Distribution of the dienic long chain bases in shellfish sphingophosphonolipids

Sphingophosphonolipids were isolated from eight kinds of marine shellfish and the fatty acids, long chain bases and water soluble carbon-phosphorous compounds of the sphingophosphonolipids were analyzed.In all shellfish, the fatty acid composition was very simple. The main fatty acid was hexadecanoic acid and 2-hydroxy hexadecanoic acid.On the other hand, the long chain base fraction showed a complex pattern characteristic of each shellfish. Dienic long chain base was predominant in all shellfish sphingophosphonolipids studied and its content varied with the species and the parts of shellfish.Two new long chain bases, docosa-4,15-sphingadienine and 4-hydroxy-docosa-15-sphingenine, were characterized by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.     

Polyhydroxylated steroids from an endophytic fungus, Chaetomium globosum ZY-22 isolated from Ginkgo biloba

A novel polyhydroxylated C₂₉-sterol, 25ξ-methyl-22-homo-5α-cholest-7,22-diene-3β,6β,9α-triol, designated globosterol (1), together with one known tetrahydroxylated ergosterol (22E, 24R)-ergosta-7,22-diene-3β,5α,6β,9α-tetraol (2) has been isolated from the cultures of an endophytic fungus, Chaetomium globosum ZY-22 originated from the plant Ginkgo biloba. The structures and relative configurations of 1 and 2 were established on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analyses including 1D and 2D NMR (¹H-¹H COSY, HSQC, HMBC, and NOESY) experiments and comparison with the literature. Globosterol (1) possesses an unprecedented 25-methyl Δ²²-C₁₀-side chain and Δ⁷-3β,6β,9α-hydroxy-steroid nucleus, which represents the first example for C₂₉-steroids of the group.     

Interrelations between C4 Ketogenesis, C5 Ketogenesis, and Anaplerosis in the Perfused Rat Liver

We investigated the interrelations between C₄ ketogenesis (production of β-hydroxybutyrate + acetoacetate), C₅ ketogenesis (production of β-hydroxypentanoate + β-ketopentanoate), and anaplerosis in isolated rat livers perfused with ¹³C-labeled octanoate, heptanoate, or propionate. Mass isotopomer analysis of C₄ and C₅ ketone bodies and of related acyl-CoA esters reveal that C₄ and C₅ ketogenesis share the same pool of acetyl-CoA. Although the uptake of octanoate and heptanoate by the liver are similar, the rate of C₅ ketogenesis from heptanoate is much lower than the rate of C₄ ketogenesis from octanoate. This results from the channeling of the propionyl moiety of heptanoate into anaplerosis of the citric acid cycle. C₅ ketogenesis from propionate is virtually nil because acetoacyl-CoA thiolase does not favor the formation of β-ketopentanoyl-CoA from propionyl-CoA and acetyl-CoA. Anaplerosis and gluconeogenesis from heptanoate are inhibited by octanoate. The data have implications for the design of diets for the treatment of long chain fatty acid oxidation disorders, such as the triheptanoin-based diet.The regulation of the metabolism of C₄ ketone bodies, i.e. β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB)² and acetoacetate (AcAc) has been extensively investigated in vivo in isolated livers, hepatocytes, and subcellular preparations (for reviews, see Refs. 1–4). In contrast, very little information is available on the metabolism of C₅ ketone bodies, i.e. β-hydroxypentanoate (BHP) and β-ketopentanoate (BKP), which are known in the clinical literature as 3-hydroxyvalerate and 3-ketovalerate (5, 6). The C₅ ketone bodies are formed in liver from the partial oxidation of odd-chain fatty acids (see Fig. 1, center column). C₅ ketogenesis uses the same enzymes of the 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA (HMG-CoA) cycle as C₄ ketogenesis. The counterpart of HMG-CoA in C₅ ketogenesis is 3-hydroxy-3-ethylglutaryl-CoA (HEG-CoA). We only found one report on the formation of [¹⁴C]HEG-CoA in liver extract incubated with propionyl-CoA and [1-¹⁴C]acetyl-CoA (7).Open in a separate windowFIGURE 1.Scheme of C₄ ketogenesis and C₅ ketogenesis in the liver. Numbers refer to the following enzymes: 3-ketoacyl-CoA thiolase (1), HMG-CoA synthase (2), HMG-CoA lyase (3), and β-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase (4). The figure also shows the link between propionyl-CoA and the CAC via anaplerosis.Because odd-chain fatty acids are absent from the diet of non-ruminant mammals, body fluids contain only traces of C₅ ketone bodies. However, C₅ ketone bodies and hydroxyethylglutarate are found in body fluids of patients with disorders of the anaplerotic pathway, propionyl-CoA → methylmalonyl- CoA → succinyl-CoA, such as deficiency in propionyl-CoA carboxylase and methylmalonyl-CoA mutase as well as biotin or vitamin B12 deficiency (5, 6, 8). The formation of C₅ ketone bodies in these pathological states involves either the conversion of propionyl-CoA to BKP-CoA via 3-ketoacyl-CoA thiolase (Fig. 1, reaction 1) or the β-oxidation of odd-chain fatty acids synthesized in these patients (9) using propionyl-CoA as a primer (10).Like their C₄ counterparts, the C₅ ketone bodies are interconverted by mitochondrial BHB dehydrogenase (11). In peripheral tissues, C₅ ketone bodies are converted to propionyl-CoA (which is anaplerotic) + acetyl-CoA via 3-oxoacid-CoA transferase (12) and 3-ketoacyl-CoA thiolase. Peripheral tissues have a high capacity to utilize exogenous C₅ ketone bodies (13), especially heart, kidney, and brain, which have high activities of 3-oxoacid-CoA transferase (14, 15).Our interest in C₅ ketone body metabolism arose from an ongoing clinical trial where patients with long chain fatty acid oxidation disorders are treated with a diet containing triheptanoin (16, 17) instead of the classical treatment with the even-chain triglyceride trioctanoin. These patients suffer from muscle weakness and rhabdomyolysis, manifested by the release of creatine kinase in plasma. It was hypothesized that the accumulation of long chain acyl-CoAs and long chain acylcarnitines results in membrane damage with release of large and small molecules from cells. The leakage of small molecules would deplete intermediates of the citric acid cycle (CAC) which carry acetyl groups as they are oxidized. It was further hypothesized that boosting anaplerosis with a suitable substrate would compensate for the chronic cataplerosis and improve heart and muscle function. The catabolism of heptanoate yields propionyl-CoA, which can be used for anaplerosis in most tissues, and C₅ ketone bodies in liver. C₅ ketone bodies are converted to propionyl-CoA, which can be used for anaplerosis in peripheral tissues. The marked improvement of the patients'' conditions after switching from a trioctanoin- to a triheptanoin-based diet supported the hypothesis.After ingestion of meals containing triheptanoin as the only lipid component, both C₅ ketone bodies and C₄ ketone bodies accumulated in the plasma of patients that have been diagnosed with disorders of long chain fatty acid oxidation (16). This suggested that acetyl groups derived from heptanoate can be used for the synthesis of C₄ and C₅ ketone bodies. Alternatively, the accumulation of C₄ ketone bodies after triheptanoin ingestion might result from the inhibition of the utilization of C₄ ketone bodies in peripheral tissues by C₅ ketone bodies.The aim of the present study was to investigate the interaction between C₄ and C₅ ketogenesis in rat livers perfused with octanoate and/or heptanoate. To gain insight on the fates of the acetyl groups of both fatty acids and on the fate of the propionyl-CoA moiety of heptanoate, we conducted the experiments with a series of labeled substrates: [1-¹³C]octanoate, [8-¹³C]octanoate, [5,6,7-¹³C₃]heptanoate, [1-¹³C]heptanoate, and [¹³C₃]propionate. The outcome of the propionyl-CoA moiety of [5,6,7-¹³C₃]heptanoate and [¹³C₃]propionate was traced by measurements of anaplerosis and glucose labeling by mass isotopomer³ analysis (18). In previous studies on the metabolism of odd-chain fatty acids in liver or hepatocytes (19, 20), ketone bodies were assayed with BHB dehydrogenase. This assay does not differentiate C₄ from C₅ ketone bodies. In the present study we used gas chromatography-mass spectrometry to specifically assay C₄ and C₅ ketone bodies (13).     

Formation of complex ether lipids from 1-O-alkylglycerols in cell suspension cultures of rape

Photomixotrophic cell suspension cultures of rape, Brassica napus, were incubated with rac-1-O-[1′-¹⁴C]hexadecylglycerol. Radioactivity was incorporated predominantly into choline glycerophospholipids. Prolonged incubation led also to considerable proportions of labeled ethanolamine glycerophospholipids. In addition to these ionic lipids,isomeric hexadecylacylglycerols as well as hexadecyldiacylglycerols were formed. About a third of the hexadecylglycerol supplied as substrate was cleaved within 48 h incubation. The palmitic acid formed by oxidative cleavage of the substrate was incorporated predominantly into choline glycerophospholipids, ethanolamine glycerophospholipids, and triacylglycerols. Incubation of an equimolar mixture of homologous saturated rac-1-O-[1′¹⁴C]alkylglycerols (C₁₄, C₁₆, C₁₈, C₂₀) with rape cells showed that alkylglycerols with alkyl moieties having 16 and 18 carbon atoms were incorporated preferentially. Incubation of labeled hexadecyglycerol with a homogenate of rape cells led also predominantly to choline glycerophospholipids; highest yields were obtained at pH 7. Neither the 1-O-alkyl moieties in choline glycerophospholipis nor those in ethanolamine glycerophospholipids were desaturated to 1-O-alk-1′-enylmoieties. The results of these experiments led to the following conclusions: (1) The acylation of 1-O-alkylglycerols to isomeric alkylacylglycerols is catalyzed by two acyltransferases differing in their specificity with regard to the chain length of the alkyl moiety in the substrate. (2) CDP-Choline: diacylglycerol cholinephosphotransferase and CDP-ethanolamine: diacylglycerol ethanolaminephosphotransferase are two enzymes differing in various respects. Cholinephosphotransferase exhibits a much higher affinity for 1-O-alkyl-2-O-acylglycerols than ethanolaminephosphotransferase. The two enzymes show marked differences with regard to their specificity for 1-O-alkyl-2-O-acylglycerols differing in the chain lengths of their alkyl moieties.     

Bacteriovorax stolpii proliferation and predation without sphingophosphonolipids

Bacteriovorax stolpii strain UKi2, a facultative predator-parasite of larger Gram-negative bacteria, synthesizes distinct sphingophosphonolipids. These lipids are characterized by a direct P-C bond, the novel head group 1-hydroxy-2-aminoethylphosphonate, iso-branched long chain bases and fatty acids, and fatty acids dominated by those with α-hydroxy groups. Myriocin, an inhibitor of serine:fatty acyl CoA transferase, reversibly blocked sphingophosphonolipid synthesis in B. stolpii UKi2. However, the inhibitor did not block cell proliferation indicating that these lipids are not vital for B. stolpii UKi2 viability and growth. When mixed with Escherichia coli prey cells, control predator-parasite bacteria were effective in forming large E. coli bdelloplasts and cleared the suspension of the prey cells. Although myriocin-treated cells could attack prey cells and form bdelloplasts, their locomotory behavior was altered and fewer and smaller bdelloplasts were produced. These observations open up the possibility for a role of sphingophosphonolipids in B. stolpii UKi2 complex behavior.     

Characterization of aminoalkylphosphonyl cerebrosides in muscle tissue of Turbo cornutus

From muscle tissues of the marine snail (Turbo cornutus) aminoalkylphosphonyl cerebrosides, which had been shown to be present in visceral parts, were isolated.Their structure was determined by degradative methods and by characterization of components by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.The aminoalkylphosphonyl cerebroside fraction consisted of a major portion of 1-O-[6′-O-(N-methylaminoethylphosphonyl)galactosyl] ceramide and a minor portion of a novel lipid, 1-O-[6′-O-(aminoethylphosphonyl)galactosyl] ceramide.The fatty acids of the fraction were mainly palmitic (53.3%) and 2-hydroxy palmitic acid (14.6%). The long chain bases were mainly dihydroxy C_{22 : 2} (36.6%), C_{18 : 1} (14.6%) and C_{18 : 2} (11.3%), and trihydroxy bases were also found as minor components.     

Alkaline ceramidase 3 deficiency aggravates colitis and colitis-associated tumorigenesis in mice by hyperactivating the innate immune system

Increasing studies suggest that ceramides differing in acyl chain length and/or degree of unsaturation have distinct roles in mediating biological responses. However, still much remains unclear about regulation and role of distinct ceramide species in the immune response. Here, we demonstrate that alkaline ceramidase 3 (Acer3) mediates the immune response by regulating the levels of C_18:1-ceramide in cells of the innate immune system and that Acer3 deficiency aggravates colitis in a murine model by augmenting the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines in myeloid and colonic epithelial cells (CECs). According to the NCBI Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database, ACER3 is downregulated in immune cells in response to lipopolysaccharides (LPS), a potent inducer of the innate immune response. Consistent with these data, we demonstrated that LPS downregulated both Acer3 mRNA levels and its enzymatic activity while elevating C_18:1-ceramide, a substrate of Acer3, in murine immune cells or CECs. Knocking out Acer3 enhanced the elevation of C_18:1-ceramide and the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines in immune cells and CECs in response to LPS challenge. Similar to Acer3 knockout, treatment with C_18:1-ceramide, but not C_18:0-ceramide, potentiated LPS-induced expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines in immune cells. In the mouse model of dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis, Acer3 deficiency augmented colitis-associated elevation of colonic C_18:1-ceramide and pro-inflammatory cytokines. Acer3 deficiency aggravated diarrhea, rectal bleeding, weight loss and mortality. Pathological analyses revealed that Acer3 deficiency augmented colonic shortening, immune cell infiltration, colonic epithelial damage and systemic inflammation. Acer3 deficiency also aggravated colonic dysplasia in a mouse model of colitis-associated colorectal cancer. Taken together, these results suggest that Acer3 has an important anti-inflammatory role by suppressing cellular or tissue C_18:1-ceramide, a potent pro-inflammatory bioactive lipid and that dysregulation of ACER3 and C_18:1-ceramide may contribute to the pathogenesis of inflammatory diseases including cancer.Ceramides are the central lipid in the metabolic network of sphingolipids, and are generated through the de novo, catabolic and salvage pathways.¹ In the de novo pathway, ceramides are synthesized through multiple steps catalyzed sequentially by serine palmitoyltransferase (SPT), keto-dihydrosphingosine reductase, (dihydro)ceramide synthases (CerSs) and dihydroceramide desaturases. In the catabolic pathways, ceramides are derived from the hydrolysis of sphingomyelins by sphingomyelinases (SMases) or the hydrolysis of glycosphingolipids. In the salvage pathway, ceramides are synthesized from sphingosine (SPH) and fatty acyl-CoA by CerSs. As CerSs (CerS1-6) have distinct specificity toward acyl-CoA chain length and degree of unsaturation, ceramides with various acyl-chains are found in mammalian cells. Upon generation, ceramides can be hydrolyzed by five ceramidases encoded by five distinct genes (ASAH1, ASAH2, ACER1, ACER2 and ACER3). These ceramidases vary in pH optimum for catalytic activity, tissue distribution, cellular localization and substrate specificity,² allowing for regulation of specific ceramides in a cell- or tissue-specific manner.Recent studies have implicated ceramides in regulating the innate immune response. Sakata et al.³ demonstrated that lipopolysaccharides (LPS), a potent inducer of the innate immune response, increases C₁₆-ceramide by activating acid SMase and that inhibition of SMase attenuates LPS-induced production of pro-inflammatory cytokines in THP-1 macrophages. Andreyev et al.⁴ found that ceramides are increased by Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)-specific LPS in RAW 264.7 macrophages. Schilling et al.⁵ revealed that LPS and palmitic acid synergistically increase C₁₆-ceramide in primary mouse peritoneal macrophages (PMs) by activating de novo biosynthesis of ceramides and that inhibiting the C₁₆-ceramide increase attenuates LPS-induced production of TNF-α and IL-1β in PMs. A recent study found that LPS increases ceramides in Raw 264.7 macrophages through nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB)-dependent upregulation of SPT long chain base subunit 2 Sptlc2, a regulator of SPT.⁶ These results suggest that ceramides mediate the immune response in part by enhancing the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines in innate immune cells.Emerging evidence suggests that dysregulation in the innate immune response in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) contributes to the pathogenesis of the disease.⁷ Consistent with the role of ceramides in potentiating the innate immune response, several studies found that ceramides may have a role in the pathogenesis of IBD. Sakata et al.³ demonstrated that blocking the generation of ceramides with the SMase inhibitor hinders mouse colitis. Fischbeck et al.⁸ showed that increasing ceramides in the gut by supplying mice with dietary sphingomyelins, a precursor of ceramides, aggravates mouse colitis. These results suggest that increased levels of ceramides may contribute to the pathogenesis of IBD.Although the role of ceramides and their generating enzymes in the innate immune response have been well studied, much remains unclear about the role of ceramidases involved in the catabolism of ceramides in this biological response. In this study, we investigated the role of alkaline ceramidase 3 (ACER3)/Acer3 and its substrates in immune response. We demonstrated that Acer3 is downregulated, whereas its substrate, C_18:1-ceramide, is upregulated in murine immune cells and colonic epithelial cells (CECs) during the innate immune response to LPS. Using Acer3 null mice (Acer3^−/−) and their wild-type (Acer3^+/+) littermates, we further discovered that the inverse regulation of Acer3 and C_18:1-ceramide potentiates LPS-induced production of pro-inflammatory cytokines in innate immune cells. More importantly, we found that Acer3 deficiency aggravates dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis and colitis-associated colorectal cancer (CAC) in a murine model. These findings indicate that Acer3/ACER3 and C_18:1-ceramide are novel modulators in the innate immune response and that their dysregulation may contribute to the pathogenesis of inflammatory diseases.     

Structural Insights into the Acyl Intermediates of the Plasmodium falciparum Fatty Acid Synthesis Pathway: THE MECHANISM OF EXPANSION OF THE ACYL CARRIER PROTEIN CORE*

Acyl carrier protein (ACP) plays a central role in fatty acid biosynthesis. However, the molecular machinery that mediates its function is not yet fully understood. Therefore, structural studies were carried out on the acyl-ACP intermediates of Plasmodium falciparum using NMR as a spectroscopic probe. Chemical shift perturbation studies put forth a new picture of the interaction of ACP molecule with the acyl chain, namely, the hydrophobic core can protect up to 12 carbon units, and additional carbons protrude out from the top of the hydrophobic cavity. The latter hypothesis stems from chemical shift changes observed in C_α and C_β of Ser-37 in tetradecanoyl-ACP. ¹³C,¹⁵N-Double-filtered nuclear Overhauser effect (NOE) spectroscopy experiments further substantiate the concept; in octanoyl (C₈)- and dodecanoyl (C₁₂)-ACP, a long range NOE is observed within the phosphopantetheine arm, suggesting an arch-like conformation. This NOE is nearly invisible in tetradecanoyl (C₁₄)-ACP, indicating a change in conformation of the prosthetic group. Furthermore, the present study provides insights into the molecular mechanism of ACP expansion, as revealed from a unique side chain-to-backbone hydrogen bond between two fairly conserved residues, Ile-55 HN and Glu-48 O. The backbone amide of Ile-55 HN reports a pK_a value for the carboxylate, ∼1.9 pH units higher than model compound value, suggesting strong electrostatic repulsion between helix II and helix III. Charge-charge repulsion between the helices in combination with thrust from inside due to acyl chain would energetically favor the separation of the two helices. Helix III has fewer structural restraints and, hence, undergoes major conformational change without altering the overall-fold of P. falciparum ACP.In the malarial parasite Plasmodium falciparum, fatty acid biosynthesis occurs by a pathway distinct from the host. A number of enzymes involved in the process viz. β-ketoacyl acyl carrier protein (ACP)⁵ synthase III, β-hydroxy acyl-ACP hydratase, and enoyl-ACP reductase are targets for drug design (1, 2). An indispensable component, crucial for each step of the pathway, is a small acidic protein, the ACP. ACP plays a pivotal role in a range of biochemical processes, like fatty acid biosynthesis (3), polyketide synthesis (4, 5), oligosaccharides (6), biotin, and nonribosomal peptide synthesis (7, 8). Thus, the knowledge of structural features, which dictate ACP function, could offer new avenues for inhibitor design to disable several pathways of the parasite in parallel.Acyl carrier protein differs structurally in the host and the parasite. It exists as an independent protein in type II fatty acid synthesis pathway, observed in P. falciparum, Escherichia coli, spinach, and most prokaryotes. In the type II pathway, fatty acids are synthesized by multiple enzymes catalyzing different reactions. Conversely, mammalian ACP (malarial host) is an integral domain of one single multidomain, multifunctional fatty acid synthase (FAS) (type I pathway), each domain catalyzing a particular reaction. Interestingly, ACPs of type I and II pathway share a similar fold, the ACP molecule of type II pathway can be substituted with the ACP domain of type I pathway in some cases, and the latter is recognized as a substrate in vitro by key enzymes of type II pathway (9).The primary function of ACP is to shuttle the lengthening acyl chains to the catalytic site of FAS enzymes. It is expressed as an apoprotein (inactive) and modified to holo-ACP (active) by the transfer of a 4′-phosphopantetheine moiety from coenzyme A (CoA) to a conserved serine residue, Ser-36/37, with ACP synthase acting as a catalyst. The acyl chain gets covalently tethered to the terminal cysteamine thiol of the 4′-phosphopantetheine prosthetic group, which in turn transfers the acyl chain to the respective enzymes during elongation. Biosynthesis of fatty acid(s) is initiated by the carboxylation of acetyl-CoA to malonyl-CoA, which is transacylated to malonyl-ACP. Malonyl-ACP condenses with acetyl-CoA, resulting in the formation of enoyl-/butyryl-ACP (C₄-) which enters the elongation cycle. Two carbon atoms are added per elongation cycle, resulting in acyl-ACPs C₆-, C₈-, C₁₀-, C₁₂-, C₁₄-, and C₁₆-ACP. Palmitate (C₁₆) is the most common product of type I pathway, whereas in the type II pathway, products range from saturated to unsaturated, branched, unbranched, or variable chain lengths.Structurally, ACP is a four-helix bundle protein, with the helices enclosing a central hydrophobic cavity (10–17). In the type II pathway, the hydrophobic cavity accommodates the growing acyl chain and the β-mercaptoethyl moiety of the 4′-phosphopantetheine arm. The acyl chain remains embedded in the cavity, which expands with increasing length of the acyl chain as observed in E. coli and spinach (12). The mechanism of acyl chain interaction with the ACP molecule is remarkably different in rat, which belongs to the type I fatty acid pathway. Insignificant interactions between the ACP molecule and the acyl chain are observed, suggesting that the ACP molecule does not sequester the acyl chain, and therefore, the acyl chain in type I pathway is protected in a way different from the type II pathway (18).Despite the availability of structural data for a number of acyl-ACPs e.g. E. coli and spinach (12, 14, 19, 20), molecular details pertaining to acyl chain carriage and its presentation to the FAS enzymes of type II pathway is still an enigma. The general consensus is that the ACP molecule can accommodate 10 carbon atoms only. In spinach, the hydrophobic cavity of ACP expands to accommodate acyl chain lengths ranging from C_10:0 to C_18:0. However, chains longer than 10 carbon units are not fully protected (14). In E. coli, 10 carbon atoms have been observed to be accommodated in the hydrophobic core (19). A molecular dynamics study on E. coli published recently also shows that the hydrophobic core of ACP can hold a maximum of 10 carbon atoms only (21). Here, we demonstrate that P. falciparum ACP (PfACP) can protect more than 10-carbon-atom-long acyl chains, with a maximum of 12 carbon atoms. An in silico study on PfACP published recently proposes the possible mechanism of substrate delivery based on steered molecular dynamics simulations using E. coli acyl-ACPs as the starting model (22). There are no experimental data (x-ray or NMR) available to date on the acyl-ACPs of P. falciparum. Present work for the first time provides structural insights into the acyl-PfACP intermediates using NMR as a primary tool. The precision and sensitivity of NMR allowed identification of key interactions between the acyl chain and the ACP molecule, leading to the proposal of a model unraveling the sequence of structural changes accompanying acyl chain insertion. The molecular basis of ACP expansion in PfACP upon acyl chain elongation has also been deciphered.     

Structural and Functional Characterization of Diffusible Signal Factor Family Quorum-Sensing Signals Produced by Members of the Burkholderia cepacia Complex

Previous work has shown that Burkholderia cenocepacia produces the diffusible signal factor (DSF) family signal cis-2-dodecenoic acid (C₁₂:Δ², also known as BDSF), which is involved in the regulation of virulence. In this study, we determined whether C₁₂:Δ² production is conserved in other members of the Burkholderia cepacia complex (Bcc) by using a combination of high-performance liquid chromatography, mass spectrometry, and bioassays. Our results show that five Bcc species are capable of producing C₁₂:Δ² as a sole DSF family signal, while four species produce not only C₁₂:Δ² but also a new DSF family signal, which was identified as cis,cis-11-methyldodeca-2,5-dienoic acid (11-Me-C₁₂:Δ^2,5). In addition, we demonstrate that the quorum-sensing signal cis-11-methyl-2-dodecenoic acid (11-Me-C₁₂:Δ²), which was originally identified in Xanthomonas campestris supernatants, is produced by Burkholderia multivorans. It is shown that, similar to 11-Me-C₁₂:Δ² and C₁₂:Δ², the newly identified molecule 11-Me-C₁₂:Δ^2,5 is a potent signal in the regulation of biofilm formation, the production of virulence factors, and the morphological transition of Candida albicans. These data provide evidence that DSF family molecules are highly conserved bacterial cell-cell communication signals that play key roles in the ecology of the organisms that produce them.The Burkholderia cepacia complex (Bcc) comprises a group of currently 17 formally named bacterial species that, although closely related, are phenotypically diverse (17, 22, 23). Strains of the Bcc are ubiquitously distributed in nature and have been isolated from soil, water, the rhizosphere of plants, industrial settings, hospital environments, and infected humans. Some Bcc strains have emerged as problematic opportunistic pathogens in patients with cystic fibrosis or chronic granulomatous disease, as well as in immunocompromised individuals (17). The clinical outcome of Bcc infections ranges from asymptomatic carriage to a fulminant and fatal pneumonia, the so-called “cepacia syndrome” (12, 17). Although all Bcc species have been isolated from both environmental and clinical sources, B. cenocepacia and B. multivorans are most commonly found in clinical samples (16).Many bacterial pathogens have evolved a cell-cell communication mechanism known as quorum sensing (QS) to coordinate the expression of virulence genes. In spite of their genetic differences, most Bcc species produce N-acylhomoserine lactone (AHL) QS signals (25). More recently, another QS signal molecule, cis-2-dodecenoic acid (BDSF), has been identified in B. cenocepacia (3). Subsequent studies showed that BDSF plays a role in the regulation of bacterial virulence (6, 20). Interestingly, the two QS systems appear to act in conjunction in the regulation of B. cenocepacia virulence, as a set of the AHL-controlled virulence genes are also positively regulated by BDSF (6). Furthermore, mutation of Bcam0581, which is required for BDSF biosynthesis, results in substantially retarded energy production and impaired growth in minimal medium (6), highlighting the dual roles of the QS system in the physiology of and infection by B. cenocepacia.BDSF is a structural analogue of cis-11-methyl-2-dodecenoic acid, which is a QS signal known as diffusible signal factor (DSF) originally identified from the plant bacterial pathogen Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris (2, 24). Evidence is accumulating that DSF-type fatty acid signals represent a new family of QS signals, which are widespread among Gram-negative bacteria (10, 24). For example, DSF and seven structural derivatives were identified in supernatants of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (8, 11), 12-methyl-tetradecanoic acid was shown to be produced by Xylella fastidiosa (18), and cis-2-decenocic acid was found to be synthesized by Pseudomonas aeruginosa (5). In addition, DSF-like activity has also been reported in a range of Xanthomonas species, including X. oryzae pv. oryzae and X. axonopodis pv. citri (1, 2, 4, 24), but the chemical structures of these DSF analogues remain to be determined. Unlike other known QS signals, such as AHL and AI-2 family signals, DSF and its analogues, including BDSF, are fatty acids and these fatty acid signals were collectively designated DSF family signals for the convenience of discussion (10). Considering the fact that the list of DSF family signal is expanding, we propose to designate cis-11-methyl-2-dodecenoic acid (DSF) 11-Me-C₁₂:Δ² and cis-2-dodecenoic acid (BDSF) C₁₂:Δ². This nomenclature is based on one of the fatty acid nomenclatures (13, 19) where the methyl (Me) substitution and its position are indicated first (for example, 11-Me indicates a methyl group on C-11 of the fatty acid carbon chain), followed by the length of the fatty acid carbon chain (C₁₂ represents a 12-carbon fatty acid chain), and then the position of the double bond in the fatty acid chain (Δ² indicates a double bond in the cis configuration at site 2, i.e., between C-2 and C-3 of the fatty acid carbon chain). In this way, it is convenient to say that 11-Me-C₁₂:Δ² and C₁₂:Δ² have identical 12-carbon fatty acid chains with a cis bond at the same site but differ in a methyl substitution on C-11. Following this nomenclature system, 12-methyl-tetradecanoic acid and cis-2-decenocic acid can be referred to as 12-Me-C₁₄ and C₁₀:Δ², respectively.DSF family signals have emerged as important factors in the regulation of virulence and biofilm formation in a wide range of bacterial pathogens (10). In this study, we have investigated the production of the DSF family signals in nine Bcc species. It is demonstrated that C₁₂:Δ² is conserved in members of the Bcc and that 11-Me-C₁₂:Δ² and a novel DSF family signal were also produced by some, but not all, of the Bcc strains investigated. This new signal was identified as cis,cis-11-methyldodeca-2,5-dienoic acid (11-Me-C₁₂:Δ^2,5) by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analysis and mass spectrometry. We have also investigated the biological significance of 11-Me-C₁₂:Δ^2,5 in intraspecies and interspecies communication.     

Isolation and some properties of DNA coding for tRNA1met from Xenopus laevis

DNA containing the reiterated genes for tRNA₁^met has been partially purified from Xenopus laevis by centrifugation in actinomycin C₁-CsCl and Ag⁺-Cs₂SO₄ gradients. These gradients separate the tRNA₁^met genes from those coding for tRNA₂^met and tRNA^val, thus confirming our earlier suggestion that these genes are not intermingled with each other (Clarkson, Birnstiel, and Purdom, 1973). The gradients also demonstrate the existence of a minor 5S DNA fraction which appears to differ from that previously isolated by Brown, Wensink, and Jordan (1971).When the enriched tDNA₁^met is digested to completion with either of the restriction endonucleases EcoRI or Hpa I, the tRNA₁^met genes are predominantly found within DNA fragments that are about 3100 base pairs long. A partial digestion with EcoRI shows that these fragments arise from the regular spacing of the enzyme restriction sites. The 3100 base pair EcoRI fragments are cleaved by Hpa I into fragments of two size classes, one of which is about 2200 base pairs long and contains the tRNA₁^met genes. The shorter fragments are about 700 base pairs long, and they appear to contain genes coding for at least one other kind of tRNA species. X. laevis tDNA₁^met thus comprises tandemly repeated DNA whose component parts show little if any length heterogeneity.     

Syntheses, structures and magnetic properties of two copper(II) tricyanomethanide complexes with 2,2′-bipyrimidine as bridging ligands

Two copper(II) tricyanomethanide (tcm) complexes with 2,2′-bipyrimidine (bpym) as co-ligands Cu₄(bpym)₅(tcm)₈ · 2H₂O (1) and [Cu₂(bpym)₂(tcm)₄ · H₂O]_n (2) have been synthesized, and structurally and magnetically characterized. Compound 1 displays a tetranuclear structure, in which each middle copper(II) atom is coordinated by two bridging bpym molecules and two terminal tcm ligands to form a tetragonal bipyramidal geometry, while each side copper(II) atom is surrounded by one bridging bpym, one terminal bpym, one terminal bonded tcm and one terminal weakly coordinated tcm ligands to give a square bipyramidal geometry. In 1 the four neighbouring copper(II) atoms are joined to each other by the bpym molecules, which leads to the formation of a tetranuclear structure. Compound 2 features an infinite chain structure, in which two slightly different chains exist. In each chain the copper(II) atom is bonded to two bridging bpym molecules and two terminal tcm ligands to form a tetragonal bipyramidal geometry, the adjacent copper(II) atoms are linked each other by the bpym ligands to define an infinite chain structure. In 2 the distances between two neighbouring copper(II) atoms in one chain are different. Moreover these distances in one chain are also different from those of the other chain. Magnetic susceptibility measurements for the two complexes in the temperature range 2-300 K reveal the occurrence of significant antiferromagnetic interactions for 1 (J₁ = −20.42 cm⁻¹, J₂ = −5.29 cm⁻¹ and g = 2.22) and 2 (T > 50 K, θ = −20.00 K, C = 0.86 cm³ mol⁻¹ K), respectively.     

A working hypothesis on the interdependent genesis of nucleotide bases,protein amino acids,and primitive genetic code

In the course of experimental approach to the chemical evolution in the primeval sea, we have found that the main products from formaldehyde and hydroxylamine are glycine, alanine, serine, aspartic acid etc., and the products from glycine and formaldehyde are serine and aspartic acid. Guanine is found in the two-letter genetic codons of all these amino acids.Based upon the finding and taking into consideration the probable synthetic pathways of nucleotide bases and protein amino acids in the course of chemical evolution and a correlation between the two-letter codons and the number of carbon atoms in the carbon skeleton of amino acids, 1 have been led to a working hypothesis on the interdependent genesis of nucleotide bases, protein amino acids, and primitive genetic code as shown in Table I.Protein amino acids can be classified into two groups: Purine Group amino acids and Pyrimidine Group amino acids. Purine bases and Pyrimidine bases are predominant in two-letter codons of amino acids belonging to the former and the latter group respectively.Guanine, adenine, and amino acids of the Purine Group may be regarded as synthesized from C₁ and C₂ compounds and N₁ compounds (including C₁N₁ compunds such as HCN), probably through glycine, in the early stage of chemical evolution.Uracil, cytosine, and amino acids of the Pyrimidine Group may be regarded as synthesized directly or indirectly from three-carbon chain compounds. This synthesis became possible after the accumulation of three-carbon chain compounds and their derivatives in the primeval sea.The Purine Group can be further classified into a Guanine or (Gly+nC₁) Subgroup and an Adenine or (Gly+nC₂) Subgroup or simply nC₂ Subgroup. The Pyrimidine Group can be further classified into a Uracil or C₃C₆C₉ Subgroup and a Cytosine or C₅-chain Subgroup (Table I).It is suggested that the primitive genetic code was established by a specific interaction between amino acids and their respective nucleotide bases. The interaction was dependent upon their concentration in the primeval environments and the binding constants between amino acids and their respective bases.Presented at the International Symposium (Lipmann Symposium) on The Concepts of Chemical Recognition in Biology held in Grignon near Versailles (France) on July 18–20, 1979.     

The effect of carnitine on the oxidation of saturated fatty acids by pea cotyledon mitochondria

Summary Carnitine was found to stimulate fatty acid oxidation by pea (Pisum sativum L.) cotyledon mitochondria. The stimulation was at a maximum for long chain (C_16:0) and short chain (C_4:0 and C_6:0) fatty acids. Evidence was also provided which indicated that mid-chain (C_10:0 and C_12:0) fatty acid oxidation by mitochondria was stimulated by carnitine. It is postulated that carnitine acts by facilitating transport of these species of fatty acids across the mitochondrial membranes to intramitochondrial -oxidation sites.Abbreviations ADP adenosine-5¹-diphosphate - ATP adenosine-5¹-triphosphate - BSA bovine serum albumin - CoA coenzyme A - EDTA ethylenediamine tetra-acetate - RCR respiratory control ratio     

Syntheses and structures’ influence on the nonlinear optical properties of o-ferrocenylbenzoate compounds

Two complexes containing o-ferrocenylbenzoate [o-⁻OOCH₄C₆Fc, Fc = (η⁵-C₅H₅)Fe(η⁵-C₅H₄)] components: {[Pb(η²-o-OOCH₄C₆Fc)₂(phen)](NO₃)} (phen = phenanthroline) (1) and {[Zn(η²-o-OOCH₄C₆Fc)₂(bpe)](CH₃OH)}_n (bpe = 1,2-bis(4-pyridyl) ethene) (2) have been synthesized and structurally characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction. 1 gives a discrete mononuclear framework, 2 features an infinite 1-D chain structure constructed by the bpe linking two adjacent zinc (II) ions. The third-order nonlinear optical (NLO) properties of complexes 1, 2 and the reactant o-NaOOCH₄C₆Fc were determined by Z-scan techniques in DMF solution. The results show that the structures of complexes have great impact on NLO properties. Complex 1 and o-NaOOCH₄C₆Fc display self-defocusing behaviors, while complex 2 exhibits strong self-focusing effect. The solution-state differential pulse voltammograms of complexes 1, 2 and o-NaOOCH₄C₆Fc were investigated as well. The results reveal that the half-wave potential of the ferrocenyl moieties is strongly influenced by the Pb(II) or Zn(II) ions in complexes 1 and 2.     

Diferrocenes containing thiadiazole connectivities

2,5-Diferrocenyl-1,3,4-thiadiazole, 2,5-Fc₂-^cC₂N₂S, (3) has been synthesized by a two-fold Negishi ferrocenylation of dibromothiadiazole (1) with FcZnCl (2) (Fc = Fe(η⁵-C₅H₄)(η⁵-C₅H₅)) in presence of [Pd(Ph₃P)₄] as catalyst. Additional spacer units between the ferrocenyls and the ^cC₂N₂S core could be introduced by using the Sonogashira C,C cross-coupling protocol. Reaction of 2,5-Br₂-^cC₂N₂S (1) or 2,5-(C₆H₄-4′-I)₂-^cC₂N₂S (6) with FcCCH (4) using [PdCl₂(Ph₃P)₂] and [CuI] as catalyst produced the appropriate organometallics 2,5-(FcCC)₂-^cC₂N₂S (5) or 2,5-(C₆H₄-4′-CCFc)₂-^cC₂N₂S (7). The electronic and structural properties of 3, 5, and 7 were investigated with UV-Vis spectroscopy and single crystal X-ray diffraction (3). Complex 3 adopts a solid state structure with none of the ferrocenyl substituents being coplanar with the thiadiazole ring. Cyclic, square wave, linear sweep voltammetry and in-situ NIR spectro-electrochemistry highlight the electrochemical properties of 3. In dichloromethane (0.1 mol L⁻¹ [N(ⁿBu)₄][B(C₆F₅)₄]), compound 3 displays two well resolved electrochemical reversible one-electron events with formal reduction potentials of 0.192 and 0.338 V versus FcH/FcH⁺. In contrast, in presence of [N(ⁿBu)₄][PF₆], the thiadiazoles 3 (E⁰ = 0.22 V), 5 (E⁰ = 0.18 V) and 7 (E⁰ = 0.09 V) show simultaneously oxidation of the two ferrocenyl termini versus FcH/FcH⁺. Spectro-electrochemical studies, performed in a dichloromethane solution of 0.2 mol L⁻¹ [N(ⁿBu)₄][B(C₆F₅)₄], also show that 3 can successively be oxidized via 3⁺ to 3²⁺. A weak IVCT absorption (ε ca. 300 L mol⁻¹ cm⁻¹) at 1560 nm was found and is consistent with appreciable interactions between neutral ferrocenyl and positively charged ferrocenium mixed valent intermediates. Mixed-valent compound 3⁺ corresponds to a class II molecule according to Robin and Day.     

Substrate specificity of acyl-lipid Δ9-desaturase from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Prochlorothrix hollandica</Emphasis> cyanobacterium producing myristoleic acid

Chlorophyll b-containing cyanobacterium Prochlorothrix hollandica is characterized by a high content of esterified fatty acids (FA) with 14 and 16 carbon atoms in the membrane lipids. Depending on the conditions of cultivation, the relative amount of myristic (C_14:0) and myristoleic (C_14:1) acids can reach 35%, and palmitic (С_16:0) and palmitoleic (С_16:1) acids can reach 60% of the sum of all fatty acids in cells. Monounsaturated FAs are represented by C_14:1, and C_16:1 with an olefinic bond presumably located in the Δ⁹ position. We cloned the gene of acyl-lipid Δ9-desaturase, desC1, from Prochlorothrix hollandica and characterized its specificity to the length of the substrate using the heterologous expression in Escherichia coli cells adding C_14:0 or stearic (C_18:0) acids as exogenous substrates. The results show that DesC1 Δ⁹ desaturase generates olefinic bonds in the FAs with a length of 14 to 18 carbon atoms with an approximately equal efficiency. This indicates that the length of the FA chain in P. hollandica is determined by the activity of the FA synthase, and the chain is desaturated at the Δ⁹ position nonspecifically relatively to its length.