ATP-dependent transport of phosphatidylserine analogues in human erythrocytes

The plasma membrane of most cells contains a number of lipid transporters that catalyze the ATP-dependent movement of phospholipids across the membrane and assist in the maintenance of lipid asymmetry. The most well-characterized of these transporters is the erythrocyte aminophospholipid flippase, which selectively transports phosphatidylserine (PS) from the outer to the inner monolayer. Previous work has demonstrated that PS and to a lesser extent phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) are substrates for the flippase and that other phospholipids move across the membrane only by passive flip-flop. The present study re-evaluates these results. The incorporation and transbilayer movement of a number of short-chain (dilauroyl) phospholipid analogues in human erythrocytes was measured by observing lipid-induced changes in cell morphology, and the effect of an ATPase inhibitor (vanadate) and a sulfyhdryl reagent (N-ethylmaleimide) was determined. Incubation of cells with these lipids causes the rapid formation of echinocytes, because of the accumulation of the lipid in the outer monolayer. While dilauroylphosphatidylcholine-treated cells retained this shape, cells treated with sn-1,2-DLP-l-S, sn-1,2-DLP-d-S, or N-methyl-DLPS rapidly changed morphology to stomatocytes, which is consistent with the transport and accumulation of the lipid in the inner monolayer. A similar, although slower, stomatocytic shape change was induced by sn-2,3-DLP-l-S. Other lipids that were tested (dilauroylphosphatidylhydroxypropionate, dilauroylphosphatidylhomoserine, DLPS-methyl ester, or sn-2,3-DLP-d-S) reverted to discocytes only. In all cases, pretreatment with vanadate or N-ethylmaleimide inhibited the conversion of echinocytes to discocytes or stomatocytes. This is the first report of a protein- and energy-dependent pathway for the inwardly directed transbilayer movement of lipids other than PS and PE in the erythrocyte membrane and suggests that the flippase has broader specificity for substrates or that other lipid transporters are present.     

Changes of membrane phospholipid composition of human erythrocytes in hyperlipidemias. II. Increases in distinct molecular species of phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylcholine containing arachidonic acid.

The molecular species composition of red blood cell diacyl-phosphatidylcholine (PC), diacyl-phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) and alkenylacyl-PE (plasmalogen PE) has been analyzed in normolipidemic and hyperlipidemic donors. In all three phospholipid subclasses the percentages of the species 16:0/20:4 were increased in hyperlipidemic patients. In diacyl-PE, 18:1/20:4 was also elevated. No changes were observed in the other quantitatively important molecular species containing arachidonic acid at sn-2, namely 18:0/20:4. The rise in 16:0/20:4 in diacyl-PC and diacyl-PE of hyperlipidemic donors was accompanied by a fall in molecular species with linoleic acid (18:2) at sn-2 (in particular 18:1/18:2). In alkenylacyl-PE the elevation of 16:0/20:4 was compensated by a decrease in species with docosatetraenoic acid (22:4) at sn-2 in particular by a fall in 16:0/22:4. Among all donors, the percentages of 16:0/20:4 in diacyl-PC and PE were positively associated with plasma total cholesterol levels. The changes in molecular species composition of PC and PE in hyperlipidemia are expected to alter the function of erythrocyte membrane transport proteins and--if present also in other cell types--to affect eicosanoid metabolism.     

Polyunsaturated fatty acid incorporation into plasmalogens in plasma membrane of glioma cells is preceded temporally by acylation in microsomes.

Plasmalogens (1-O-alk-1'-enyl-2-acyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine) are major phospholipids in many tissues and cells, particularly of neural origin. Using cultured C6 glioma cells and subcellular fractions isolated on Percoll gradients we investigated selectivity for esterification of several polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in the sn-2 position of plasmalogens compared to [1-14C]hexadecanol, representative of de novo synthesis of the ether-linked sn-1 position. In whole cells at a final concentration of 105 microM PUFA, 2-4 nmol plasmalogen/mg protein was labeled in 4 h and 10-14 nmol in 24 h, representing 8-15% and 35-50%, respectively, of initial plasmalogen mass. Incorporation of label from hexadecanol was lower than PUFA incorporation (20:5(n-3) greater than 20:4(n-6) greater than 18:3(n-3) much greater than 18:2(n-6)) suggesting deacylation-reacylation at the sn-2 position. Plasmalogens accounted for 50% of total cell ethanolamine phospholipids and 75% in plasma membrane. Using a novel, improved method for extraction of subcellular fractions containing Percoll, plasma membrane also was enriched in plasmalogen relative to microsomes (107.4 +/- 5.2 vs. 40.0 +/- 2.9 nmol/mg protein). Selectivity for esterification at the sn-2 position of plasmalogens with respect to chain length and unsaturation of the fatty acyl chain was similar in both subcellular fractions and reflected that of whole cells. Labeling of plasma membrane with PUFA and fatty alcohol lagged behind that of microsomes. Chase experiments in cells prelabeled with [1-14C]18:3(n-3) for 2 h showed no significant reduction of label in plasmalogen of any subcellular fraction although accumulation of label in the microsomal fraction was slowed initially. Reduction of plasmalogen label (40-50%) did occur in microsomes and plasma membrane when cells prelabeled for 24 h were switched to chase medium with or without chase fatty acid. Our data suggest that esterification of PUFA to plasmalogen may occur at the endoplasmic reticulum with subsequent translocation to plasma membrane resulting in accumulation of relatively stable pools of plasmalogen that are not readily accessible for deacylation-reacylation exchange with newly appearing PUFA. Alternatively, deacylation-reacylation may occur in a more stable phospholipid pool within the plasma membrane but would involve a slower process than at the endoplasmic reticulum.     

Immunological characterization of sn-1,2-diacylglycerol and sn-2-monoacylglycerol kinase from pig brain

Rabbit antisera were raised against diacylglycerol kinase purified from pig brain cytosol. Upon immunoblot analysis, the antibody was specifically reactive with the kinase (Mr = 79,000-80,000). Pig brain cytosol, microsomal, and synaptosomal fractions all contained the immunoreactive Mr = 80,000 polypeptide, thus showing that the same enzyme is present in the soluble as well as membrane fractions of the brain. The antibody could precipitate only 60% of the kinase activity present in the crude cytosol. Further, the antibody exhibited very little or no cross-reactivity toward liver cytosolic enzymes obtained from different animals including pigs. Immunostaining of brain tissues demonstrated that neurons, in particular, their nuclei, were positively stained, whereas glial cells were not stained. It is likely that there exists a tissue-and/or cell-dependent immunological multiplicity of diacylglycerol kinase. The enzyme activities phosphorylating sn-1 and sn-2 monoacylglycerols were co-precipitated by the antibody, indicating their identity with diacylglycerol kinase. The enzyme activity toward sn-1 monoolein was much lower than that obtained with sn-2 monoolein. Enzymic as well as chemical analyses of acyl isomers of the reaction products showed that even tested with pure (greater than 95%) sn-1 monoolein, about 70% of the formed lysophosphatidate was of the sn-2 acyl type. The results show that diacylglycerol kinase phosphorylates almost exclusively the sn-2 acyl type of monoacyl-glycerol.     

Selective hepatic enrichment of polyunsaturated phosphatidylcholines after intravenous administration of dimethylethanolamine in the rat

The content of polyunsaturated phosphatidylcholines (PCs) is one of the parameters which regulate membrane functions. Polyunsaturated PCs are preferentially synthesized in the liver by the microsomal enzyme phosphatidylethanolamine N-methyltransferase. The activity of this enzyme may be stimulated in vitro in isolated rat hepatocytes by supplementation with dimethylethanolamine (DME), the polar head group of the precursor of PC along this pathway. The aim of this study was to evaluate in vivo the effect of an intravenous infusion of DME in the rat on the hepatic phospholipid composition. Bile fistula rats were intravenously infused for 15 h with sodium taurocholate (1 mumol/kg per min), with or without the addition of 0.3 mg/kg per min of [14C]DME. The concentration per gram of wet liver of individual phospholipid classes, PC molecular species and of total triacylglycerols, as well as the distribution of radioactivity in liver phospholipids, in rat tissues and body fluids were analyzed. A significant (P less than 0.01) enrichment in PC was found in the liver of DME-infused rats with respect to controls. No differences in the other phospholipid classes were found. DME-infused rats showed a significant (P less than 0.01) decrease in the hepatic concentration of triacylglycerols. At HPLC analysis, the enrichment in PC in DME-infused rats was found to be selectively due to three molecular species (i.e., sn-1 stearoyl/sn-2 arachidonoyl, sn-1 stearoyl/sn-2 linoleoyl, sn-1 stearoyl/sn-2 docosahexanoyl molecular species). In agreement with quantitative data, more than 70% of hepatic radioactivity was recovered in polyunsaturated PC species, with the highest specific activity in the sn-1 stearoyl PCs. The specific activity of hepatic PC approximates that of phosphatidyldimethylethanolamine. This finding together with the effective incorporation of DME in PC suggests that this amino base is methylated after its incorporation into phosphatidyldimethylethanolamine, throughout the stimulation of hepatic N-methyltransferase activity. The selective hepatic enrichment with polyunsaturated PC species after DME infusion may offer a new experimental tool for studying hepatic membrane metabolism.     

Generation of lysoglyceroglycolipids in the cyanobacterium, Phormidium tenue.

Two kinds of lysoglycolipids, monogalactosyl 1-monoacylglycerol and digalactosyl 1-monoacylglycerol were generated in the cyanobacterium, Phormidium tenue, when it was stored at -20 degrees for more than 1 month. By comparison of the compositions of fatty acid residues between monogalactosyl 1-monoacylglycerol and monogalactosyl diacylglycerol, digalactosyl 1-monoacylglycerol and digalactosyl diacylglycerol, respectively, the 1-monoacylgalactolipids were presumed to be formed by regioselective deacylation at the sn-1 position with subsequent acyl-group migration from the sn-2 to the sn-1 position. In contrast, 1-monoacyl derivatives of sulphoquinovosyl diacylglycerol and phosphatidylglycerol, the other membrane lipids contained in cyanobacteria, were not formed.     

Structural characterization of oxidized phospholipid products derived from arachidonate-containing plasmenyl glycerophosphocholine

Plasmenyl phospholipids are a structurally unique class of lipids that contain a vinyl ether substituent at the sn-1 position of the glycerol backbone, imparting unique susceptibility to oxidative reactions that may take place at the cell membrane lipid bilayer. Several studies have supported the hypothesis that plasmalogens may be antioxidant molecules that protect cells from oxidative stress. Because the molecular mechanism for the antioxidant properties of plasmenyl phospholipids is not fully understood, the oxidation of arachidonate-containing plasmalogen-glycerophosphocholine (GPC) was studied using electrospray tandem mass spectrometry after exposure to the free radical initiator 2, 2'-azobis(2-amidinopropane)hydrochloride (AAPH). Various oxidized GPC products involving the sn-1 position alone (1-formyl-2-arachidonyl lipids and lysophospholipid), oxidation products involving the sn-2 position alone (chain-shortened omega-aldehyde radyl substituents at sn-2) as well as products oxidized both at the sn-1 and sn-2 positions were observed and structurally identified.The results of these experiments suggest that oxidation of plasmenyl phospholipids esterified with polyunsaturated fatty acid groups at sn-2 likely undergo unique and specific free radical oxidation at the 1'-alkenyl position as well as oxidation of the double bond closest to the ester moiety at sn-2.     

Effect of acyl chain unsaturation on the conformation of model diacylglycerols: a computer modeling study.

In a previous modeling study we identified an angle iron-shaped conformation of docosahexaenoic acid and showed that an sn-1-stearoyl diacylglycerol (DG) that contained an sn-2-docosahexaenoyl group in this conformation could adopt a highly regular shape. In the present study we compared the properties of this DG with those of sn-1-stearoyl DGs that contained other unsaturated fatty acyl groups in the sn-2 position. The major findings were that: 1) sn-1-stearoyl DGs that contain polyenoic fatty acids in the sn-2 position can assume regular shapes, and 2) these shapes differ depending on the location of the double bonds. sn-2-Polyenoic fatty acyl groups with a double bond sequence that begins close to the carboxyl ester bond are associated with one type of regular shape, while sn-2-polyenoic fatty acyl groups with a double bond sequence that begins toward the middle of the chain are associated with another. Such shapes would not have been predicted by current ideas relating membrane fluidity to unsaturation. In contrast, another finding of the present study, that sn-1-stearoyl-2-oleoyl DG can adopt, at best, only a highly irregular shape is in good agreement with the results of previous investigators.     

Gene expression and molecular composition of phospholipids in rat brain in relation to dietary n-6 to n-3 fatty acid ratio

Rats were fed from conception till adulthood either with normal rat chow with a linoleic (LA) to linolenic acid (LNA) ratio of 8.2:1 or a rat chow supplemented with a mixture of perilla and soy bean oil giving a ratio of LA to LNA of 4.7:1. Fat content of the feed was 5%. Fatty acid and molecular species composition of ethanolamine phosphoglyceride was determined. Effect of this diet on gene expression was also studied. There was an accumulation of docosahexaenoic (DHA) and arachidonic acids (AA) in brains of the experimental animals. Changes in the ratio sn-1 saturated, sn-2 docosahexaenoic to sn-1 monounsaturated, sn-2 docosahexaenoic were observed. Twenty genes were found overexpressed in response to the 4.7:1 mixture diet and four were found down-regulated compared to normal rat chow. Among them were the genes related to energy household, lipid metabolism and respiration. The degree of up-regulation exceeded that observed with perilla with a ratio of LA to LNA 8.2:1 [Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 99 (2002) 2619]. It was concluded that brain sensitively reacts to the fatty acid composition of the diet. It was suggested that alteration in membrane architecture and function coupled with alterations in gene expression profiles may contribute to the observed beneficial impact of n-3 type polyunsaturated fatty acids on cognitive functions.     

Structured triacylglycerol containing medium-chain fatty acids in sn-1(3) facilitates the absorption of dietary long-chain fatty acids in rats

A study was carried out to examine if the positional distribution of medium chain fatty acids (MCF) in triacylglycerol influences dietary fat absorption in rats. Two types of structure-specific fats, one predominantly composed of MCF in sn-1(3) and iinoleic acid in sn-2 [sn1(3)MCF-structured] and the others of MCF in sn-2 and linoleic acid in sn-1(3) [sn-2MCF-structured], were initially prepared, and the two structure-specific fats were interesterified and designated as sn-1(3)MCF-interesterified and sn-2MCF-interesterified. Synthetic fat was mixed with an equal amount of cocoa butter (103 g/kg of diet) and was supplemented to the AIN93G-based diet. Rats were fed on the diets for 4 wk. Long-chain saturated fatty acids were the predominant fatty acids excreted into the feces, and the positional distribution of MCF resulted in an altered fat absorption rate (%) of 81.8, 82.5, 84.2 and 86.3 for the rats fed on the diets containing sn-2MCF-structured, sn-1(3)MCF-interesterified, sn-2MCF-interesterified and sn-1(3)MCF-structured fats, respectively. The proportion of MCF in the serum, liver and adipose tissue triacylglycerols was not affected by the MCF distribution of the dietary fats. These results indicate that the distribution of MCF in dietary triacylglycerol is a determinant of intestinal fat absorption.     

Altered positional specificity of human plasma lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase in the presence of sn-2 arachidonoyl phosphatidyl cholines. Mechanism of formation of saturated cholesteryl esters.

The positional specificity of purified human lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) was studied by analyzing the labeled cholesteryl ester (CE) species formed in the presence of proteoliposome substrates containing mixed chain phosphatidylcholine (PC) species, labeled cholesterol and apoprotein A-I. Whereas over 90% of the acyl groups used for CE synthesis were derived from the sn-2 position of most of the naturally occurring PC substrates, about 75% of the CE species formed in the presence of sn-1-myristoyl 2-arachidonoyl PC, sn-1-palmitoyl-2-arachidonoyl (PAPC) and sn-1-palmitoyl 2-docosahexaenoyl PC were derived from the sn-1-position. On the other hand, rat LCAT utilized mostly sn-2-acyl group from either PAPC or from sn-1-palmitoyl 2-linoleoyl PC. The positional specificity of the human enzyme was not affected by the alteration in the matrix fluidity, type of the apoprotein activator used, or by the free cholesterol/PC ratio in the substrate. These results show that the positional specificity of human plasma LCAT is altered in the presence of sn-2-arachidonoyl PC, or sn-2-docosahexaenoyl PC, probably due to steric restrictions at the active site, and this may account for the formation of disproportionately high concentrations of saturated CE, and low concentrations of long-chain polyunsaturated CE in human plasma, relative to the composition of sn-2-acyl groups in plasma PC.     

Dynamics of lipid chain attached fluorophore 7-nitrobenz-2-oxa-1,3-diazol-4-yl (NBD) in negatively charged membranes determined by NMR spectroscopy

We have determined the average location and dynamic reorientation of the fluorophore 7-nitrobenz-2-oxa-1,3-diazol-4-yl (NBD) attached to a C12 sn-2 chain of a phosphatidylserine (PS) analogue (C12-NBD-PS) in zwitterionic phosphatidylcholine (PC) and negatively charged phosphatidylserine (PS) host membranes. (1)H magic angle spinning nuclear Overhauser enhancement spectroscopy indicates a highly dynamic reorientation of the aromatic molecule in the membrane. The average location of NBD is characterized by a broad distribution function along the membrane director with a maximum indicating the location of the probe in the lipid/water interface of the lipid membrane. This behavior can be explained by a backfolding of the sn-2 chain towards the aqueous phase. Small differences in the distribution profiles of the NBD group along the membrane normal between PC and PS host membranes were found: in a PC host membrane, the NBD distribution has its maximum in the glycerol region; in a PS host membrane, NBD resides mostly in the upper chain region. These differences may be accounted for by packing differences in the PC versus PS host membranes. As seen by (2)H NMR order parameters, PS bilayers show a much higher packing density compared to PC membranes. Consequently, backfolding of the sn-2 chain with the NBD group attached causes a larger decrease of molecular order of the sn-1 chain in PS than in PC membranes. The broad distributions obtained for lipid chain attached NBD molecules reflect the motional freedom and molecular disorder in the liquid-crystalline lipid membrane.     

Novel lipids in Myxococcus xanthus and their role in chemotaxis

Organisms that colonize solid surfaces, like Myxococcus xanthus, use novel signalling systems to organize multicellular behaviour. Phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) containing the fatty acid 16:1omega5 (Delta11) elicits a chemotactic response. The phenomenon was examined by observing the effects of PE species with varying fatty acid pairings. Wild-type M. xanthus contains 17 different PE species under vegetative conditions and 19 at the midpoint of development; 13 of the 17 have an unsaturated fatty acid at the sn-1 position, a novelty among Proteobacteria. Myxococcus xanthus has two glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase (PlsB) homologues which add the sn-1 fatty acid. Each produces PE with 16:1 at the sn-1 position and supports growth and fruiting body development. Deletion of plsB1 (MXAN3288) results in more dramatic changes in PE species distribution than deletion of plsB2 (MXAN1675). PlsB2 has a putative N-terminal eukaryotic fatty acid reductase domain and may support both ether lipid synthesis and PE synthesis. Disruption of a single sn-2 acyltransferase homologue (PlsC, of which M. xanthus contains five) results in minor changes in membrane PE. Derivatization of purified PE extracts with dimethyldisulfide was used to determine the position of the double bonds in unsaturated fatty acids. The results suggest that Delta5 and Delta11 desaturases may create the double bonds after synthesis of the fatty acid. Phosphatidylethanolamine enriched for 16:1 at the sn-1 position stimulates chemotaxis more strongly than PE with 16:1 enriched at the sn-2 position. It appears that the deployment of a rare fatty acid (16:1omega5) at an unusual position (sn-1) has facilitated the evolution of a novel cell signal.     

Novel polar lipids of halophilic eubacterium Planococcus H8 and archaeon Haloferax volcanii

As part of a study to identify novel lipids with immune adjuvant activity, a structural comparison was made between the polar lipids from two halophiles, an archaeon Haloferax volcanii and a eubacterium Planococcus H8. H. volcanii polar lipid extracts consisted of 44% archaetidylglycerol methylphosphate, 35% archaetidylglycerol, 4.7% of archaeal cardiolipin, 2.5% archaetidic acid, and 14% sulfated glycolipids 1 and 2. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and Fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry (FAB MS) data determined the glycolipids to be 6-HSO(3)-D-Man(p)-alpha1-2-D-Glc(p)-alpha1,1-[sn-2,3-di-O-phytanylglycerol] and a novel glycocardiolipin 6'-HSO(3)-D-Man(p)-alpha1-2-D-Glc(p)-alpha1,1-[sn-2,3-di-O-phytanylglycerol]-6-[phospho-sn-2,3-di-O-phytanylglycerol]. The polar lipids of Planococcus H8 consisted of 49% saturated phosphatidylglycerol and cardiolipin (9:1, w/w), and surprisingly 51% of the photosynthetic membrane lipid sulfoquinovosyldiacylglycerol (SQDG). This study documents archaeal cardiolipin and a novel glycocardiolipin in H. volcanii (lacking purple membrane), and is the first report of SQDG in a non-photosynthetic, halophilic bacterium.     

Solubilization and assay of phospholipase A2 activity from rat jejunal brush-border membranes

The phospholipase activity of rat jejunal brush-border membranes was examined in the presence of several solubilizing agents, by measuring the hydrolysis of endogenous membrane phospholipids, as well as the hydrolysis of exogenous, radiolabelled substrates. Enzyme activity was highly stimulated by dispersion in 1% solutions of bile salts, or in a synthetic, bile-salt derivative, 3-[(3-cholamidopropyl)dimethylammonio]propanesulphonate (CHAPS). Under these conditions the endogenous membrane phospholipids were largely degraded to free fatty acids and water-soluble phosphate. In the presence of 1% CHAPS, hydrolysis of exogenous phosphatidylcholine was shown to be due to an initial phospholipase A2-type attack followed by a subsequent lysophospholipase-type attack. These activities co-purified with the brush-border membrane. Maximal phospholipase A2 hydrolysis occurred at an alkaline pH of 8-11, with bile-salt detergents present at greater than their critical micellar concentrations. Hydrolysis was completely divalent-ion independent. Phospholipase A2 activity was not stimulated by 50% diethyl ether or ethanol, or in the presence of 1% solutions of Triton X-100, Zwittergent 3-12, sodium dodecyl sulphate, or n-octylglucoside. Stimulation of phospholipase activity by detergents was not related to their effectiveness at solubilizing the membrane proteins. When assayed individually phosphatidylcholine and lysophosphatidylcholine were each hydrolyzed (at the sn-2 and sn-1 positions, respectively) at a rate of approximately 125 nmol/mg protein per min. When assayed together, the two substrates appeared to compete for the same active site over a wide range of concentrations. It was concluded that the brush-border membrane contains an integral membrane protein with phospholipase A2 and lysophospholipase activities, which is specifically stimulated by bile salts and bile salt-like detergents.     

Effect of acyl chain unsaturation on the packing of model diacylglycerols in simulated monolayers.

In a companion study of the effects of acyl chain unsaturation on a series of model sn-1,2-diacylglycerols (DGs) we showed that individual DGs could adopt one of three energy-minimized conformations depending on the number and location of cis double bonds in the sn-2 chain. Here we show that each of these conformations promotes a distinct type of packing arrangement in a simulated DG monolayer. One conformation, shown by sn-1-18:0 DGs containing an sn-2 22:6(n-3)-, 20:4(n-6)-, or 20:3(n-9)- group, determines a regular packing that resembles a known hybrid subcell, HS2, of crystalline hydrocarbon chains. The second conformation, shown by DGs containing an sn-2 18:0-, 18:2(n-6)-, or 18:3(n-3)- group, determines a regular packing that resembles a second known, distinct hydrocarbon subcell, HS1. The third conformation, that of 18:0/18:1(n-9) DG, determines a much looser, less energetically favorable packing. Stable heterogeneous packings are possible for DGs that have similar conformations, but mixed packings of DGs that have dissimilar conformations are less stable. These results raise the possibility that differences in sn-2 acyl chain unsaturation among membrane sn-1,2-diacylglycerophospholipids may promote the formation of different domains.     

Structure and dynamic properties of diunsaturated 1-palmitoyl-2-linoleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphatidylcholine lipid bilayer from molecular dynamics simulation

Unsaturated fatty acid chains are known to be an essential structural part of biomembranes, but only monounsaturated chains have been included in the molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of membrane systems. Here we present a 1-ns MD simulation for a diunsaturated 1-palmitoyl-2-linoleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphatidylcholine (PLPC; 16:0/18:2[delta9,12]) bilayer. The structural behavior of the phosphatidylcholine headgroup, the glycerol backbone, and the hydrating water were assessed and found to be consistent with the existing information about similar systems from both experimental and computational studies. Further analysis was focused on the structure of the double bond region and the effects of the diunsaturation on the bilayer interior. The behavior of the diunsaturated sn-2 chains is affected by the tilted beginning of the chain and the four main conformations of the double bond region. The double bonds of the sn-2 chains also influenced the characteristics of the saturated chains in the sn-1 position. Furthermore, extreme conformations of the sn-2 chains existed that are likely to be related to the functional role of the double bonds. The results here point out the importance of polyunsaturation for the biological interpretations deduced from the membrane MD simulations.     

Diacylglycerol lipase and kinase activities in rabbit aorta and coronary microvessels

Diacylglycerol lipase and kinase activities were measured in particulate and soluble fractions from rabbit aorta (intima-media) and coronary microvessels. With rabbit aorta, the hydrolysis at the sn-1 position of 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycerol had a pH optimum of 5-6 and was greater than hydrolysis at the sn-2 position (pH optimum of 6.5). Only the 2-monoacylglycerol accumulated during incubations at pH 5 and 6.5. These results are consistent with an ordered two-step reaction sequence where the fatty acid at the sn-1 position is released first, followed by the hydrolysis of the fatty acid from the 2-monoacylglycerol by a monoacylglycerol lipase with a neutral pH optimum. Lipase activity (sn-2 hydrolysis) at pH 6.5 was greater than kinase activity at all substrate concentrations. The presence of arachidonate at the sn-2 position of the diacylglycerol increased kinase activity but had little effect on lipase activity. Kinase activity was mainly particulate, whereas 50-60% of diacylglycerol lipase and 50% of monoacylglycerol lipase activity were soluble. Diacylglycerol lipase and kinase were also present in coronary microvessel preparations. Diacylglycerol lipase (sn-2 hydrolysis) activity in coronary microvessels was not enhanced by preincubation of the enzyme preparation with cAMP-dependent protein kinase.     

Differential membrane packing of stereoisomers of bis(monoacylglycero)phosphate

Bis(monoacylglycero)phosphate (BMP) reveals an unusual sn-1,sn-1' stereoconfiguration of glycerophosphate. We synthesized sn-(3-myristoyl-2-hydroxy)glycerol-1-phospho-sn-1'-(3'-myristoyl-2'-hydroxy)glycerol (1,1'-DMBMP) and characterized the thermotropic phase behavior and membrane structure, in comparison with those of the corresponding sn-3:sn-1' stereoisomer (3,1'-DMBMP), by means of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), small- and wide-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS and WAXS, respectively), pressure-area (pi-A) isotherms, epifluorescence microscopy of monolayers, and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. In DSC, these lipids exhibited weakly energetic broad peaks with an onset temperature of 9 degrees C for 1,1'-DMBMP and 18 degrees C for 3,1'-DMBMP. In addition, a highly cooperative, strongly energetic transition peak was observed at approximately 40 degrees C for 1,1'-DMBMP and approximately 42 degrees C for 3,1'-DMBMP. These results are supported by the observation that 1,1'-DMBMP exhibited a larger phase transition pressure (pi(c)) than 3,1'-DMBMP. Small- and wide-angle X-ray scattering measurements identified these small and large energetic transitions as a quasi-crystalline (L(c1))-quasi-crystalline with different tilt angle (L(c2)) phase transition and an L(c2)-L(alpha) main phase transition, respectively. X-ray measurements also revealed that these DMBMPs undergo an unbinding at the main phase transition temperature. The MD simulations estimated stronger hydrogen bonding formation in the 3,1'-DMBMP membrane than in 1,1'-DMBMP, supporting the experimental data.     

Biphasic changes in the level and composition of Dunaliella salina plasma membrane diacylglycerols following hypoosmotic shock.

Hypoosmotic shock has been shown to trigger an immediate and selective increase of plasma membrane diacylglycerols (DAG) in the green alga Dunaliella salina, coinciding with an approximately equivalent loss of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate from this membrane [Ha, K.S., & Thompson, G.A., Jr. (1991) Plant Physiol. 97, 921-927]. Following a slight decline in amount, DAG levels of the plasma membrane resumed their rise by 2 min after the shock and by 40 min had achieved a maximum concentration equivalent to 230% of DAG levels in unstressed cells. This second, more sustained increase of plasma membrane DAG was matched by a DAG increase in the microsome-enriched cytoplasmic membrane fraction, commencing at 2 min and peaking at 140% of control values. The changing pattern of DAG molecular species produced in the plasma membrane during the early phases of hypoosmotic stress was compatible with their derivation from phospholipase C hydrolysis of inositol phospholipids and phosphatidylcholine. From 8 min following hypoosmotic shock, as relatively larger scale DAG accumulations developed in the cytoplasmic membranes, the molecular species composition changed to reflect a marked increase in de novo synthesis of sn-1-oleoyl, sn-2-palmitoylglycerol, and dioleoylglycerol. The former molecular species appears to be synthesized in the chloroplast while the latter is produced in the endoplasmic reticulum. The radioisotope labeling data with Na2(14)CO3 confirmed that the biphasic formation of DAG triggered by hypoosmotic shock culminates in a large-scale de novo synthesis of DAG. This is the first clear evidence for de novo synthesis as a source of DAG following PIP2-mediated signaling.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)