Synthesis of nuclear lipids in L2C leukemic lymphocytes

We previously reported that propiconazole strongly inhibits cholesterol synthesis, but not cell division in a stimulated cell, the human lymphocyte cultured with phytohemagglutinin, showing that newly synthesized cholesterol is not necessary for cell division. In this study we labeled the L2C leukemic guinea pig lymphocyte, a naturally stimulated cell, with [2-14C]acetate, and compared the composition of newly synthesized lipids isolated from nuclei and whole cells (or microsomes). We observed that the proportion of cholesterol in labeled non-saponifiable lipids extracted from nuclei was lower than in non-saponifiable lipids isolated from whole cells, whereas the proportion of squalene and polar lipids was higher. By analyzing total lipid extracts, the polar lipids were identified as alkylglycerols, and the above mentioned distribution of constituents was confirmed. The identification of alkylglycerols was also supported by the comparison of radioactive lipid composition after labeling cells with three different lipid precursors: [2-14C]mevalonate, [2-14C]acetate and [2-14C]stearate. When cells were labeled in the presence of dodecylimidazole, the percentage of squalene and alkylglycerols decreased in nuclear lipids, but was not altered when cells were cultured in the presence of propiconazole, a cholesterol synthesis inhibitor which does not affect cell division of human stimulated lymphocytes. We have shown that dodecylimidazole inhibited alkylglycerol biosynthesis and squalene uptake by the nucleus, suggesting that these compounds could play a role in the regulation of cell division.     

Characterization of the non-saponifiable fraction of the liver lipids of the shark Carcharias taurus by mass-spectrometry

1. The non-saponifiable fractions (NSF) of the liver lipids of the common Nigerian shark Carcharias taurus were identified by mass-spectrometry. 2. The lipids were extracted from the liver microsomes. 3. Hydrocarbons made up 21.29% of the NSF, sterols 26.45% and coenzymes 52.26%. 4. Thin layer chromatography followed by mass-spectral analysis showed that squalene was the major hydrocarbon present. 5. The sterol fraction consisted of cholesterol, 1-octanol and 1-hexadecyl glycerol ether. 6. The coenzymes consisted clearly of vitamin A, coenzyme Q and probably also vitamin E.     

The biosynthesis of squalene and sterols by the adipose tissue of rat, sheep and man

1. The subcutaneous and omental adipose tissue of man, the epididymal fat pads of the rat and the fat tail of the Syrian sheep incorporate mevalonic acid into non-saponifiable lipids. 2. Time studies showed that the rates of decarboxylation of mevalonic acid and synthesis of non-saponifiable lipids slightly decline after 20min. but subsequently remain linear for 6hr. 3. About one-half of the incorporated radioactivity in the non-saponifiable lipids was in squalene, 20% in lanosterol and cholesterol, and the remainder in unidentified substances.     

Regulation of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase in human hepatoma cell line Hep G2. Effects of inhibitors of cholesterol synthesis on enzyme activity.

Incubating Hep G2 cells for 18 h with triparanol, buthiobate and low concentrations (less than 0.5 microM) of U18666A, inhibitors of desmosterol delta 24-reductase, of lanosterol 14 alpha-demethylase and of squalene-2,3-epoxide cyclase (EC 5.4.99.7) respectively, resulted in a decrease of the HMG-CoA (3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A) reductase activity. However, U18666A at concentrations higher than 3 microM increased the HMG-CoA reductase activity in a concentration-dependent manner. None of these inhibitors influenced directly the reductase activity in Hep G2 cell homogenates. Analysis by t.l.c. of 14C-labelled non-saponifiable lipids formed from either [14C]acetate or [14C]mevalonate during the cell incubations confirmed the sites of action of the drugs used. Beside the 14C-labelled substrates of the blocked enzymes and 14C-labelled cholesterol, another non-saponifiable lipid fraction was observed, which behaves as polar sterols on t.l.c. This was the case with triparanol and at those concentrations of U18666A that decreased the reductase activity, suggesting that polar sterols may play a role in suppressing the reductase activity. In the presence of 30 microM-U18666A (sterol formation blocked) the increase produced by simultaneously added compactin could be prevented by addition of mevalonate. This indicates the existence of a non-sterol mevalonate-derived effector in addition to a sterol-dependent regulation. LDL (low-density lipoprotein), which was shown to be able to decrease the compactin-induced increase in reductase activity, could not prevent the U18666A-induced increase. On the contrary, LDL enhanced the U18666A effect, showing that the LDL regulation is not merely the result of introducing cholesterol to the cells.     

Isoprenoid modification of proteins distinct from membrane acyl proteins in the prokaryote Acholeplasma laidlawii.

Isoprenylation is an important posttranslational modification that affects the activity, subunit interactions and membrane anchoring of different eukaryotic proteins. The small, cell-wall-less prokaryote Acholeplasma laidlawii has more than 20 membrane acyl-proteins enriched in myristoyl and palmitoyl chains. Radioactive mevalonate, a precursor to isoprenoids, was incorporated into several specific membrane proteins of 20 to 45 kDa and two soluble proteins of 23-25 kDa, respectively. No acyl proteins and none of the polar acyl lipids became labelled but these are all labelled by radioactive fatty acids. Mevalonate was incorporated mainly into a minor neutral, non-saponifiable lipid which migrated just above a C30-isoprenoid (squalene) on TLC-plates. The isoprenoid chains could not be released by mild alkaline hydrolysis from most of the isoprenylated proteins, although this procedure releases acyl chains from lipids and all acylated proteins. Isoprenylated proteins were enriched in the detergent phase upon partition with the non-ionic detergent Triton X-114. This behaviour is similar to the acyl proteins of this organism and indicates that the isoprenoid chains give the proteins a hydrophobic character.     

The in vivo incorporation of acetate into different non-saponifiable lipids by neonatal chick tissues

The in vivo incorporation of [l-14C]acetate into non-saponifiable lipids was higher in neonatal chick liver than in intestinal mucosa, brain and kidneys, and proportional to the amount of substrate injected (2-20 mumole). 14CO2 expired in the breath was also proportional to the dose of acetate. Radioactivity from [l-14C]acetate accumulated by liver was maximal 30 min after the injection of acetate and decreased afterwards. Acetate was mainly incorporated into cholesterol by all the tissues assayed, although small percentages of lanosterol and squalene were obtained in liver. In this tissue, distribution of radioactivity was practically independent from the dose of substrate injected while in intestinal mucosa, brain and kidneys the percentage of cholesterol increased with this dose. The time course of the in vivo formation of different non-saponifiable lipids by neonatal chick tissues was also studied. More than 90% of radioactivity in this fraction obtained 15 min after the acetate injection was recovered as cholesterol in liver and kidneys, while in brain and intestinal mucosa this percentage was about 50% at this time, increasing afterwards. A high percentage of lanosterol was found in brain and intestinal mucosa 15 min after the injection of acetate.     

Differential inhibition of fungal oxidosqualene cyclase by 6E and 6Z isomers of 2,3-epoxy-10-aza-10,11-dihydrosqualene

Inhibitory properties of 6E (compound 1) and 6Z (compound 2) isomers of 2,3-epoxy-10-aza-10,11-dihydrosqualene against oxidosqualene-lanosterol cyclase were assayed on microsomes and whole cells of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Candida albicans. Only the 6E isomer (compound 1), bearing a correct substrate-like configuration, strongly inhibited the enzyme both in microsomes and cell cultures. The difference between compounds 1 and 2 (which had an unfavorable geometry) was especially evident when measuring [¹⁴C]acetate incorporation into non-saponifiable lipids extracted from treated cells. While isomer Z was totally ineffective at up to 30 μM, in cells treated with 5 μM isomer E, labelled oxidosqualene, the level of which was negligible in the control, rose to over 60% of the non-saponifiable lipids.     

Oxidation of linear terpenes and squalene variants by Arthrobacter sp.

Cells of Arthrobacter sp. that had been isolated from soil were used to study oxidation of some linear terpenes and squalene variants. The cells oxidized geraniol, nerol, and farnesol to the corresponding aldehydes, with partial conversion of the geometrical isomerism of the alpha,beta-double bond. The squalene variant, squalene-2,3-oxide, was cleaved to 9,10-epoxygeranylacetone and geranylacetone. Squalene-2,3-22,23-dioxide was cleaved to 9,10-epoxygeranylacetone. These products were optically active, and their stereochemistry and optical purity were determined.     

Topographic heterogeneity in cholesterol biosynthesis

We have examined the membrane topography of cholesterol biosynthesis in cultured human fibroblasts. We fed the cells with radioacetate and then interrupted the biosynthetic pathway so as to trap labeled intermediates in their subcellular locations. We analyzed homogenates of human fibroblasts labeled biosynthetically from radioacetate by centrifugation to equilibrium on sucrose gradients. The following two methods were used to interrupt cholesterol biosynthesis: incubation at 10 degrees C and treatment with 4,4,10 beta-trimethyl-trans-decal-3 beta-ol, a specific inhibitor of oxidosqualene cyclase. Incubation at 10 degrees C caused the accumulation of radiolanosterol at the expense of cholesterol. The lanosterol appeared predominantly at an unusually buoyant density (20% (w/w) sucrose; d = 1.08 g/cm3) as well as at the density normally labeled at 37 degrees C (30% sucrose; d = 1.13 g/cm3). 4,4,10 beta-Trimethyl-trans-decal-3 beta-ol treatment caused the accumulation of labeled squalene and squalene 2,3-oxide. Reversal of the block permitted the label to progress rapidly as a wave into lanosterol and ultimately into cholesterol. The profiles of the three precursors did not coincide, suggesting that they were mostly in different membranes. Squalene was uniquely confined to a density of 1.18 g/cm3 (40% sucrose) while squalene 2,3-oxide appeared in peaks of density 1.08 g/cm3 and 1.13 g/cm3 (20% and 30% sucrose). Lanosterol was in a peak of density 1.13 g/cm3. Pulse-chase experiments showed that lanosterol synthesized in the membranes at 20% sucrose moved rapidly to the membranes at 30% sucrose where it was converted to cholesterol. The density gradient profiles of the following organelle markers also were monitored: plasma membrane, cholesterol mass; Golgi apparatus, galactosyltransferase; endoplasmic reticulum, RNA, 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase and cytochrome c reductase; peroxisomes, catalase. None of these markers appeared at the buoyant density of 1.08 g/cm3. We conclude that 1) cholesterol biosynthesis may be topographically heterogeneous and 2) newly synthesized squalene 2,3-oxide resides in a buoyant membrane fraction distinct from markers for the major organelles.     

Squalene epoxidase, oxido-squalene cyclase and cholesterol biosynthesis in normal and tumoral mucosa of the human gastro-intestinal tract. Evidence of post-HHG CoA regulation

Cholesterol biosynthesis was evaluated in different parts of the human gastro-intestinal tract by incorporation of labelled acetic or mevalonic acid into non-saponifiable metabolites and also by measuring squalene epoxidase activity, oxido=squalene cyclase activity and dihydrolanosterol demethylation rate. With respect to rat liver, whole cholesterol biosynthesis was generally low and we found an anatomic localization of activity towards the end of the gastro-intestinal tract. The results of analysis of mevalonic acid metabolites implied the existence of post-HMG CoA regulation. A comparison with the corresponding dat obtained from homologous cancerous tissues (inthe case of high cholesterogenic activity) did not show a greater activity in the tumor, in spite of higher levels of epoxidase concentration.     

Sterol biosynthesis in the echinoderm Asterias rubens.

1. [2(-14)C]Mevalonic acid injected into the echinoderm Asterias rubens (Class Asteroidea) was effectively incorporated into the non-saponifiable lipid. 2. The most extensively labelled compounds were squalene and the 4,4-dimethyl sterols with much lower incorporations into the 4alpha-monomethyl and 4-demethyl sterol fractions. 3. Labelled compounds identified were squalene, lanosterol, 4,4-dimethyl-5alpha-cholesta-8,24-dien-3beta-ol and 4alpha-methyl-5alpha-cholest-7-en-3beta-ol; these are all intermediates in sterol biosynthesis. 4. The major sterol in A. rubens, 5alpha-cholest-7-en-3beta-ol, was also labelled showing that this echinoderm is capable of sterol biosynthesis de novo. 5. No evidence was obtained for the incorporation of [2(-14)C]mevalonic acid into the C28 and C29 components of the 4-demethyl sterols or 9beta,19-cyclopropane sterols found in A. rubens and it is assumed that these sterols are of dietary origin. 6. Another starfish Henricia sanguinolenta also incorporated [2(-14)C]mevalonic acid into squalene and lanosterol. 7. Various isolated tissues of A. rubens were all capable of incorporation of [2(-14)C]mevalonic acid into the nonsaponifiable lipid. With the body-wall and stomach tissues radioactivity accumulated in squalene and the 4,4-dimethyl sterols, but with the gonads and pyloric caecae there was a more efficient incorporation of radioactivity into the 4-demethyl sterols, principally 5alpha-cholest-7-en-3beta-ol.     

Coprinus comatus damages nematode cuticles mechanically with spiny balls and produces potent toxins to immobilize nematodes

We reported recently a unique fungal structure, called the spiny ball, on the vegetative hyphae of Coprinus comatus (O. F. Müll.:Fr.) Pers. Although some observations regarding the role of this structure were presented, its function remained largely unknown. In this study, we showed that purified (isolated and washed) spiny balls could immobilize and kill the free-living nematode Panagrellus redivivus Goodey highly efficiently. Scanning electron microscopy studies illustrated that the spiny structure damaged the nematode cuticle, suggesting the presence of a mechanical force during the process of nematode immobilization. Severe injuries on nematode cuticles caused the leakage of inner materials of the nematodes. When these structures were ground in liquid nitrogen, their killing efficacy against nematodes was lost, indicating that the shape and the complete structure of the spiny balls are indispensable for their function. However, extraction with organic solvents never lowered their activity against P. redivivus, and the extracts showed no obvious effect on the nematode. We also investigated whether C. comatus was able to produce toxins which would aid in the immobilization of nematodes. In total, we identified seven toxins from C. comatus that showed activity to immobilize the nematodes P. redivivus and Meloidogyne incognita (Kofoid et White) Chitwood. The chemical structures of these toxins were identified with nuclear magnetic resonance, mass spectrometry, infrared, and UV spectrum analysis. Two compounds were found to be novel. The toxins found in C. comatus are O-containing heterocyclic compounds.     

Biosynthesis of heterocyst glycolipids of Anabaena cylindrica

The incorporation of sodium acetate-[1-¹⁴C] into the heterocyst glycolipids of Anabaena cylindrica cultures from 60–234 hr old is reported. Incorporation of radioactivity was maximal in 88 hr old cultures. In 60 hr and 88 hr cultures about 90 % of the radioactivity of the heterocyst glycolipids was found in the non-saponifiable glycolipid fraction, whereas in older cultures this fraction contained only 75 % of the radioactivity. Acid hydrolysis of non-saponifiable heterocyst glycolipid fractions showed that in 60 hr cultures, 81 % of the radioactivity occurs in the lipid moiety, whereas in older cultures a greater proportion (40–53 %) of the radioactivity was found in the sugar residue. The lipid fraction obtained by acid hydrolysis contained a mixture of labelled long chain mono-, di- and trihydric alcohols. In young (60 hr) cultures the primary alcohol fraction was most heavily labelled (57.3 % of the radioactivity in the non-saponifiable glycosides) with much smaller amounts in the diol and triol (8.4 and 15.1 % respectively), whereas in older cultures (234 hr) the primary alcohol (23.6 %) diol (22.5 %) and triol (18.9 %) fractions contained ca equal amounts of radioactivity.     

Effects of a supernatant protein activator on microsomal squalene-2,3-oxide-lanosterol cyclase.

A soluble protein termed "supernatant protein factor" (SPF) that stimulates microsomal squalene epoxidase has been isolated in this laboratory (Ferguson, J.B., and Bloch, K. (1977) J. Biol. Chem. 252, 5381-5385). We now show that the purified protein also stimulates microsomal squalene-2,3-oxide leads to lanosterol cyclase but has no effect on the subsequent conversion of lanosterol to cholesterol. Phospholipid, specifically phosphatidylglycerol or phosphatidylethanolamine, is required for maximal stimulation of the cyclase by purified SPF. The response of microsomal squalene epoxide-lanosterol cyclase to SPF was abolished by pretreatment of the membranes with phospholipase A2 or by low concentrations of deoxycholate, indicating that an intact membrane system is required. Digestion of intact microsomes with trypsin had no effect on the SPF-stimulated cyclase activity. However, in the presence of 0.4% deoxycholate, trypsin completely inhibited microsomal squalene epoxide-lanosterol cyclase. We conclude that the cyclase is located on the luminal side of the microsomal membrane. SPF also significantly enhances the formation of lanosterol from squalene-2,3-oxide already bound to microsomes. This finding is constant with the proposal that SPF influences intramembrane events.     

Non-specific biosynthesis of gammacerane derivatives by a cell-free system from the protozoon Tetrahymena pyriformis. Conformations of squalene, (3S)-squalene epoxide and (3R)-squalene epoxide during the cyclization

1. A cell-free system from the protozoon Tetrahymena pyriformis was incubated with either [12-3H]squalene or (RS)-2,3-epoxy-2,3-dihydro-[12,13-3H]squalene. Squalene was cyclized into tetrahymanol whereas racemic squalene epoxide was transformed into gammacerane-3 alpha,21 alpha-diol and gammacerane-3 beta,21 alpha-diol. After cyclization of (RS)-2,3-epoxy-2,3-dihydro-[3-3H]squalene, both epimeric gammaceranediols were labelled with a tritium atom located at C-3, showing that no isomerization via a 3-oxo compound occurred. 2. The proton NMR spectra of the cyclization products of synthetic (2E, 22E)-(1,1,1,24,24,24-2H6)squalene and (RS)-(22E)-2,3-epoxy-2,3-dihydro-(1,1,1,24,24,24-2H6)squalene show that squalene and the (3S)enantiomer of its epoxide are cyclized in an all pre-chair conformation, whereas the (3R) enantiomer of squalene epoxide is cyclized in a pre-boat conformation as concerns the cycle A. 3. The squalene cyclase of T. pyriformis presents the same lack of substrate specificity as the cyclase of Acetobacter pasteurianum: in addition to squalene, its normal substrate, it also cyclizes both enantiomers of its epoxide. This conformational versatility is characteristic of squalene cyclases but no longer exists in the squalene epoxide cyclases from eukaryotes.     

Composition of the hydrocarbon fraction of goats' milk

The hydrocarbon fraction of the neutral lipids of goats' milk was chromatographically purified and analyzed by gas-liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry. The goats' milk samples, which were collected during the spring of the year, represent a cross-sectional analysis; the purified hydrocarbon fraction displays a broad spectrum of compounds. The major components of the hydrocarbon fraction identified for the first time in goats' milk were 3,7,11,15-tetramethylhexadec-2-ene (phytene-2) (1.5%), squalene (approximately 2.5%), and n-C29H60 (4.2%); in addition, a series of odd and even carbon number n-alkanes (C15 to C33), a series of alkenes (C16 to C23), and a series of branched chain hydrocarbons were found. The goats' milk hydrocarbon fraction, in comparison to the known distribution from cows' milk, contains a good deal less squalene and phytene, and is more complex. One human milk hydrocarbon fraction isolated from a longitudinal composite sample from one lactation displays a distribution that appears to be more closely related to that of human skin lipids (1983. J. Lipid Res. 24: 120-130) than to those of goats' and cows' milk.     

Effects of 2,3-iminosqualene on cultured cells

2,3-Iminosqualene (ISq) is a powerful inhibitor of squalene oxide:lanosterol cyclase (EC 5.4.99.7). When added to lipid-depleted culture media (LDM) of rat hepatoma (H-4-II-E-C3) or Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells at a concentration of 10 micrograms ml-1, it causes the cells to float off the substratum in a few days. Lipoproteins in the culture medium completely counteract this effect. Cells in lipoprotein-containing media (FGM) grow normally in the presence of ISq. Irrespective of the culture medium, ISq at 10 micrograms ml-1 causes an almost complete and apparently irreversible inactivation of the squalene oxide cyclase in CHO and H4 cells and the accumulation in the cells of squalene, of squalene 2,3-oxide (mostly), and of squalene 2,3-22,23-dioxide when [14C]acetate or [14C]mevalonate is fed to the cells. Chronic treatment of H4 cells with ISq failed to elicit induction of the cyclase, but increased the conversion of mevalonate into squalene and squalene dioxide, and depressed the conversion of squalene oxide to the dioxide. Cells loaded with squalene and the squalene oxides from mevalonate in the presence of ISq get rid of these substances by rapidly secreting them into the media and by some unidentified metabolic processes.     

A fungal lectin and its apparent receptors on a nematode surface

Abstract A lectin was isolated from the nematode-trapping fungus Arthrobotrys oligospora . This carbohydrate-binding protein was developmentally regulated and was found only on trap-bearing mycelia. The lectin receptor on the surface of the nematode Panagrellus redivivus has, furthermore, been investigated using homogenates from whole nematodes or nematode cuticle. The ability of macromolecules from nematodes, fractionated according to M _r and lectin affinities, to inhibit the capture of nematodes by A. oligospora was tested using an inhibition assay, based on a simple dialysis membrane technique. One major lectin-binding glycoprotein, with apparent M _r of 65 000, was isolated from the nematode cuticle.     

Characterization of membrane components of the flask-shaped mycoplasma Mycoplasma mobile

The cell membrane of Mycoplasma mobile was isolated by either ultrasonic or French press treatment of intact cells. The membrane fraction contained all of the cellular lipids, but only one-third of cellular proteins and had a density of 1.14 g ml-1. The soluble fraction contained the NADH dehydrogenase activity of the cells, as well as a protein with an apparent molecular mass of 55 kDa that was phosphorylated in the presence of ATP. Lipid analyses of M. mobile membranes revealed that membrane lipid could be labelled by radioactive glycerol, oleate and to a much higher extent by palmitate but not by acetic acid. The membrane lipid fraction was composed of 54% neutral and 46% polar lipid. The major constituents of the neutral lipid fraction were free fatty acid, free cholesterol and cholesterol esters (45, 25 and 20%, respectively, of total neutral lipid fraction). The free cholesterol count was 13% (w/w) of total membrane lipids with a cholesterol:phospholipid molar ratio of about 0.9. Among the polar lipids, both phospho- and glycolipids were detected. The phospholipid fraction consisted of a major de novo-synthesized phosphatidylglycerol (approximately 63% of total phospholipids), plus exogenous phosphatidylcholine and sphingomyelin incorporated in an unchanged form from the growth medium. The glycolipid fraction was dominated by a single glycolipid (approximately 90% of total glycolipids) that was preferentially labelled by palmitic acid and showed a very high saturated:unsaturated fatty acids ratio.     

携带cip基因的酿酒酵母对自由生活线虫Panagrellus redivivus生长繁殖的影响

Photorhabdus luminescens细菌与昆虫病原异小杆属Heterorhabditis线虫专性共生。初生型共生细菌产生两种胞内晶体蛋白CipA and CipB,为共生线虫提供营养。为探索Cip蛋白是否对自由生活的全齿复活线虫Panagrellus redivivus具有类似的营养功能,建立了Cip蛋白的重组酿酒酵母表达体系,并用于饲喂无菌的P. redivivus线虫J1幼虫。重组酿酒酵母表达的Cip蛋白能为线虫所利用,表现为营养支持作用,体现为线虫生长发育速度的加快以及繁殖能力的提高,说明Cip蛋白能为此种自由生活线虫提供营养来源。