Characterization of Phospholipase A2 Activity Enriched in the Nerve Growth Cone

Abstract: Nerve growth cones isolated from fetal rat brain exhibit in their cytosol a robust level of phospholipase A₂ activity hydrolyzing phosphatidylinositol (PI) and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) but not phosphatidylcholine (PC). Western blot analysis with an antibody to the well-characterized cytosolic phospholipase A₂ (mol wt 85,000) reveals only trace amounts of this PC- and PE-selective enzyme in growth cones. By gel filtration on Superose 12, growth cone phospholipase A₂ activity elutes essentially as two peaks of high molecular mass, at ～65 kDa and at well over 100 kDa. Anion exchange chromatography completely separates a PI-selective from a PE-selective activity, indicating the presence of two different, apparently monoselective phospholipase A₂ species. The PI-selective enzyme, the predominant phospholipase A₂ activity in whole growth cones, is enriched greatly in these structures relative to their parent fractions from fetal brain. This phospholipase A₂ is resistant to reducing agents and is found in the cytosol as well as membrane-associated in the presence of Ca²⁺. However, its catalytic activity is Ca²⁺-independent regardless of whether the enzyme is associated with pure substrate or mixed-lipid growth cone vesicles. The PE-selective phospholipase A₂ in growth cones was studied in less detail but shares with the PI-selective enzyme several properties, including intracellular localization, the existence of cytosolic and membrane-associated forms, and Ca²⁺ independence. Our data indicate growth cones contain two high-molecular-weight forms of phospholipase A₂ that share many properties with known, Ca²⁺-independent cytosolic phospholipase A₂ species but that appear to be monoselective for PI and PE, respectively. In particular, the PI-selective enzyme may represent a new member of the growing family of cytoplasmic phospholipase A₂. The enrichment of the PI-selective phospholipase A₂ in growth cones suggests it plays a major role in the regulation of growth cone function.     

THE DIFFERENTIATION OF PHOSPHOLIPASE A1 AND A2 IN RAT AND HUMAN NERVOUS TISSUES

—Lipid-free extracts of rat and human brain have been prepared and shown to contain phospholipase A₁ and A₂ activities and a lysophospholipase. The phospholipase Aj activity has pH optima of 4·2 and 4·6 in rat and human brain, respectively; it can be partially purified and isolated in high yields by dialysing the extracts at low pH. The purified preparations hydrolyse the ester bond at the 1-position in lecithin, phosphatidyl-ethanolamine and phosphatidylserine, but have little or no action on triglyceride or cholesterol ester. An assay system for the enzyme is described. Phospholipase A₂ activity is optimal at pH 5·5 in rat brain extracts and at pH 5·0 in extracts of human brain. The phospholipase A₂ activity of human cerebral cortex is largely unaffected by heating extracts at 70°C for 5 min, whereas this treatment substantially inactivates phospholipase A₁ and completely destroys lysophospholipase. Phospholipase A₁ is widely distributed in both grey and white matter of human brain and is also present in peripheral nerve. Phospholipase A₂ activity is lower than A₁ in all regions of the CNS examined so far, and is absent from peripheral nerve. Neither enzyme appears to require Ca²⁺ but both are inhibited by di-isopropylfluorophosphate (DFP, 2 × 10^?6 m) and thus differ from phospholipase A of pancreas. These studies confirm that the phospholipase A₁ and A₂ activities in brain are due to separate enzymes.     

Role of membrane associated serine esterase in the activation of phospholipase A2 by calcium ionophore (A23187) in pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells

Exposure of rabbit pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells to 10 M of the calcium ionophore A23187 dramatically stimulates cell membrane-associated phospholipase A₂ activity and arachidonic acid release. In addition, A23187 also enhances cell membrane-associated serine esterase activity. Serine esterase inhibitors phenylmethylsulfonylfuoride and diisopropyl fluorophosphate prevent the increase in serine esterase and phospholipase A₂ activities and arachidonic acid release caused by A23187. A23187 still stimulated serine esterase and phospholipase A₂ activities and arachidonic acid release in cells pretreated with nominal Ca²⁺ free buffer. Treatment of the cell membrane with A23187 does not cause any appreciable change in serine esterase and phospholipase A₂ activities. Pretreatment of the cells with actinomycin D or cycloheximide did not prevent the increase in the cell membrane associated serine esterase and phospholipase A₂ activities, and arachidonic acid release caused by A23187. These results suggest that (i) a membrane-associated serine esterase plays an important role in stimulating the smooth muscle cell membrane associated phospholipase A₂ activity (ii) in addition to the presence of extracellular Ca²⁺, release of Ca²⁺ from intracellular storage site(s) by A23187 also appears to play a role in stimulating the cell membrane-associated serine esterase and phospholipase A₂ activities, and (iii) the increase in the cell membrane-associated serine esterase and phospholipase A₂ activities does not appear to require new RNA or protein synthesis.Abbreviations A23187 calcium ionophore - AA arachidonic acid - PMSF phenylmethyl sulfonylfuoride - DFP diisopropyl-fluorophosphate - DMEM Dulbecco's modified Eagles medium - FCS fetal calf serum - PBS phosphate buffered saline - HBPS Hank's buffered physiological saline - PLA₂ phospholipase A₂     

Manoalide,a Phospholipase A2 Inhibitor,Inhibits Arachidonate Incorporation and Turnover in Brain Phospholipids of the Awake Rat

The Fatty Acid method was used to determine whether incorporation of plasma radiolabeled arachidonic acid into brain phospholipids is controlled by phospholipase A₂. Awake rats received an i.v. injection of a phospholipase A₂ inhibitor, manoalide (10 mg/kg), and then were infused i.v. with [1-¹⁴C]arachidonate or [³H]arachidonate. Animals were killed after infusion by microwave irradiation, and tracer distribution was analyzed in brain phospholipid, neutral lipid and acyl-CoA pools. Calcium-independent phospholipase A₂ activity in brain homogenate was reduced by manoalide, whereas phospholipase C activity was unaffected. At 60 min but not at 20 or 40 min after its injection, manoalide had significantly decreased by 50% incorporation of unesterified arachidonate into and turnover within brain phospholipids, taking into account dilution of the brain arachidonoyl-CoA pool by recycled arachidonate. Manoalide also increased by 100% the net rate of unesterified arachidonate incorporation into brain triacylglycerol. This study indicates that manoalide can be used to inhibit brain phospholipase A₂ in vivo, and that phospholipase A₂ plays a critical role in arachidonate turnover in brain phospholipids and neutral lipids.     

Phospholipase A<Subscript>2</Subscript> Inhibitors Modulate the Effect of Trifluoperazine on the Intracellular Ca<Superscript>2+</Superscript> Concentration in Macrophages

Using Fura-2AM microfluorimetry, it was shown for the first time that phospholipase A₂ inhibitors 4-bromophenacyl bromide and glucocorticosteroids prednisolone and dexamethasone attenuate Ca²⁺ responses induced by neuroleptic trifluoperazine in macrophages. The results suggest the involvement of phospholipase A₂ and arachidonic acid metabolism cascade in the effect of trifluoperazine on intracellular Ca²⁺ concentration in macrophages.     

Fatty acids and lysophospholipids as potential second messengers in auxin action. Rapid activation of phospholipase A2 activity by auxin in suspension-cultured parsley and soybean cells

Activation of cytosolic phospholipase A₂ is a typical signal transduction reaction in animal cells and occurs in plants in response to auxin, elicitors and wounding. Exogenously added fluorescent bis-BODIPY-phosphatidylcholine was taken up and hydrolysed by a cellular phospholipase A₂. Rapid activation of a phospholipase A₂ by auxin in suspension-cultured parsley ( Petrosilenum crispum L.) and soybean ( Glycine max L.) cells was shown by detection and quantification of fluorescent reaction products of phospholipase A₂. Hormone-triggered fluorescent fatty acid accumulation could be detected as early as 5 min. Auxins at 2 μM or higher concentrations activated phospholipase A₂ and fluorescent fatty acids accumulated 1.1- to threefold after 90–120 min, depending on the auxin concentration. Fluorescent lysolipid did not accumulate up to 150 μM auxin. Known inhibitors of phospholipase A₂ inhibited hormone-dependent fluorescent fatty acid accumulation in cell cultures and, previously, elongation growth in etiolated zucchini hypocotyl segments ( Scherer & Arnold (1997 ) Planta 202, 462–469). When lipids were labeled by [¹⁴C]-choline and [¹⁴C]-ethanolamine the corresponding lysophospholipids could be quantified in cell extracts. Radioactive lysophospholipids accumulated as rapidly as 1–2 min after auxin treatment but only at concentrations well above 100 μM auxin. We hypothesize that phospholipase A₂ activation is an early intermediate step between receptor and downstream responses. We hypothesize that fatty acid(s) could be second messengers in several auxin functions, especially in cell elongation. Lysophospholipids seem to be indicators or second messengers for stress caused by high auxin concentrations or may have different auxin-linked functions and are also known to accumulate during elicitor action.     

Membrane Phospholipid Alterations In Alzheimer's Disease: Deficiency of Ethanolamine Plasmalogens

The ethanolamine plasmalogens are decreased whereas serine glycerophospholipids are significantly increased in plasma membrane phospholipid in affected regions of brain in Alzheimer's disease. This may be due to stimulation of Ca²⁺-independent plasmalogen-selective phospholipase A₂, which was recently discovered in brain. This phospholipase A₂ differs from other Ca²⁺-independent phospholipases A₂ in response to ATP and various inhibitors. It may be responsible for excess release of arachidonic acid and accumulation of prostaglandins and lipid peroxides in AD. Accumulation of the above lipid metabolites due to abnormal receptor function and signal transduction may contribute to neurodegeneration in AD.     

ATPase and phosphatase activities from human red cell membranes: II. The effects of phospholipases on Ca2+-dependent enzymic activities

Summary Treatment of human red cell membranes with pure phospholipase A₂ results in a progressive inactivation of both Ca²⁺-dependent and (Ca²⁺+K⁺)-dependent ATPase and phosphatase activities. When phospholipase C replaces phospholipase A₂, Ca²⁺-dependent ATPase activity and Ca²⁺-dependent phosphorylation of red cell membranes are lost, while Ca²⁺-dependent phosphatase activity is enhanced and its apparent affinity for Ca²⁺ is increased about 20-fold. Activation of Ca²⁺-dependent phosphatase following phospholipase C treatment was not observed in sarcoplasmic reticulum preparation. Phospholipase C increases the sensitivity of the phosphatase to N-ethylmaleimide but has little effect on the kinetic parameters relating the phosphatase activity to substrate and cofactors, suggesting that no extensive structural disarrangement of the Ca²⁺-ATPase system has occurred after incubation with phospholipase C.     

尖吻蝮蛇毒碱性磷脂酶A2的表达及其生化特征

将尖吻蝮蛇毒碱性磷脂酶A₂（A.aBPLA₂）基因克隆至温敏表达载体pBLMVL2,在大肠杆菌RR1中成功诱导表达.表达产物A.aBPLA₂约占细菌蛋白质总量的20％,并以包涵体的形式存在.纯化包涵体后,将产物变性、复性,然后用FPLC Superose^TM12纯化,产物经过SDS-聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳检测只有单一条带.对纯化后的表达A.aBPLA₂进行了酶活性、抑制血小板聚集活性和溶血活性的测定.结果显示,表达A.aBPLA₂的酶活性与变性后复性江浙蝮蛇酸性磷脂酶A₂酶活性相近,具有类似变性后复性江浙蝮蛇碱性磷脂酶A₂的溶血活性,没有抑制血小板聚集活性.最后对磷脂酶A₂的结构与这些活性的关系进行了讨论.     

Pancreatic phospholipase A2 is not regulated by calmodulin

It was previously suggested [Wong, P.Y.-K and Cheung, W.Y. (1979) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Comm. $\text{90}$, 473–480] that the Ca²⁺ activation of phospholipase A₂ is mediated by the calcium binding protein calmodulin. In the present study phospholipase A₂ from pig pancreas was shown to be absolutely Ca²⁺ dependent but the enzyme was not stimulated by exogenous calmodulin and no endogenous calmodulin was found in the preparation. The enzyme was inhibited in the absence of calmodulin by several drugs (trifluoperazine, mepacrine, promethazine and propranolol) which are known to bind to calmodulin. A kinetic analysis indicated that trifluoperazine competitively inhibited phospholipase A₂, probably by interacting with phospholipid substrate.     

Human platelet phospholipase A2 activity is responsive in vitro to pH and Ca2+ variations which parallel those occurring after platelet activation in vivo

Secretion of human platelet dense granule contents in response to epinephrine and other weak agonists requires the prior liberation of membrane-esterified arachidonic acid by a phospholipase A₂ enzyme species whose activity is regulated by Na⁺/H⁺ exchange (e.g., Sweatt et al. (1986) J. Biol. Chem. 261, 8660–8673 and Banga et al. (1986) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 83, (197–9201). Based on our earlier findings in intact platelets, we postulated that the alkalinization of the platelet interior that accompanies accelerated activity of the Na⁺/H⁺ antiporter enables the phospholipase A₂ enzyme to function at ambient or low concentrations of intraplatelet Ca²⁺. To test the hypothesis that the Ca²⁺ dependence of platelet phospholipase A₂ activity is influenced by changes in intraplatelet pH that occur following platelet activation, we characterized the Ca²⁺ dependence of this enzyme as a function of changes in pH (from pH 6.8–8.0), since it is within this range that intraplatelet pH changes occur following platelet activation. Phospholipase A₂ enzymatic activity in platelet particulate preparations was detectable in the presence of micromolar concentrations of Ca²⁺ (EC₅₀ 1–2 μM) and plateaued above 10 μM Ca²⁺. Enzymatic activity measured at 4.8 μM Ca²⁺ was increased by raising the pH from 5.5 to 8.0 (EC₅₀ 7.4), was optimal at pH 8.0 and declined at more alkaline values. Furthermore, increases in pH from pH 6.8 to pH 8.0 not only increased maximal enzymatic activity but also enabled detection of enzymatic activity at lower Ca²⁺ concentrations. The interdependent regulation of phospholipase A₂ activity by changes in pH and Ca²⁺ suggests that phospholipase A₂ could serve to integrate changes in intracellular pH and available Ca²⁺ that occur subsequent to activation of human platelets by epinephrine and other weak agonists.     

Cell Swelling Activates Phospholipase A2 in Ehrlich Ascites Tumor Cells

Ehrlich ascites tumor cells, loaded with ³H-labeled arachidonic acid and ¹⁴C-labeled stearic acid for two hours, were washed and transferred to either isotonic or hypotonic media containing BSA to scavenge the labeled fatty acids released from the cells. During the first two minutes of hypo-osmotic exposure the rate of ³H-labeled arachidonic acid release is 3.3 times higher than that observed at normal osmolality. Cell swelling also causes an increase in the production of ¹⁴C-stearic acid-labeled lysophosphatidylcholine. This indicates that a phospholipase A₂ is activated by cell swelling in the Ehrlich cells. Within the same time frame there is no swelling-induced increase in ¹⁴C-labeled stearic acid release nor in the synthesis of phosphatidyl ¹⁴C-butanol in the presence of ¹⁴C-butanol. Furthermore, U7312, an inhibitor of phospholipase C, does not affect the swelling induced release of ¹⁴C-labeled arachidonic acid. Taken together these results exclude involvement of phospholipase A₁, C and D in the swelling-induced liberation of arachidonic acid. The swelling-induced release of ³H-labeled arachidonic acid from Ehrlich cells as well as the volume regulatory response are inhibited after preincubation with GDP_βS or with AACOCF₃, an inhibitor of the 85 kDa, cytosolic phospholipase A₂. Based on these results we propose that cell swelling activates a phospholipase A₂—perhaps the cytosolic 85 kDa type—by a partly G-protein coupled process, and that this activation is essential for the subsequent volume regulatory response. Received: 23 July 1996/Revised: 17 June 1997     

Tryptophan modification of phospholipase A2 enzymes and presynaptic neurotoxins from snake venoms

Three phospholipases A₂ purified from cobra venoms and two presynaptically acting neurotoxins that exhibit phospholipase A₂ activity were subjected to tryptophan modification with 2-hydroxy-5-nitrobenzyl bromide. Associated with the modification of an increasing number of Trp residues were marked decreases in enzymatic activity and lethality, whereas antigenicity remained unchanged. The degree of exposure of tryptophanyl groups as determined by acrylamide quenching was consistent with the relative reactivity toward 2-hydroxy-5-nitrobenzyl bromide, except for Hemachatushaemachatus phospholipase A₂, which showed unusually high reactivity due to its characteristic dimeric conformation. Difference spectra of Trp-modified derivatives differed from those of their native enzymes by the presence of a new positive perturbation between 350 and 500 nm, with a maximum at 415 nm. Scatchard plots revealed only one type of binding site for Ca²⁺, and the binding abilities of the modified enzymes were not impaired. At pH 8.0, all native enzymes enhanced the emission intensity of 8-anilinonaphthalene sulfonate (ANS) dramatically, and the emission intensity of the ANS-enzyme complex increased or decreased in parallel with increasing concentration of Ca²⁺ for the respective enzyme. The Trp-modified derivatives did not enhance the emission intensity of ANS at all either in the presence or absence of Ca²⁺. By means of tryptophan modification, we were able to infer that the tryptophan residues are in the vicinity of the Ca²⁺ binding site and are directly involved in the binding with ANS. This, together with the suggestion that the hydrophobic pocket that interacts with ANS might be the site of binding of the phospholipase A₂ enzyme with the substrate, suggests that the Trp residues in phospholipase A₂ enzymes and presynaptic toxins are involved in substrate binding.     

Lipids and lipolytic enzyme activities of rat heart mitochondria

The lipid composition and lipolytic enzyme activities in rat cardiac mitochondria were examined. Subsarcolemmal mitochondria were prepared by treatment of heart muscle with a Polytron tissue processor, while interfibrillar mitochondria were released by exposure of the remaining low-speed pellet to the protease, nagarse. These procedures are known to yield two functionally different populations of mitochondria. However, their phospholipid contents and compositions were identical, as were the positional distributions of the constituent fatty acids. Of the ethanolamine phospholipids, 20% were plasmalogens, and about 2% of the choline phospholipids consisted of this alkenylacyl species. Both subsarcolemmal and interfibrillar mitochondria contained a Ca²⁺-activated phospholipase A₂, as evidenced by the Ca²⁺-dependent release of unsaturated fatty acids and lysophosphatidylethanolamine from endogenous lipids. Ruthenium red prevented the activation of this enzyme by Ca²⁺, indicating that the activity is located in the matrix space or associated with the inner surface of the inner membrane. Both mitochondrial fractions produced free fatty acids and lysophosphatidylethanolamine in the absence of free Ca²⁺ apparently due to an outer membrane phospholipase A₁. The activity of this enzyme decreased with time, particularly in interfibrillar mitochondria, providing that Ca²⁺ was absent. Nagarse treatment of subsarcolemmal mitochondria resulted in a preparation with the same phospholipase A₁ properties as interfibrillar mitochondria. The possibility that differences in phospholipase A₁ properties account for some of the functional variations between the two mitochondrial types is discussed.     

Tryptophan modification of phospholipase A2 enzymes and presynaptic neurotoxins from snake venoms

Three phospholipases A₂ purified from cobra venoms and two presynaptically acting neurotoxins that exhibit phospholipase A₂ activity were subjected to tryptophan modification with 2-hydroxy-5-nitrobenzyl bromide. Associated with the modification of an increasing number of Trp residues were marked decreases in enzymatic activity and lethality, whereas antigenicity remained unchanged. The degree of exposure of tryptophanyl groups as determined by acrylamide quenching was consistent with the relative reactivity toward 2-hydroxy-5-nitrobenzyl bromide, except for Hemachatushaemachatus phospholipase A₂, which showed unusually high reactivity due to its characteristic dimeric conformation. Difference spectra of Trp-modified derivatives differed from those of their native enzymes by the presence of a new positive perturbation between 350 and 500 nm, with a maximum at 415 nm. Scatchard plots revealed only one type of binding site for Ca²⁺, and the binding abilities of the modified enzymes were not impaired. At pH 8.0, all native enzymes enhanced the emission intensity of 8-anilinonaphthalene sulfonate (ANS) dramatically, and the emission intensity of the ANS-enzyme complex increased or decreased in parallel with increasing concentration of Ca²⁺ for the respective enzyme. The Trp-modified derivatives did not enhance the emission intensity of ANS at all either in the presence or absence of Ca²⁺. By means of tryptophan modification, we were able to infer that the tryptophan residues are in the vicinity of the Ca²⁺ binding site and are directly involved in the binding with ANS. This, together with the suggestion that the hydrophobic pocket that interacts with ANS might be the site of binding of the phospholipase A₂ enzyme with the substrate, suggests that the Trp residues in phospholipase A₂ enzymes and presynaptic toxins are involved in substrate binding.     

Modification of the tetrodotoxin receptor in Electrophorus electricus by phospholipase A2

The effects of phospholipase A₂ treatment on the tetrodotoxin receptors in Electrophorus electricus was studied. (1) The binding of [³H]tetrodotoxin to electroplaque membranes was substantially reduced by treatment of the membranes with low concentrations of phospholipase A₂ from a number of sources, including bee venom, Vipera russelli and Crotalus adamanteus and by $\text{β-}\text{bungarotoxin}$. (2) Phospholipase A₂ from bee venom and from C. adamanteus both caused extensive hydrolysis of electroplaque membrane phospholipids although the substrate specificity differed. Analysis of the phospholipid classes hydrolyzed revealed a striking correlation between loss of toxin binding and hydrolysis of phosphatidylethanolamine but not of phosphatidylserine. (3) The loss of toxin binding could be partially reversed by treatment of the membranes with bovine serum albumin, conditions which are known to remove hydrolysis products from the membrane. (4) Equilibrium binding studies on the effects of phospholipase A₂ treatment on [³H]tetrodotoxin binding showed that the reduction reflected loss of binding sites and not a change in affinity. (5) These results are interpreted in terms of multiple equilibrium states of the tetrodotoxin-receptors with conformations determined by the phospholipid environment.     

Effect of purified phospholipases on the binding of tetrodotoxin to axon plasma membrane

Summary The role of phospholipids in the binding of [³H] tetrodotoxin to garfish olfactory nerve axon plasma membrane was studied by the use of purified phospholipases. Treatment of the membranes with low concentrations of either phospholipase A₂ (Crotalus adamanteus andNaja naja) or phospholipase C (Bacillus cereus andClostridium perfringens) resulted in a marked reduction in tetrodotoxin binding activity. A 90% reduction in the activity occurred with about 45% hydrolysis of membrane phospholipids by phospholipase A₂, and with phospholipase C the lipid hydrolysis was about 60–70% for a 70–80% reduction in the binding activity. Phospholipase C fromB. cereus andCl. perfringens had similar inhibitory effects. Bovine serum albumin protected the tetrodotoxin binding activity of the membrane from the inhibitory effect of phospholipase A₂ but not from that of phospholipase C. In the presence of albumin about 25% of the membrane phospholipids remained unhydrolyzed by phospholipase A₂. It is suggested that these unhydrolyzed phospholipids are in a physical state different from the rest of the membrane phospholipids and that these include the phospholipids which are directly related to the tetrodotoxin binding component. It is concluded that phospholipids form an integral part of the tetrodotoxin binding component of the axon membrane and that the phospholipase-caused inhibition of the binding activity is due to effects resulting from alteration of the phospholipid components.     

Hydrolysis of [17,17-2H2]gibberellin A20-glucoside and [17,17-2H2]gibberellin A20-glucosyl ester by Azospirillum lipoferum cultured in a nitrogen-free biotin-Based chemically-defined medium

Azospirillum lipoferum strain USA 5b, a gibberellin producing bacterium, was cultured in a nitrogen-free biotin-based chemically-defined medium in the presence of the glucosyl ester or the 13-O-glucoside of [17,17-²H₂]-gibberellin A₂₀. The [17,17-²H₂]-gibberellin A₂₀ conjugates were added at both the stationary phase of the cultures and at the beginning of the growth curve. Metabolism of the conjugates was examined after 72 h of incubation using capillary gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, with identification by full scan mass spectra. Metabolites identified were [17,17-²H₂]-gibberellin A₂₀, [17,17-²H₂]-gibberellin A₁ and [17,17-²H₂]-gibberellin A₃. Also, in the Azospirillum cultures fed at the beginning of the growth curve, gibberellin A₅ and gibberellin A₂₀ were characterized as endogenous by mass spectrometry/full spectrum. These results support the concept that the growth promotion in plants that is induced by Azospirillum infection may occur by a combination of both gibberellin production and gibberellin-glucoside/glucosyl ester deconjugation by the bacterium.     

Lung surfactant synthesis: a Ca++-dependent microsomal phospholipase A2 in the lung.

We present the first direct evidence for a highly active, Ca⁺⁺-dependent phospholipase A₂ in the microsomal fraction of rat lung homogenate. Several previously reported studies from other laboratories strongly implicate this enzyme as a key metabolic step in the biosynthesis of dipalmitoyl lecithin, the primary component of pulmonary surfactant. In the present study, stoichiometric amounts of [³H]lysophosphatidylethanolamine and [¹⁴C]fatty acid were released during incubation of 1-[9, 10-³H]palmitoyl-2-sn-[1′-¹⁴C]linoleoyl phosphatidylethanolamine with the lung microsomal fraction. Marker enzyme measurements showed that the microsomal activity cannot be due to contamination with mitochondria, which also show phospholipase A₂ in both lung and liver. In contrast, liver microsomes show predominantly a phospholipase A₁ activity.     

Group XV phospholipase A₂, a lysosomal phospholipase A₂

A phospholipase A₂ was identified from MDCK cell homogenates with broad specificity toward glycerophospholipids including phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylserine, and phosphatidylglycerol. The phospholipase has the unique ability to transacylate short chain ceramides. This phospholipase is calcium-independent, localized to lysosomes, and has an acidic pH optimum. The enzyme was purified from bovine brain and found to be a water-soluble glycoprotein consisting of a single peptide chain with a molecular weight of 45 kDa. The primary structure deduced from the DNA sequences is highly conserved between chordates. The enzyme was named lysosomal phospholipase A₂ (LPLA₂) and subsequently designated group XV phospholipase A₂. LPLA₂ has 49% of amino acid sequence identity to lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase and is a member of the αβ-hydrolase superfamily. LPLA₂ is highly expressed in alveolar macrophages. A marked accumulation of glycerophospholipids and extensive lamellar inclusion bodies, a hallmark of cellular phospholipidosis, is observed in alveolar macrophages in LPLA₂^−/− mice. This defect can also be reproduced in macrophages that are exposed to cationic amphiphilic drugs such as amiodarone. In addition, older LPLA₂^−/− mice develop a phenotype similar to human autoimmune disease. These observations indicate that LPLA₂ may play a primary role in phospholipid homeostasis, drug toxicity, and host defense.