Biosynthesis of phospholipids in Bacillus megaterium.

Information on the biosynthesis of phospholipids in bacteria has been derived principally from the study of Escherichia coli and other gram-negative organisms. We have now carried out a detailed study of the pathways of phospholipid biosynthesis in the gram-positive organism Bacillus megarterium KM in relation to investigations on the biogenesis of lipid asymmetry in membranes. Radioactive precursors such as 32Pi and [3H]palmitate initially label phosphatidylethanolamine much more than phosphatidylglycerol. This raised the possibility that phosphatidylglycerol may be the precursor of phosphatidylethanolamine in a pathway different from that in E. coli. Phosphatidylglycerol is known to be highly reactive metabolically, since it functions as a donor of phosphatidyl residues in the synthesis of cardiolipin and as a donor of glycerophosphate residues in the synthesis of teichoic acids and of membrane-derived oligosaccharides. The large pool of phosphatidylglycerol would dilute the radioactive isotope, slowing the initial rate of incorporation of label into phosphatidylethanolamine. However, assays of cell-free extracts revealed no evidence for such a novel pathway. Instead, phosphatidylserine synthase (cytidine 5'-diphosphate-diglyceride:L-serine phosphatidyl transferase) and phosphatidylserine decarboxylase were detected, although at low levels. These results suggest that the pathway in B. megaterium is the same as that in E. coli in which phosphatidylserine, derived from cytidine 5'-diphosphate-diglyceride, is the precursor of phosphatidylethanolamine. The lag in the appearance of label in phosphatidylethanolamine appears to be the effect of a considerable pool of phosphatidylserine (ca. 5 to 10% of the total phospholipid) in certain strains of B. megaterium. The lag in labeling can be correlated with the size of the pool of phosphatidylserine. Pulse-chase experiments in vivo support the conclusion that in B. megaterium phosphatidylserine is not derived from phosphatidylglycerol. Rates of turnover of the membrane phospholipids of B. megaterium have also been studied.     

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.     

Disappearance of plasmalogen-containing phospholipids in Megasphaera elsdenii.

The plasmalogen content of phospholipids isolated from Megasphaera elsdenii ATCC 17752 decreased markedly in cultures passed serially at intervals of 3 to 6 weeks. From the wild-type ratio of vinyl ether to lipid phosphorus of 0.8, clones were isolated with ratios less than 0.05. Clonal analysis, as well as the reproducibility of the phenomenon and the long time course, suggest that the loss of plasmalogens is an adaptive process. Although small variations in cell morphology and ratios of end products of fermentation were detected, plasmalogen-rich and -deficient cells were virtually indistinguishable with respect to growth rates, range of fermentable carbohydrates, activities of selected enzymes, and electrophoretic patterns in both membrane and soluble proteins. Large decreases in saturated fatty acid production accompanied the decline of plasmalogens.     

Phosphorus NMR analysis of phospholipids in detergents.

Various detergents can be used to dissolve phospholipids, resulting in very narrow 31PNMR resonances. The resonances are well resolved, allowing identification and quantitative analysis of phospholipids in a mixture. The chemical shift depends strongly on pH, reflecting changes in the state of ionization of the phospholipid headgroup moieties. Samples of phospholipids dissolved in aqueous detergents are conveniently prepared and give narrower 31P resonances than do phospholipids dissolved in organic solvents.     

Theoretical conformational analysis of phospholipids. II. Role of hydration in the gel to liquid crystal transition of phospholipids

To obtain a satisfactory agreement between computed transition temperatures and those determined experimentally, we introduce explicitly water molecules which hydrate the polar headgroup of dipalmitoylphosphatidylethanolamine molecules. The calculated free energy curves as a function of the intermolecular interchain distance and the degree of hydration of the polar groups permit the determination of the transition of the phospholipid system from the gel to the liquid crystalline phase. The detailed structure of the hydration shell is defined using the supermolecular approach.     

Human stored blood inositol phospholipids.

The total amount of phospholipids of the stored blood erythrocytes does not change during the first week of storage. After the second and the third week of storage the changes are only insignificant. During the fourth week this amount decreases by 25%. Detailed analysis of inositol phospholipids shows that balance of the phosphorylation-dephosphorylation cycle is shifted towards dephosphorylation. The decrease in phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate (PtdIns-4,5-P2) is accompanied by the increase in phosphatidylinositol-4-phosphate (PtdIns-4-P) and phosphatidylinositol (PtdIns). The total amount of inositol phospholipids does not change. The increase in PtdIns-4-P is accompanied by the appearance of echinoidal forms of erythrocytes. The results of this study suggest that PtdIns-4-P can be considered as one of the important factors which determine the shape of erythrocytes.     

Condensed complexes of cholesterol and phospholipids.

Mixtures of dihydrocholesterol and phospholipids form immiscible liquids in monolayer membranes at the air-water interface under specified conditions of temperature and 2-dimensional pressure. In recent work it has been discovered that a number of these mixtures exhibit two upper miscibility critical points. Pairs of upper critical points can be accounted for by a theoretical model that implies the cooperative formation of molecular complexes of dihydrocholesterol and phospholipid molecules. These complexes are calculated to be present in the membranes both above and below the critical points. Below the critical points the complexes form a separate phase, whereas above the critical points the complexes are completely miscible with the other lipid components. The cooperativity of complex formation prompts the use of the terminology condensed complex.     

Accessibility of phospholipids in the chromaffin granule membrane.

1. The accessibility of phospholipids in the membrane of the adrenomedullary storage vesicles (chromaffin granules) has been studied. 2. The reaction of 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulphonic acid with both intact granules and their ghosts, results in the labelling of 70% of the phosphatidylethanolamine. 3. The action of phospholipase A2 (from bee venom), phospholipase C (from Bacillus cereus) and sphingomyelinase C (from Staphylococcus aureus) on granules and their ghosts was followed as a function of time. No significant difference was observed between the intact granules and their ghosts. 4. In the intact granules the various treatments led to varying amounts of lysis although again no evidence was obtained that such lysis in any way increased the amount of accessible phospholipid. 5. Highly purified granule preparations were also compared with the so-called "large granule" fraction and no significant differences were detected. 6. Approx. 67% of phosphatidylethanolamine + phosphatidic acid, 50% of phosphatidylserine + phosphatidylinositol, 65% of phosphatidylcholine and 20% of sphingomyelin is accessible to enzymatic degradation. In total, approx. 50% of all the phospholipids reacted. 7. It is also shown that, unlike in enzymatic treatment, all the phosphatidylcholine can be exchanged in the presence of a phospholipid exchange protein (prepared from beef liver). 8. It is concluded that transmembrane movement of phosphatidylcholine is slow in isolated membranes of chromaffin granules. The presence of the exchange protein, however, in conjunction with membrane proteins and specific phospholipid arrangements may catalyse this transmembrane movement.     

Oxygen-induced changes in pulmonary phospholipids in the rat.

The composition and synthesis of alveolar and lung tissue phospholipids were investigated in normal and oxygen-poisoned rat lungs. Sixty-hour exposure to oxygen increased the total amount of phospholipids in the endobronchial extracts and lung tissue. Phosphatidyl glycerol was identified in both endobronchial extracts and lung tissue. The amount of unsaturated fatty acids in surfactant lecithin and phosphatidyl glycerol was slightly increased in oxygen-poisoned lungs whereas the composition of phospholipids in the endobronchial extracts was not affected by oxygen. After intraperitoneal administration of [32P]phosphate the specific activities of surfactant lecithin and phosphatidyl glycerol were clearly lower in oxygen-treated animals whereas the specific activities of lung tissue lecithin and phosphatidyl glycerol remained unaffected. The synthesis of lecithin from [14C]methionine through N-methyltransferase pathway was markedly depressed in lung slices but increased in liver tissue taken from oxygen-poisoned rats and incubated under oxygen indicating a difference between lung and liver methyltransferase enzymes. In conclusion, the present work suggests impaired synthesis and removal of alveolar phospholipids in oxygen-poisoned rats.