Continuous fluorometric assay of Ca2+ transport by liposomes with Quin 2 entrapped: effect of phospholipase A2 and unsaturated long-chain fatty acids

The amount of free calcium in the cytoplasm is important in stimulation coupled with a number of cellular functions. The putative ionophoretic action of membrane lipid metabolites on Ca2+ offers convenient explanation of the stimulation-coupled mobilization of cytoplasmic Ca2+. To analyze the ionophoretic action of the lipid metabolites, we devised a sensitive method to study Ca2+ transport that uses liposome-entrapped Quin 2. A calcium ionophore, A23187, increased the fluorescence intensity of the Ca2+-Quin 2 complex as a function of Ca2+ transport into liposomes. A similar Ca2+ flux into the liposomes was induced by phospholipase A2 (PLA2) and by various long-chain fatty acids in liposomes that consist of phospholipids containing unsaturated fatty acids. The potencies of the fatty acids for Ca2+ transport is inversely correlated with their melting points. The oxidized products of the unsaturated fatty acids increased the Ca2+ and nonspecific permeability of the biological membranes. These results suggest that stimulation-coupled PLA2 activation might mediates the mobilization of cytoplasmic Ca2+.     

Significance of non-esterified fatty acids in iron uptake by intestinal brush-border membrane vesicles

Iron uptake from Fe/ascorbate by mouse brush-border membrane vesicles is not greatly inhibited by prior treatment with a variety of protein-modification reagents or heat. Non-esterified fatty acid levels in mouse proximal small intestine brush-border membrane vesicles show a close positive correlation with initial Fe uptake rates. Loading of rabbit duodenal brush-border membrane vesicles with oleic acid increases Fe uptake. Depletion of mouse brush-border membrane vesicle fatty acids by incubation with bovine serum albumin reduces Fe uptake. Iron uptake by vesicles from Fe/ascorbate is enhanced in an O2-free atmosphere. Iron uptake from Fe/ascorbate and Fe3+-nitrilotriacetate (Fe3+-NTA) were closely correlated. Incorporation of oleic acid into phosphatidylcholine/cholesterol (4:1) liposomes leads to greatly increased permeability to Yb3+, Tb3+, Fe2+/Fe3+ and Co2+. Ca2+ and Mg2+ are also transported by oleic acid-containing liposomes, but at much lower rates than transition and lanthanide metal ions. Fe3+ transport by various non-esterified fatty acids was highest with unsaturated acids. The maximal transport rate by saturated fatty acids was noted with chain length C14-16. It is suggested that Fe transport can be mediated by formation of Fe3+ (fatty acid)3 complexes.     

Regulation of Ca2+ efflux from kidney and liver mitochondria by unsaturated fatty acids and Na+ ions.

The effects of fatty acids and monovalent cations on the Ca2+ efflux from isolated liver and kidney mitochondria were investigated by means of electrode techniques. It was shown that unsaturated fatty acids and saturated fatty acids of medium chain length (C12 and C14) induced a Ca2+ efflux from mitochondria which was not inhibited by ruthenium red, but was specifically inhibited by Na+ and Li+. The Ca2+-releasing activity of unsaturated fatty acids did not correlate with their uncoupling activity. In kidney mitochondria a spontaneous, temperature-dependent Ca2+ efflux was observed which was inhibited either by albumin or by Na+. It is suggested that the net Ca2+ accumulation by mitochondria depends on the operation of independent pump and leak pathways. The pump is driven by the membrane potential and can be inhibited by ruthenium red, the leak depends on the presence of unsaturated fatty acids and is inhibited by Na+ and Li+. It is suggested that the unsaturated fatty acids produced by mitochondrial phospholipase A2 can be essential in the regulation of the Ca2+ retention in and the Ca2+ release from the mitochondria.     

Mechanism of arachidonic acid-induced Ca2+ mobilization from rat liver microsomes

Recent evidence indicates that unesterified arachidonic acid functions as a mediator of intracellular Ca2+ mobilization by inducing Ca2+ release from the endoplasmic reticulum of pancreatic islet beta cells in a manner closely similar to that of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate. To test the generality and explore the mechanism of this phenomenon we have examined the effects of arachidonic acid on calcium accumulation and release by hepatocyte subcellular fractions enriched in endoplasmic reticulum (microsomes). At concentrations above 0.017 mumol/mg microsomal protein, arachidonate induced rapid (under 2 min) 45Ca2+ release from microsomes that had been preloaded with 45Ca2+. Arachidonate also suppressed microsomal 45Ca2+ accumulation when present during the loading period, as reflected by reduction both of 45Ca2+ accumulation at steady state and of the rate of uptake. Neither the cyclooxygenase inhibitor indomethacin nor the lipoxygenase/cyclooxygenase inhibitor BW755C suppressed arachidonate-induced 45Ca2+ release, indicating that this effect was not dependent upon oxygenation of the fatty acid to metabolites. The long-chain unsaturated fatty acids oleate and linoleate were less potent than arachidonate in inducing 45Ca2+ release, and the saturated fatty acid stearate did not exert this effect. Albumin prevented 45Ca2+ release by arachidonate, presumably by binding the fatty acid. As is the case for inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate, the ability of arachidonate to induce 45Ca2+ release was dependent on the ambient free Ca2+ concentration. Arachidonate did not influence microsomal membrane permeability or Ca2+-ATPase activity and may exert its effects on microsomal Ca2+ handling by activation of a Ca2+ extrusion mechanism or by dissociating Ca2+ uptake from Ca2+-ATPase activity.     

Ca2+-translocation activities of phosphatidylinositol, diacylglycerol and phosphatidic acid inferred by quin-2 in artificial membrane systems

Ca2+-translocating activities of phosphatidylinositol, diacylglycerol and phosphatidic acid were investigated in phosphatidylcholine liposomes. Using a fluorescent indicator of Ca2+ concentration, quin-2, release of encapsulated Ca2+ from egg yolk phosphatidylcholine liposomes containing 2 mol% of one of these lipids was measured at 37 degrees C. The rate of Ca2+ translocation across the liposomal membrane mediated by phosphatidic acid was about 3-fold larger than those mediated by phosphatidylinositol and diacylglycerol. The result implies that phosphatidic acid has Ca2+-ionophore activity in the agonist dependent metabolism of inositol phospholipids. The ionophoretic activity depended on the degree of unsaturation of the fatty acyl chains. The Ca2+ translocation rate was smallest in dipalmitoylphosphatidic acid, and it increased in the order of dioleoyl-, dilinoleoyl- and dilinolenoyl-phosphatidic acid. Ca2+ mobilization of a stimulated cell is discussed in the light of Ca2+-ionophore activity of phosphatidic acid converted from inositol phospholipids.     

Effect of unsaturated fatty acids and Ca2+ on phosphatidylinositol synthesis and breakdown

CDP-diglyceride : inositol transferase was inhibited by unsaturated fatty acids. The inhibitory activity decreased in the following order: arachidonic acid greater than linolenic acid greater than linoleic acid greater than oleic acid greater than or equal to palmitoleic acid. Saturated fatty acids such as myristic acid, palmitic acid, and stearic acid had no effect. Calcium ion also inhibited the activity of CDP-diglyceride : inositol transferase. In rat hepatocytes, arachidonic acid inhibited 32P incorporation into phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidic acid without any significant effect on 32P incorporation into phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylserine. Ca2+ ionophore A23187 also inhibited 32P incorporation into phosphatidylinositol. However, 32P incorporation into phosphatidic acid was stimulated with Ca2+ ionophore A23187. Phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C was activated by unsaturated fatty acids. Polyunsaturated fatty acids such as arachidonic acid and linolenic acid had a stronger effect than di- and monounsaturated fatty acids. Saturated fatty acids had no effect on the phospholipase C activity. The phospholipase C required Ca2+ for activity. Arachidonic acid and Ca2+ had synergistic effects. These results suggest the reciprocal regulation of phosphatidylinositol synthesis and breakdown by unsaturated fatty acids and Ca2+.     

Effect of lysophospholipids, arachidonic acid and other fatty acids on regulation of Ca2+ transport in permeabilized pancreatic islets.

The immediate reaction products of PLA2-mediated hydrolysis of phospholipids were tested for their ability to induce Ca2+ mobilization from internal stores in permeabilized ob/ob mouse pancreatic islets. Lysophospholipids and unsaturated fatty acids increased the free Ca2+ concentration in the incubation medium of permeabilized ob/ob mouse pancreatic islets. The potency of the lysophospholipids decreased in the following order: lysophosphatidylcholine = lysophosphatidylglycerol much greater than lysophosphatidylinositol greater than lysophosphatidylserine much greater than lysophosphatidylethanolamine. Arachidonic acid and palmitoleic acid had a potency comparable to lysophosphatidylinositol, while palmitic acid was ineffective. The Ca(2+)-mobilizing effect of inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3) in permeabilized islet cells was additive to the lysophospholipid effect, indicating different sites of action. Both Ca(2+)-mobilizing effects were counteracted by the polyamine spermine, while the presence of Mg2+ shifted the Ca2+ concentrations to higher levels. Since not only an activation of a phospholipase C but also an activation of a phospholipase A2 with subsequent generation of lysophospholipids and free fatty acids is reported to occur in glucose-induced insulin secretion, the interaction of the phospholipase C reaction product IP3 with a lysophospholipid or an unsaturated fatty acid may affect the extent and duration of the rise in the free cytoplasmic Ca2+ concentration responsible for initiation of insulin secretion.     

Cis-unsaturated fatty acids induce both lipogenesis and calcium binding in adipocytes

The addition of 0.4-3 mM of cis-unsaturated fatty acids such as oleic acid (18:1) or linoleic acid (18:2) to intact rat adipocytes stimulated lipogenesis at 37 degrees C. Saturated or trans-unsaturated fatty acids were ineffective. Fluorescence photobleaching recovery studies performed under similar conditions indicated that the cis-unsaturated fatty acids do not alter lateral mobility of either a lipid probe or a general protein marker in the plasma membrane. A high concentration (7 mM) of Ca2+, which by itself has some stimulatory effect on lipogenesis, significantly potentiated the effect of oleic acid on this insulin-like activity. Measurement of 45Ca2+ binding by fat cells has indicated that cis-unsaturated (but not saturated) fatty acids increased 12- to 20-fold the amount of Ca2+ associated with the cells. The dependence of this effect on the fatty acid concentration correlates well with the effect of the fatty acid on the induction of lipogenesis. Our results suggest that cis-unsaturated fatty acids affect membrane organization in a manner which induces a significant increase in membrane associated or intracellular Ca2+. This increase may be responsible for inducing exocytotic-like processes which facilitate translocation of glucose transport activity from storage sites to the plasma membrane and thus produce an insulin-like effect.     

Calcium modulates fatty acid dynamics in rat liver plasma membranes

Modulation of free fatty acid binding in isolated rat liver plasma membranes was evaluated using the fluorescent fatty acids trans-parinaric and cis-parinaric acid as analogues for saturated and unsaturated fatty acids, respectively. Binding of trans-parinarate but not cis-parinarate was inhibited by physiological levels of Ca2+. The effect was reversed by addition of excess EGTA. Calcium decreased the aqueous to lipid partition coefficient, Kp, of trans-parinaric acid for liver plasma membranes while increasing the Kp for cis-parinaric acid. In addition, Ca2+ also altered the fluorescence lifetime, the quantum yield, and the relative partitioning of trans-parinaric and cis-parinaric acid into fluid and solid phases. Calcium and EGTA did not affect the binding of 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene. The effect of Ca2+ on the liver plasma membrane structure was to increase the rigidity of the membrane, primarily the solid domain. The fluorescence polarization of trans-parinarate, cis-parinarate, and 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene at 24 degrees C in liver plasma membranes in the absence of Ca2+ was 0.295 +/- 0.008, 0.253 +/- 0.007, and 0.284 +/- 0.005, respectively. Calcium (2.4 mM) increased the polarization of these probe molecules in liver plasma membranes by 8-10%. EGTA (3.4 mM) reversed or abolished the increase in polarization. Thus, the fluorescent fatty acids trans-parinarate and cis-parinarate may be used to monitor fatty acid binding by isolated membranes, to evaluate factors such as Ca2+ which modulate fatty acid binding, and to investigate the microenvironment in which the fatty acids residue. The data suggest that Ca2+ may be an important regulator of fatty acid uptake by the liver plasma membrane, and thereby interact with intermediary metabolism of lipids at a step not involving lipolytic or synthetic enzymes.     

Interaction between free fatty acids and Ca2+-dependent ATPase from sarcoplasmic reticulum membranes

The interaction between free fatty acids and Ca2+-dependent ATPase, an intrinsic protein of sarcoplasmic reticulum membranes, was studied with relevance to the changes in membrane permeability induced by free fatty acids. It was found that only unsaturated fatty acids increase the permeability of reticulum membranes for Ca2+, this effect being completely reversible. The increase in the membrane permeability by fatty acids is coupled to a generation of a channel for Ca2+ efflux under effect of Ca2+-dependent ATPase. The interaction between fatty acids and Ca2+-dependent ATPase was demonstrated by the protein fluorescence and electron paramagnetic resonance methods, using spin-labelled fatty acid derivatives. A model demonstrating the increase of sarcoplasmic reticulum membrane permeability for Ca2+ in the presence of the fatty acid-Ca2+-dependent ATPase complex is proposed.     

Phosphatidate and oxidized fatty acids are calcium ionophores. Studies employing arsenazo III in liposomes

Liposomes which have entrapped the metallochromic dye, arsenazo III, constitute a sensitive assay system for ionophoresis of divalent cations. By this means we have compared known calcium ionophores (A23187, ionomycin) with membrane phospholipids, fatty acids, prostanoids, and retinoids. Added at micromolar concentrations to preformed multilamellar liposomes (phosphatidylcholine 7:dicetyl phosphate 2: cholesterol 1) both A23187 and ionomycin, as well as phosphatidic acid and products derived from linoleic acid, linolenic acid, and two eicosatrienoic acids provoked Ca influx (e.g. phosphatidic acid: 0.13 mol of Ca2+/mol of membrane lipid/5 min). A variety of other phospholipids (e.g. phosphatidylinositol), fatty acids (e.g. arachidonic acid), prostanoids (e.g. PGE1) retinoids (e.g. retinoic acid), and glyceryl ether phosphorylcholines ("platelet-activating factors") were without effect. Phosphatidic acid and oxidized fatty acids translocated divalent cations selectively, demonstrating the same rank order as A23187 or ionomycin: Mn greater than Ca greater than Sr much greater than Mg. Membrane lysis did not contribute to the perceived translocation; the liposomes remained impermeable to EDTA, EGTA, arsenazo III, or Mg. Liposomes with phosphatidic acid or oxidized trienoic acids preincorporated at 1-5 mole % of total lipids also permitted translocation of Ca but not Mg. Reduction of ionophoretic fatty acids or ionomycin with stannous chloride abolished their ionophoretic activity. Release of Ca from liposomes which had entrapped arsenazo III-Ca complexes into a medium rich in EGTA permitted calculation of efflux induced by ionophores, whether these were added to the outside of liposomes or preincorporated. Data suggest that phosphatidic acid and oxidized di- and trienoic fatty acids, which act as calcium ionophores in model bilayers, could serve as "endogenous ionophores" in cells.     

Inhibition of platelet aggregation by unsaturated fatty acids through interference with a thromboxane-mediated process

cis- and trans-unsaturated fatty acids with 18 carbon atoms (oleic, linoleic, elaidic and linolelaidic acid) inhibited aggregation of washed rabbit platelets stimulated with collagen, arachidonic acid and U46619 when in the same concentration ranges. Thrombin-induced aggregation was not affected by any of them. Saturated fatty acid (stearic acid) had no effect on this response. The inhibition is independent of the induced change in membrane fluidity, since trans-isomers could not induce the change in fluorescence polarization of 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene. Unsaturated fatty acids, except linoleic acid, did not interfere with the formation of thromboxane B2 from exogenously added arachidonic acid. All the unsaturated fatty acids only slightly inhibited the arachidonic acid liberation by phospholipase A2 in platelet lysate. This indicates that the unsaturated fatty acids may block a process after formation of thromboxane A2 in response to collagen and arachidonic acid. The increase in phosphatidic acid formation stimulated with U46619 was inhibited dose dependently by each of the unsaturated fatty acids but that stimulated with thrombin was not affected by any of them. Phospholipase C activity measured by diacylglycerol formation in unstimulated platelet lysate was not inhibited by the fatty acids. The elevation of cytosolic free Ca2+ induced by arachidonic acid or U46619 and Ca2+ influx by collagen were inhibited almost completely at the same concentration as that which inhibited their aggregation. These data suggest that the unsaturated fatty acids were intercalated into the membrane and inhibited collagen- and arachidonic acid-induced platelet aggregation by causing a significant suppression of the thromboxane A2-mediated increase in cytosolic free Ca2+, probably due to interference with the receptor-operated Ca2+ channel.     

Activation of protein kinase C with cardiolipin-containing liposomes in relation to membrane-protein interaction

Many cytoplasmic proteins, including Ca2+- and phospholipid-dependent protein kinase (protein kinase C) of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) associate in Ca2+-dependent manner with phospholipid liposomes containing cardiolipin (CL), as in the case of phosphatidylserine (PS)-containing liposomes. A crude protein kinase C fraction was purified by association of the enzyme with CL-containing liposomes (flotation method). The partially purified protein kinase C from rat brain or guinea pig PMN was activated by the CL-containing liposomes in the presence of dioleoylglycerol (DG) and Ca2+. This activation was analogous to that of PS. The half maximum activity was obtained with 20 microM CL in the presence of 1 microM Ca2+ and 5 microM DG. Many of the cytoplasmic proteins which associate with CL-containing liposomes were preferentially phosphorylated by membrane-associated protein kinase C in the presence of DG and Ca2+. These results suggest that the association of cytoplasmic protein kinase C with the membrane has an important role in regulation of protein kinase C activity in relation to the association of other cytoplasmic proteins to the membrane.     

The role of fatty acid unsaturation in minimizing biophysical changes on the structure and local effects of bilayer membranes

Studying the effects of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids on biological and model (liposomes) membranes could provide insight into the contribution of biophysical effects on the cytotoxicity observed with saturated fatty acids. In vitro experiments suggest that unsaturated fatty acids, such as oleate and linoleate, are less toxic, and have less impact on the membrane fluidity. To understand and assess the biophysical changes in the presence of the different fatty acids, we performed computational analyses of model liposomes with palmitate, oleate, and linoleate. The computational results indicate that the unsaturated fatty acid chain serves as a membrane stabilizer by preventing changes to the membrane fluidity. Based on a Voronoi tessellation analysis, unsaturated fatty acids have structural properties that can reduce the lipid ordering within the model membranes. In addition, hydrogen bond analysis indicates a more uniform level of membrane hydration in the presence of oleate and linoleate as compared to palmitate. Altogether, these observations from the computational studies provide a possible mechanism by which unsaturated fatty acids minimize biophysical changes and protect the cellular membrane and structure. To corroborate our findings, we also performed a liposomal leakage study to assess how the different fatty acids alter the membrane integrity of liposomes. This showed that palmitate, a saturated fatty acid, caused greater destabilization of liposomes (more “leaky”) than oleate, an unsaturated fatty acid.     

Modification of membrane phospholipid fatty acyl composition in a leukemic T cell line: effects on receptor mediated intracellular Ca2+ increase.

The effect of modifying fatty acyl composition of cellular membrane phospholipids on receptor-mediated intracellular free Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) increase was investigated in a leukemic T cell line (JURKAT). After growing for 72 h in medium supplemented with unsaturated fatty acids (UFAs) and alpha-tocopherol, the fatty acyl composition of membrane phospholipids in JURKAT cells was extensively modified. Each respective fatty acid supplemented in the culture medium was readily incorporated into phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylserine, phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylcholine in the JURKAT cells. The total n-6 fatty acyl content was markedly reduced in phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidylcholine of cells grown in the presence of n-3 fatty acids (alpha-linolenic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid). Conversely, in the presence of n-6 fatty acids (linoleic acid and arachidonic acid), the total n-3 fatty acyl content was reduced in all the phospholipids examined. In n-3 and n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) modified JURKAT cells, the total n-9 monounsaturated fatty acyl content in the phospholipids were markedly reduced. Changing the fatty acyl composition of membrane phospholipids in the JURKAT cells appears to have no affect on the presentation of the T cell receptor/CD3 complex or the binding of anti-CD3 antibodies (OKT3) to the CD3 complex. However, the peak increase in [Ca2+]i and the prolonged sustained phase elicited by OKT3 activation were suppressed in n-3 and n-6 PUFA but not in n-9 monounsaturated fatty acid modified cells. In Ca2+ free medium, OKT3-induced transient increase in [Ca2+]i representing Ca2+ release from the inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate-sensitive Ca2+ stores, were similar in control and UFA modified cells. Using Mn2+ entry as an index of plasma membrane Ca2+ permeability, the rate of fura-2 fluorescence quenching as a result of Mn2+ influx stimulated by OKT3 in n-9 monounsaturated fatty acid modified cells was similar to control cells, but the rates in n-3 and n-6 PUFA modified cells were significantly lower. These results suggest that receptor-mediated Ca2+ influx in JURKAT cells is sensitive to changes in the fatty acyl composition of membrane phospholipids and monounsaturated fatty acids appears to be important for the maintenance of a functional Ca2+ influx mechanism.     

Inhibition of gastric (H+ + K+)-ATPase by unsaturated long-chain fatty acids

Arachidonic acid and unsaturated C18 fatty acids at concentrations near 10(-5) M markedly inhibited (H+ + K+)-ATPase in hog or rat gastric membranes. Arachidonic acid was a more potent inhibitor than unsaturated C18 fatty acids, but the involvement of the metabolites of arachidonic acid cascade was ruled out. Linolenic acid inhibited the formation of phosphoenzyme and the K+ -dependent p-nitrophenylphosphatase activity of the hog ATPase. Treatment with fatty acid-free bovine serum albumin abolished only the inhibitory effect of the fatty acid on the phosphatase activity without restoring the overall ATPase action. These data suggest the existence of at least two groups of hydrophobic binding sites in the gastric ATPase for unsaturated long-chain fatty acids which affect differentially the catalytic reactions of the ATPase. (H+ + K+)-ATPase in rat gastric membranes was found more susceptible to the fatty acid inhibition and also more unstable than the ATPase in hog gastric membranes. The presence of a millimolar level of lanthanum chloride or ethylene glycol bis(beta-aminoethyl ether)-N,N'-tetraacetic acid stabilized the rat ATPase probably via the inhibition of Ca2+ -dependent phospholipases in the gastric membranes.     

Inhibitory mechanism of cis-polyunsaturated fatty acids on platelet aggregation: the relation with their effects on Ca2+ mobilization, cyclic AMP levels and membrane fluidity

The in vitro inhibitory effects of cis-polyunsaturated fatty acids, linolenic (18:2 delta 9,12), alpha-linoleic (18:3 delta 9,12,15) and eicosatrienoic (20:3 delta 11,14,17) acid, on bovine platelet aggregation and their inhibitory mechanism were investigated. These fatty acids inhibited platelet aggregation induced by ADP and thrombin to similar extent. Fluorescence analyses with fura-2-loaded platelets showed that, in the concentration ranges that inhibited aggregation, they also inhibited agonist-induced increase in cytoplasmic Ca2+. According to radioimmunoassay study, addition of these fatty acids increased cyclic AMP contents in the presence of theophylline corresponded with their inhibitory effects on aggregation. These fatty acids induced a 1.6-1.8-fold increase over basal concentration of cyclic AMP in the concentration ranges that fully inhibited aggregation. On the other hand, saturated fatty acid, stearic acid, affected neither aggregation nor cyclic AMP levels. As reported previously [1985) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 818, 391), these unsaturated fatty acids induced increase in membrane fluidity in the same concentration range. These results suggest that inhibition of platelet aggregation by cis-polyunsaturated fatty acids is due to the increase in cyclic AMP levels. This increase seems to be due to stimulation of adenylate cyclase which is mediated by membrane perturbation.     

Characterization of phospholipase activities in chromaffin granule ghosts isolated from the bovine adrenal medulla

Highly purified chromaffin granule membranes contain high levels (100 nmol/mg protein) of long-chain free fatty acids (Husebye, E.S. and Flatmark, T. (1984) J. Biol. Chem. 259, 15272-15276), as well as lysophosphatidylcholine (268 nmol/mg protein) and lysophosphatidylethanolamine (92 nmol/mg protein). The release of saturated and unsaturated long-chain fatty acids from endogenous phospholipids was 38 and 28 nmol/mg protein per h, respectively, at 37 degrees C and pH 7.5 (alkaline pH optimum). p-Bromophenacyl bromide inhibited the release of palmitate and oleate by 88 and 65%, respectively. The deacylation of membrane phospholipids was not significantly affected by micromolar free Ca2+. Based on experiments with pancreatic phospholipase A2, stearate and arachidonate were found to be suitable markers for deacylation at the sn-1 and sn-2 positions, respectively. Experiments with exogenously added labeled phosphatidylcholines confirmed that chromaffin granule ghosts contain a phospholipase A2 activity (alkaline pH optimum). The preparations also revealed a phospholipase A1 activity (acid pH optimum). Finally, the ghosts contain a lysophospholipase activity (alkaline pH optimum), that accounts for the major part of the deacylation of membrane phospholipids, notably the release of saturated fatty acids (stearate and palmitate). It is unlikely that the high content of lysophospholipids is an artifact of the procedure by which the granule ghosts are isolated.     

Composition and organization of sarcolemmal fatty acids in cultured neonatal rat cardiomyocytes

This paper describes studies on the fatty acid composition of individual phospholipids of the neonatal rat cardiomyocyte as well as in the gas-dissected sarcolemma derived from those cells. There is a sarcolemmal fatty acid asymmetry between the two leaflets of the membrane, which results from an asymmetric phospholipid distribution and particular fatty acid composition of each phospholipid class. The cytoplasmic leaflet is shown to be more unsaturated than the outer one. The phospholipids preferring the inner sarcolemmal leaflet (PE, PS, and PI) are particularly rich in two fatty acids, stearic acid and arachidonic acid. The implications of the data in current models for Ca2+ binding and for disruption of sarcolemma following ischemia and reperfusion damage are discussed.     

Free fatty acid enhancement of cation-induced fusion of liposomes: synergism with synexin and other promoters of vesicle aggregation

The effect of free fatty acids on the cation-induced fusion of large unilamellar vesicles (liposomes) was investigated by using fluorescent assays which monitor the mixing of aqueous contents of liposomes. Overall fusion was modeled as a two-step process involving aggregation of vesicles followed by actual fusion. Different experimental conditions were used which favored either aggregation or fusion as the rate-limiting step in the overall process. When phosphatidylserine liposomes were induced to fuse by 4 mM Ca2+ plus 5 mM Mg2+, preincubation with arachidonic acid showed a dramatically increased overall rate of fusion compared to the same liposomes not treated with fatty acid. When fusion was induced by 3 mM Ca2+, arachidonic acid had little effect. These results were interpreted in terms of the action of arachidonic acid only at the fusion step per se and not the aggregation step. Therefore, the enhancement of the overall fusion rate would be observed solely under conditions where the actual fusion of liposomes was rate limiting (Ca/Mg) rather than the aggregation of liposomes (Ca alone). When other liposome systems were tested, the effect of arachidonic acid was observed only under fusion rate-limiting conditions. Arachidonic acid was found to act synergistically with promoters of liposomal aggregation, such as Mg2+, spermine, and synexin, to enhance the overall rate of liposome fusion, as would be expected from action at separate kinetic steps. The dependence of the fusion rates on arachidonic acid concentration demonstrated an apparently cooperative effect. The structure of the fatty acid is of critical importance in determining its effects, as shown by the fact that 16-doxylstearic acid always increased the rate of fusion while 5-doxylstearic acid always decreased the rate of fusion under all conditions tested. A number of different fatty acids, including oleic acid, elaidic acid, 16-doxylstearic acid, myristic acid, and stearic acid, were effective at increasing the fusion rate to varying extents. In general, unsaturated fatty acids were more effective than saturated ones, either due to partitioning into the membrane or because of structural requirements for promotion of fusion.