time scale of the experiments. The polycation spermine also displaced bound annexins, suggesting that binding is largely ionic in nature under these conditions.