Changes of phospholipid composition and superoxide dismutase activity during global brain ischemia and reperfusion in rats

Alterations in phospholipid content and Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity were examined in rat brain after 15 min of global ischemia (four-vessel occlusion) followed by 2-, 24- or 48-h reperfusion. Phosphatidylcholine (PC) and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), the main brain phospholipids, were markedly decreased in ischemic rats and remained decreased during the whole reperfusion period. Concentrations of phosphatidylinositol (PI) and sphingomyelin (SM) were also significantly reduced during ischemia but recovered during reperfusion period. In contrast, phosphatidylserine (PS) and lysophospholipids (LysoPL) were unchanged during ischemia but were elevated after 24 h of reperfusion. Significant reductions in blood plasma phospholipids were also demonstrated. 24-48 h of reperfusion markedly decreased PE, PC and PS contents, while the concentrations were almost unchanged by ischemia alone. Brain SOD activity decreased significantly during ischemia and was recovered to control value already after 2 h of reperfusion. These results suggest that ischemia/reperfusion is accompanied by a significant and selective degradation of brain phospholipids that may be attributable to oxidative stress and activation of phospholipases.     

Effect of severe incomplete ischaemia and postischaemic reperfusion on phospholipids and unesterified cholesterol in rabbit spinal cord

Effect of severe incomplete ischemia, induced by occlusion of the abdominal aorta caudal to the left renal artery for 40 min, and postischemic reperfusion for 6 h, 1 and 4 days on phospholipid composition and unesterified cholesterol concentration was studied in the lumbosacral (L3-S1) spinal cord separated into the gracile fascicle (Fg), dorsal part without Fg (Dp) and ventral part (Vp). Ischemia decreased the inositol phospholipid (PI) concentration in Dp and Vp and this was recovered during reperfusion. Within 6 h following ischemia, ethanolamine (PE) and serine (PS) phospholipid concentrations decreased in Dp and PS also in Vp. During the long reperfusion intervals the concentrations of the two major phospholipids, PE and choline phospholipid (PC) declined in Fg, Dp and Vp. No changes were observed in sphingomyelin (SM). The concentration of unesterified cholesterol (UC) was lower throughout the reperfusion period in Dp and Vp, while the decrease in Fg was delayed. The molar ratio UC/TPL was reduced starting from 24 h of reperfusion. The pattern of changes, which were delayed in the white matter as compared to Dp and Vp (containing the gray matter) indicated severe damage to the membrane structures in the tissue, developed during reoxygenation, that was related to decreased tissue viability.     

Phospholipid Composition in Spinal Cord Regions after Ischemia/Reperfusion

Ischemia-reperfusion induced changes in concentration of phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), phosphatidylserine (PS), phosphatidylinositol (PI) and sphingomyelin (SM) in the gray matter taken in toto, white matter, dorsal horns, intermediate zone and ventral horns of the rabbit's spinal cord were studied and compared with neurohistopathological changes. With the exception of PI concentration in the dorsal horns, ischemia of 25 min caused significant degradation of all phospholipids. While short-lasting recirculation (1 h) did not returned the levels of phospholipids to control values, postischemic recirculation for 3 h sharply increased the resynthesis of all phospholipids, but only the concentration of PE, PS, and PI in the dorsal horns and PC in the intermediate zone significantly improved and returned close to control values. Corresponding neurohistopathological changes resulting after the same reperfusion periods are given.     

Effects of phospholipids on sphingomyelin hydrolysis induced by intestinal alkaline sphingomyelinase: an in vitro study

Digestion of dietary sphingomyelin (SM) is catalyzed by intestinal alkaline sphingomyelinase (SMase) and may have important implications in colonic tumorigenesis. Previous studies demonstrated that the digestion and absorption of dietary SM was slow and incomplete and that the colon was exposed to SM and its hydrolytic products including ceramide. In the present work, we studied the influences of glycerophospholipids and hydrolytic products of phosphatidylcholine (PC; i.e., lyso-PC, fatty acid, diacylglycerol, and phosphorylcholine) on SM hydrolysis induced by purified rat intestinal alkaline SMase in the presence of 10 mM taurocholate. It was found that various phospholipids including PC, phosphatidylserine (PS), phosphatidylinositol (PI), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), and phosphatidic acid (PA) inhibit alkaline SMase activity in a dose-dependent manner, with the degree of inhibition being in the order PA > PS > PI > PC > PE. Similar inhibition was also seen in a buffer of pH 7.4, which is close to the physiologic pH in the middle of the small intestine. When the effects of hydrolytic products of PC were studied, lyso-PC, oleic acid, and 1,2-dioleoyl glycerol also inhibited alkaline SMase activity, whereas phosphorylcholine enhanced SMase activity. However, in the absence of bile salt, acid phospholipids including PA, PS, and PI mildly stimulated alkaline SMase activity whereas PC and PE had no effect. It is concluded that in the presence of bile salts, glycerophospholipids and their hydrolytic products inhibit intestinal alkaline SMase activity. This may contribute to the slow rate of SM digestion in the upper small intestine.     

Quantification of Rat Cerebral Cortex Na+,K+-ATPase: Effect of Age and Potassium Depletion

Na+,K(+)-ATPase concentration in rat cerebral cortex was studied by vanadate-facilitated [3H]ouabain binding to intact samples and by K(+)-dependent 3-O-methylfluorescein phosphatase activity determinations in crude homogenates. Methodological errors of both methods were evaluated. [3H]Ouabain binding to cerebral cortex obtained from 12-week-old rats measured incubating samples in buffer containing [3H]ouabain, and ouabain at a final concentration of 1 x 10(-6) mol/L gave a value of 11,351 +/- 177 (n = 5) pmol/g wet weight (mean +/- SEM) without any significant variation between the lobes. Evaluation of affinity for ouabain was in agreement with a heterogeneous population of [3H]ouabain binding sites. K(+)-dependent 3-O-methylfluorescein phosphatase activity in crude cerebral homogenates of age-matched rats was 7.24 +/- 0.14 (n = 5) mumol/min/g wet weight, corresponding to a Na+,K(+)-ATPase concentration of 12,209 +/- 236 pmol/g wet weight. It was concluded that the present methods were suitable for quantitative studies of cerebral cortex Na+,K(+)-ATPase. The concentration of rat cerebral cortex Na+,K(+)-ATPase showed approximately 10-fold increase within the first 4 weeks of life to reach a plateau of approximately 11,000-12,000 pmol/g wet weight, indicating a larger synthesis of Na+,K+ pumps than tissue mass in rat cerebral cortex during the first 4 weeks of development. K+ depletion induced by K(+)-deficient fodder for 2 weeks resulted in a slight tendency toward a reduction in K+ content (6%, p > 0.5) and Na+,K(+)-ATPase concentration (3%, p > 0.4) in cerebral cortex, whereas soleus muscle K+ content and Na+,K(+)-ATPase concentration were decreased by 30 (p < 0.02) and 32% (p < 0.001), respectively. Hence, during K+ depletion, cerebral cortex can maintain almost normal K+ homeostasis, whereas K+ as well as Na+,K+ pumps are lost from skeletal muscles.     

Role of the phospholipid environment in modulating the activity of the rat brain synaptic plasma membrane Ca2(+)-ATPase

The role of the phospholipid environment in modulating the activity of the rat brain synaptic plasma membrane (SPM) Ca2(+)-ATPase was investigated by its reconstitution into different phospholipids. Retention of activity of the solubilized Ca2(+)-ATPase depended on addition of exogenous phospholipids. As the cholate concentration used for solubilization of native SPM increased, a larger excess of exogeneous phospholipids, relative to membrane protein, had to be added to maintain optimal activity. Highest ATP-dependent Ca2+ transport activity was obtained when reconstitution was carried out in calf brain phospholipids (BPLs) followed by soybean phospholipids (SPLs) and the lowest in egg PC; reconstitution at a 40:1 weight ratio of exogenous phospholipids to native SPM protein resulted in ATP-dependent Ca2+ transport of 40.0 +/- 4.16, 23.4 +/- 8.48, and 11.54 +/- 2.31 nmol of Ca2+ (mg of protein)-1 (5 min)-1, respectively. Partial substitution of egg PC with BPLs led to an increase in the activity of the reconstituted Ca2+ pump. The highest ATP-dependent Ca2+ uptake was obtained when ratios of 15:25 or 10:30 egg PC to BPLs were used. Testing the individual phospholipids participating in the BPL mixture showed that addition of PS to egg PC led to a consistent increase in Ca2+ pump activity. Substitution of 50% of the PC with PS resulted in a 3.8-fold higher ATP-dependent Ca2+ uptake than that obtained in egg PC alone. No other phospholipid tested--PE, SM, or PI--had a similar effect. Increasing the proportion of PS within the BPL mixture above its original content led to a gradual decrease in the reconstituted SPM Ca2+ pump activity. Enrichment of asolectin with PS led first to increased Ca2+ pump activity; then, as the proportion of PS increased, Ca2+ transport of the reconstituted pump decreased. An increased proportion of PE, SM, or PI within the BPLs or asolectin, above their original contents, resulted in decreased Ca2+ transport. These results indicate that optimal SPM Ca2+ pump activity requires the combined presence of a critical amount of PC and PS within the reconstituted membrane.     

Nerve Growth Factor Induces Na+, K+-ATPase in a Nerve Cell Line

The effects of nerve growth factor (NGF) on induction of Na+,K+-ATPase were examined in a rat pheochromocytoma cell line, PC12h. Na+,K+-ATPase activity in a crude particulate fraction from the cells increased from 0.37 +/- 0.02 (n = 19) to 0.55 +/- 0.02 (n = 20) (means +/- SEM, mumol Pi/min/mg of protein) when cultured with NGF for 5-11 days. The increase caused by NGF was prevented by addition of specific anti-NGF antibodies. Epidermal growth factor and insulin had only a small effect on induction of Na+,K+-ATPase. A concentration of basic fibroblast growth factor three times higher than that of NGF showed a similar potency to NGF. The molecular form of the enzyme was judged as only the alpha form in both the untreated and the NGF-treated cells by a simple pattern of low-affinity interaction with cardiotonic steroids: inhibition of enzyme activity by strophanthidin (Ki approximately 1 mM) and inhibition of Rb+ uptake by ouabain (Ki approximately 100 microM). As a consequence, during differentiation of PC12h cells to neuron-like cells, NGF increases the alpha form of Na+,K+-ATPase, but does not induce the alpha(+) form of the enzyme, which has a high sensitivity for cardiotonic steroid and is a characteristic form in neurons.     

Cardiolipin is essential for higher proton translocation activity of reconstituted Fo

The Fo membrane domain of FoF1-ATPase complex had been purifiedfrom porcine heart mitochondria. SDS-PAGE with silver staining indicated that the purity of Fo was about 85% and the sample contained no subunits of F1-ATPase. The purified Fo was reconstituted into liposomes with different phospholipid composition, and the effect of CL (cardiolipin), PA (phosphatidic acid), PI (phosphatidylinositol) and PS (phosphatidylserine) on the H+ translocation activity of Fo was investigated. The results demonstrated that CL, PA and PI could promote the proton translocation of Fo with the order of CL＞PA＞＞PI, while PS inhibited it. Meanwhile ADM (adriamycin) severely impaired the proton translocation activity of Fo vesicles containing CL, which suggested that CL's stimulation of the activity of reconstituted Fo might correlate with its non-bilayer propensity. After Fo was incorporated into the liposomes containing PE (phosphatidylethanolamine), DOPE (dioleoylphosphatidylethanolamine) as well as DEPE (dielaidoylphosphatidylethanolamine), it was found that the proton translocation activity of Fo vesicles increased with the increasing content of PE or DOPE, which has high propensity of forming non-bilayer structure, but was independent of DEPE. The dynamic quenching of the intrinsic fluorescence of tryptophan by HB (hypocrellin B) as well as fluorescent spectrum of acrylodan labeling Fo at cysteine indicated that CL could induce Fo to a suitable conformation resulting in higher proton translocation activity.     

Regulation of FFA by the acyltransferase pathway in focal cerebral ischemia-reperfusion

Cerebral insult is associated with a rapid increase in free fatty acids (FFA) and arachidonic acid release has been linked to the increase in eicosanoid biosynthesis. In transient focal cerebral ischemia induced by middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion, there is an inverse relationship between the increase in FFA and the decrease in ATP, both during the ischemia period and at later time periods after reperfusion. In this study, the focal cerebral ischemia model was used to examine incorporation of [¹⁴C]arachidonic acid into the glycerolipids in rat MCA cortex at different reperfusion times after a 60 min ischemia. The label was injected intracerebrally into left and right MCA cortex 1 hr prior to decapitation. Labeled arachidonic acid was incorporated into phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine and neutral glycerides. With increasing time (4–16 hr) after a 60 min ischemia, an inhibition of labeled arachidonate uptake could be found in the right ischemic MCA cortex, whereas the distribution of radioactivity among the major phospholipids was not altered. When compared to labeled PC, there was a 3–4 fold increase in incorporation of label into phosphatidic acid and triacylglycerols (TG) in the right MCA cortex, suggesting of an increase in de novo biosynthesis of TG. In an in vitro assay system, synaptosomal membranes isolated from MCA cortex 8 and 16 hr after a 60 min ischemia showed a significant decrease in arachidonoyl transfer to lysophospholipids, due mainly to a decrease in lysophospholipid:acylCoA acyltransferase activity. Assay of phospholipase A₂ activity with both syaptosomes and cytosol, however, did not show differences between left and right MCA cortex or with time after reperfusion. These results suggest that besides ATP availability, the decrease in acyltransferase activity may also contribute to the increase in FFA in cerebral ischemia-reperfusion.Abbreviations PC phosphatidylcholine - PE phosphatidylethanolamine - PEpl ethanolamine plasmalogen - PI phosphatidylinositol - PS phosphatidylserine - poly-PI polyphosphoinsoitide - DG diacylglycerol - TG triacylglycerol - FFA free fatty acids - PUFA polyunsaturated fatty acids - MCA middle cerebral artery - CCAs common carotid arteries - HPTLC high performance thin layer chromatography - GLC gas-liquid chromatography - PLA₂ phospholipase A₂ Special issue dedicated to Dr. Leon S. Wolfe.     

Lipopolysaccharide-induced hydrolysis of plasmalogenic phosphatidylethanolamine in human platelets

The composition of human platelet major phospholipids-phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylinositol (PI), phosphatidylserine (PS), phosphatidic acid (PA), sphingomyelin (SM), plasmalogenic and diacyl species of phosphatidylethanolamine (PPE and APE, respectively) was quantitatively analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography. Incubation (10 min, 37 degrees C) of washed platelets with lipopolysaccharide B (LPS) of Salmonella typhimurium was found to produce (in the absence of aggregation) marked hydrolysis of PI (ca. 15%) and PPE (ca. 19%) containing the bulk of polyenic fatty acids. PC and APE were less degraded (8-9%), while the amounts of PS and SM were practically unchanged and the level of PA rose by 20%. Addition of thrombin to LPS-pretreated platelets resulted in their more rapid aggregation which was accompanied by a decreased and nearly equal hydrolysis of APE and PPE (7-8%) as compared with control platelets (10 and 12%, respectively). The extent to which PI was degraded (ca. 34%), by the action of thrombin was not affected by preliminary incubation with LPS. It is suggested that thrombin (as well as LPS) activating endogenous phospholipase(s) A2 can liberate from PPE not only arachidonic acid but also other essential polyenic fatty acids present in PPE in relatively high amounts. Besides, the agents studied may activate the intrinsic platelet system of rapid arachidonoyl transfer from diacyl PC and PE to PPE.     

Effects of Cerebral Ischemia on Regional Dopamine Release and D1 and D2 Receptors

Abstract: To expand on the nature of regional cerebral vulnerability to ischemia, the release of dopamine (DA) and dopaminergic (D₁ and D₂) receptors were investigated in Mongolian gerbils subjected to bilateral carotid artery occlusion (15 min) alone or with reflow (1–2 h). Extracellular cortical and striatal content of DA and its metabolites was measured by microdialysis using HPLC with electrochemical detection. The kinetic properties of D₁ and/or D₂ receptor binding sites were determined in cortical and striatal membranes with the use of radiolabeled ligands (¹²⁵I-SCH23982 and [³H]YM-09151-2, respectively). The ischemic release of DA from the striatum was greater (400-fold over preischemic level) than that from the cortex (12-fold over preischemic content). The affinity for the D₁-receptor ligand was lower ( K _D= 1.248 ± 0.047 n M ) after ischemia than that for sham controls ( K _D= 0.928 ± 0.032 n M, p < 0.001). The number of binding sites for D₂ receptors decreased in striatum ( B _max= 428 ± 18.4 fmol/mg of protein) after ischemia compared with sham controls ( B _max= 510 ± 25.2 fmol/mg of protein, p < 0.05). D₁ or D₂ binding sites were not changed either in the ischemic cortex or postischemic striatum and cortex. The findings strongly suggest that the ischemic release of DA from striatum is associated with early transient changes in D₁- and D₂-mediated DA neurotransmission.     

Cardiolipin is essential for higher proton translocation activity of reconstituted F_o

The Fo membrane domain of FoF1-ATPase complex had been purified from porcine heart mitochondria. SDS-PAGE with silver staining indicated that the purity of Fo was about 85% and the sample contained no subunits of F1-ATPase. The purified Fo was reconstituted into liposomes with different phospholipid composition, and the effect of CL (cardiolipin), PA (phosphatidic acid), PI (phosphatidylinositol) and PS (phosphatidylserine) on the H+ translocation activity of Fo was investigated. The results demonstrated that CL, PA and PI could promote the proton translocation of Fo with the order of CL>PA>>PI, while PS inhibited it. Meanwhile ADM (adriamycin) severely impaired the proton translocation activity of Fo vesicles containing CL, which suggested that CL's stimulation of the activity of reconstituted Fo might correlate with its non-bilayer propensity. After Fo was incorporated into the liposomes containing PE (phosphatidylethanolamine), DOPE (dioleoylphosphatidylethanolamine) as well as DEPE (dielaidoylphospha     

Cardiolipin is essential for higher proton translocation activity of reconstituted F0

The F₀ membrane domain of F₀F₁-ATPase complex had been purified from porcine heart mitochondria. SDS-PAGE with silver staining indicated that the purity of F₀ was about 85% and the sample contained no subunits of F₁-ATPase. The purified F₀ was reconstituted into liposomes with different phospholipid composition, and the effect of CL (cardiolipin), PA (phosphatidic acid), PI (phosphatidylinositol) and PS (phosphatidylserine) on the H⁺ translocation activity of F₀ was investigated. The results demonstrated that CL, PA and PI could promote the proton translocation of F₀ with the order of CLPA>PI, while PS inhibited it. Meanwhile ADM (adriamycin) severely impaired the proton translocation activity of F₀ vesicles containing CL, which suggested that CL’s stimulation of the activity of reconstituted F₀ might correlate with its non-bilayer propensity. After F₀ was incorporated into the liposomes containing PE (phosphatidylethanolamine), DOPE (dioleoylphosphatidylethanolamine) as well as DEPE (dielaidoylphosphatidylethanolamine), it was found that the proton translocation activity of F₀ vesicles increased with the increasing content of PE or DOPE, which has high propensity of forming non-bilayer structure, but was independent of DEPE. The dynamic quenching of the intrinsic fluorescence of tryptophan by HB (hypocrellin B) as well as fluorescent spectrum of acrylodan labeling F₀ at cysteine indicated that CL could induce F₀ to a suitable conformation resulting in higher proton translocation activity.     

Investigation of interaction of human platelet membrane components with anticoagulant drugs Abciximab and Eptifibatide

Abciximab (Abci) and eptifibatide (Epti) are antiaggregate drugs which may reduce thrombotic complications in acute coronary syndromes. The aim of this work was the investigation of the interaction between the phospholipid-GPIIb/IIIa glycoprotein complex and Abci or Epti, and the influence of these drugs on the phospholipid ratio in the platelet membrane. The interaction between the phospholipid-GPIIb/IIIa glycoprotein complex and antiaggregate drugs were investigated using the Surface Plasmon Resonance Imaging technique (SPRI). Phospholipids phosphatidylinositol (PI), phosphatidylserine (PS), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), phosphatidylcholine (PC) and sphingomyelin (SM) were first immobilized onto the gold chip surface. The phospholipid ratio in the platelet membrane was determined by the HPLC. Only PI, PS, PE and PC were determined. Human platelets treated 'in vitro' with Abci or Epti exhibit changes in the phospholipid ratio in the platelet membrane. The ratio of PS decreases and PC rises. The SPRI distinctly shows interactions between phospholipids and glycoprotein GPIIb/IIIa, and between the phospholipid-glycoprotein GPIIb/IIIa complex and Abci or Epti. The interaction between phospholipids and glycoprotein GPIIb/IIIa is growing in the sequence: PI相似文献   

Biphasic changes in phospholipid hydroperoxide levels during renal ischemia/reperfusion.

The involvement of lipid peroxidation in renal ischemia/reperfusion was explored by measuring changes in the cortical content of specific primary lipid hydroperoxides (using chemluminescent detection with HPLC) following ischemia and reperfusion and by correlating the changes in hydroperoxide content with measurements of renal blood flow. Phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine hydroperoxide concentrations were significantly lowered during 30 or 60 min of ischemia (to levels less than 50% of control at 60 min). Following 30 min of renal ischemia, reperfusion resulted in a rebound of phospholipid hydroperoxide tissue content to levels higher than controls. Increased phospholipid hydroperoxide formation was not, however, observed in response to reperfusion following long-term (60 min) ischemia. In separate animals it was demonstrated that following 30 min ischemia and reperfusion, renal blood flow recovers to about 65% of control in 1 h. In contrast, following 60 min ischemia and reperfusion, the renal blood flow remains more highly impaired (less than 25% recovery for periods up to 24 h). These results imply that phospholipid hydroperoxides are produced and accumulate in the kidneys under normal aerobic conditions and that lipid peroxidative activity increases during renal ischemia/reperfusion to an extent dependent on the degree of local blood perfusion.     

31P MRS analysis of the phospholipid composition of normal human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC)

The aim of this investigation was to characterize the phospholipid composition of normal human blood mononuclear cells using 31P NMR spectroscopy. Mononuclear cells of peripheral blood were obtained from 10 volunteers. Phospholipid extracts were prepared from 60x10(6) cells according to modified Folch's method. An AMX 300 Bruker spectrometer 7.05 T was used. The 31P spectrum of phospholipid extracts from normal human PBMC consisted of 9 peaks, with one each for phosphatidylcholine (PC), plasmalogen of phosphatidylcholine (CPLAS), lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC), sphingomyelin (SM), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), phosphatidylinositol (PI), phosphatidylserine (PS) and cardiolipin (CL), and another one due to the external reference substance, methylenediphosphonic acid (MDPA). The concentrations of these phospholipids (PL), based on the integral intensities, were as follows: 0.398 +/- 0.078 mmole/l for PC; 0.033 +/- 0.019 mmole/l for CPLAS; 0.155 +/- 0.043 mmole/l for SM; 0.266 +/- 0.104 mmole/l for PI+PE; 0.101 +/- 0.040 mmole/l for PS, and 0.026 +/- 0.033 mmole/l for CL. The results of this study confirmed that 31P MRS is a convenient tool for measuring the phospholipid concentrations of biological samples.     

Effect of phospholipase A2 on purified gastric vesicles

The phospholipid and fatty acid composition and role of phospholipids in enzyme and transport function of gastric (H⁺+K⁺)-ATPase vesicles was studied using phospholipase A₂ (bee venom). The composition (%) was phosphatidylcholine (PC) 33%; sphingomyelin (sph) 25%; phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) 22%; phosphatidylserine (PS) 11%; and phosphatidylinositol (PI) 8%. The fatty acid composition showed a high degree of unsaturation. In both fresh and lyophilized preparations, even with prolonged incubation, only 50% of phospholipids were hydrolyzed, but the amount of PE and PS disappearing was increased following lyophilization. There was a marked decrease in K⁺-ATPase activity (75%) but essentially no loss of the associated K₊ p-nitrophenyl phosphatase was found. ATPase activity could be largely restored by various phospholipids (PE > PC > PS). There was also an increase in Mg²⁺-ATPase activity, partially reversed in fresh preparations by the addition of phospholipids (PE > PS > PC). Proton transport activity of the preparation was rapidly inhibited, initially due to a large increase in the HC1 permeability of the preparation. Associated with these enzymatic and functional changes, the ATP-induced conformational changes, as indicated by circular dichroism spectra were inhibited.     

Phospholipid and phospholipase changes by jasmonic acid during stolon to tuber transition of potato

Potato tuber formation starts with the stolon swelling and is regulated by jasmonates. The cascade of events leading to tuber formation is not completely understood. The aim of this study was to evaluate phospholipid composition and phospholipase activities during four stages of stolon-to-tuber transition of Solanum tuberosum L., cv. Spunta, and involvement of phosphatidic acid (PA) in stolon cell expansion during early stages. Effects of jasmonic acid (JA) treatment on phospholipid content and activation of phospholipase D (PLD) (EC 3.1.4.4) and phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate-specific phospholipase C (PIP₂-PLC) (EC 3.1.4.3) were studied in the early stages (first stage, hooked apex stolon; second stage, initial swelling stolon) of tuberization. All the phospholipid species identified, phosphatidylinositol (PI), phosphatidylserine (PS), phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), phosphatidylglycerol (PG), PA, and cardiolipin (CL), decreased as tuber formation progressed. PLD and PLC were activated in control tissues at an early stage. JA treatment caused a decrease of PC and PS in first stage stolons, accumulation of PA in second stage stolons, and modification of PLD and PLC activities. PA increased stolon cell area in the first and second stages. These findings indicate that phospholipid catabolism is activated from the early stages of tuber formation, and that JA treatment modifies the pattern of phospholipid (PC, PS, and PA) composition and phospholipase (PLD and PLC) activity. These phospholipids therefore may play a role in activation of an intracellular mechanism that switches the developmental fate of stolon meristem cells, causing differentiation into a tuber.     

Preconditioning Prevents the Inhibition of Na+,K+-ATPase Activity after Brain Ischemia

Application of single transient forebrain ischemia (ISC) in adult Wistar rats, lasting 2 or 10 min, caused inhibition of Na⁺,K⁺-ATPase activity in cytoplasmic membrane fractions of hippocampus and cerebral cortex immediately after the event. In the 2-min ISC group followed by 60 min of reperfusion, the enzyme inhibition was maintained in the cortex, while there was an increase in hippocampal enzyme activity; both effects were over 1 day after the event. However, in the 10-min ISC group enzyme inhibition had been maintained for 7 days in both cerebral structures. Interestingly, ischemic preconditioning (2-min plus 10-min ISC, with a 24-hour interval in between) prevented the inhibitory effect of ischemia/reperfusion on Na⁺,K⁺-ATPase activity observed either after a single insult of 2 min or 10 min ischemia. We suggest that the maintenance of Na⁺,K⁺-ATPase activity afforded by preconditioning be related to cellular neuroprotection.     

Effect of light and protein phosphorylation on photoreceptor rod outer segment acyltransferase activity

Rod outer segments (ROS) exhibit high acyltransferase (AT) activity, the preferred substrate of which being lysophosphatidylcholine. To study factors possibly regulating ROS AT activity purified ROS membranes were assayed under conditions under which protein kinase C (PKC), cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA), and phosphatases were stimulated or inhibited. PKC activation produced a significant increase in the acylation of phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) and phosphatidylinositol (PI) with oleate, it inhibited phosphatidylcholine (PC) acylation, and phosphatidylserine (PS) and phosphatidic acid (PA) acylation remained unchanged. ROS PKA activation resulted in increased oleate incorporation into PS and PI while the acylation of PC, PE, and PA remained unchanged. Inhibition of ROS PKC or PKA produced, as a general trait, inverse effects with respect to those observed under kinase-stimulatory conditions. ROS phosphatase 2A was inhibited by using okadaic acid, and the changes observed in AT activity are described. These findings suggest that changes in ROS protein phosphorylation produce specific changes in AT activity depending on the phospholipid substrate. The effect of light on AT activity in ROS membranes was also studied and it is reported that acylation in these membranes remains unchanged independent of the illumination condition used.