Expression of enhancing factor/phospholipase A2 in ICRC mice

Enhancing factor (EF), a growth factor modulator, recently identified as the mouse secretory phospholipase A₂ (PLA₂), has been isolated in our laboratory from the intestines of mice. EF modulates the action of epidermal growth factor (EGF) by mediating an almost 2-fold increase in EGF binding in a radioreceptor assay. EF has been localized immunohistochemically to the Paneth cells of the intestine, adjacent to the proliferating stem cell population. Although very weak staining was observed in the intestines of ICRC mice (ICRC is an inbred strain of mouse developed at this Institute) as compared to Balb/c mice, the enhancing activity was not detected in the partially purified, acid soluble intestinal proteins of the ICRC strain. However, studies using polyclonal antibodies against purified EF demonstrated that EF from Balb/c and ICRC intestines are either immunologically identical or closely related to each other although, quantitatively, EF was very low in ICRC mice. RFLP studies indicated that ICRC mice carry a mutation in the coding region of the EF gene resulting in loss of the BamHI. restriction site. On sequencing, a T insertion was found at position 166 from the ATG site thereby causing a disruption in the ORF. This probably results in undetectable levels of enhancing activity. In this paper we report the molecular characterization of the ICRC mouse with respect to theenhancing factor gene     

Trace amounts of enhancing factor/phospholipase A2 in mouse peritoneal exudate cells

Enhancing factor (EF), a mouse phospholipase A₂ (PLA₂), has been purified from the small intestines, based on its ability to increase the binding of epidermal growth factor in a radioreceptor assay. EF/PLA₂ was found to be localized predominantly in the Paneth cells in the small intestines. Whether mouse intestinal EF/PLA₂ is identical/similar to mouse secretory PLA₂ was to be determined. Phospholipases are known to play a crucial role in the process of inflammation. This paper reports the presence of trace amounts of EF/PLA₂ in the peritoneal exudate cells. Western blot analysis of the acid extracts showed the presence of a 14 kDa immunologically cross-reactive protein. RT-PCR analysis using EF specific primers amplified a ∼700 bp product which was further confirmed to be EF-specific by nested PCR analysis and sequencing. Presence of EF in the peritoneal exudate cells could be a unique mode of transport of growth factor modulator to the site of injury to aid in regeneration/cell proliferation of damaged tissue.     

Heparin inhibits enhancing factor/phospholipase A2 activity and its binding to the cell surface

Enhancing factor (EF), a mouse intestinal phospholipase A₂ (PLA₂), has been isolated and characterized. EF increases the binding of epidermal growth factor (EGF) to A431 cells almost two-fold by interacting with EGF. EF binds to a 100 kDa cell surface receptor and brings about an increase in the binding of EGF. In the present study we demonstrate that EF is a heparin binding protein and at the time of iodination of EF, the heparin binding site of EF has to be protected. Heparin inhibits the enhancing activity of EF as well as the binding of labelled EF to A431 cells. Inhibition of binding of EF to cells by heparin indicates that heparin binding region forms at least part of the receptor binding domain. These data suggest that the receptor for EF on the cell surface could be a heparin sulphate proteoglycan.     

Fluorimetric Analysis of Phospholipase Activity in Tetrahymena pyriformis GL.

The unicellular Tetrahymena enzymatically split the synthetic phosphodiester, 4-methylum-belliferyl phosphocoline substrate. The enzyme activity was completely blocked in vitro and drastically inhibited in vivo by G-protein activating fluorides (NaF; AlF₄ ^– and BeF₃ ^–). The phospholipase A₂ inhibitor, quinacrine, and the protein phosphatase inhibitor, neomycin, inhibited the enzyme activity in vitro and activated it in vivo. Another phospholipase A₂ inhibitor 4-bromo phenacyl bromide was ineffective in vivo and in vitro alike, as well as the cyclooxygenase inhibitor indomethacin. Results of these experiments indicate that some treatments could be specific for a well defined activity (e.g., phospholipase A₂, G-protein) but subject to influence by other enzymes (e.g., phospholipase C, sphingomyelinase). The experiments call attention to the differences in the results of the in vivo and in vitro studies.     

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     

A turn in the road: How studies on the pharmacology of glucosylceramide synthase inhibitors led to the identification of a lysosomal phospholipase A2 with ceramide transacylase activity

A series of inhibitors of glucosylceramide synthesis, the PDMP based family of compounds, has been developed as a tool for the study of sphingolipid biochemistry and biology. During the course of developing more active glucosylceramide synthase inhibitors, we identified a second site of inhibitory activity for PDMP and its structural homologues that accounted for the ability of the inhibitors to raise cell and tissue ceramide levels. This inhibitory activity was directed against a previously unknown pathway for ceramide metabolism, viz. the formation of 1-O-acylceramide. In this pathway the addition of a fatty acyl group to the primary hydroxyl of ceramide occurs through a transacylation with either phosphatidylethanolamine or phosphatidylcholine as a substrate. However, both in the absence and presence of ceramide, water serves as an acceptor for the fatty acid. Thus the enzyme may be considered to be a phospholipase A₂. The enzyme is unique in that it has an acidic pH optimum and is localized to lysosomes by cell fractionation. More recently, the 1-O-acylceramide synthase has been purified, sequenced, and cloned. This phospholipase A₂ was discovered to be structurally homologous to lecithin cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT). However, this phospholipase A₂ does not recognize cholesterol and lacks the defined lipoprotein-binding domain present in LCAT. We now refer to this enzyme as lysosomal phospholipase A₂ (LPLA₂). Although acidic phospholipase A₂ activities have been previously identified, LPLA₂ appears to be the first lysosomal PLA₂ to have been sequenced. This new phospholipase A₂ lacks an obvious and proven biological function. Published in 2004. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

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.     

Characterization of phospholipase A2 activation by plasmin in cultured bovine endothelial cells

Treatment of cultured bovine carotid artery endothelial cells with 0.1 µM human plasmin has been reported to induce a receptor-mediated short burst of arachidonate release, which is a pertussis toxin-sensitive and extracellular calcium-dependent reaction. Plasmin-induced calcium influx in cells was significantly inhibited by pretreatment with pertussis toxin, indicating that the former was coupled with a pertussis toxin-sensitive guanosine 5-triphosphate (GTP)-binding protein. Plasmin significantly induced the formation of lysophosphatidylcholine but not lysophosphatidylethanolamine. A cellular phospholipase A₂ with an arachidonyl specificity at the sn-2 position of phosphatidylcholine, which required submicromolar calcium, was identified as a cytosolic phospholipase A₂ by immunoblot analysis. By a cell-free enzyme activity assay and immunoblot analysis, plasmin was found to induce a translocation of the cytosolic phospholipase A₂ from the cytosol to the membrane. Taken together, the results suggest that plasmin bound to its putative receptor and activated a GTP-binding protein coupled to calcium influx channel, followed by translocation and activation of cytosolic phospholipase A₂ in endothelial cells.     

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.     

Calcium-dependent binding of calmodulin to phospholipase A2 subunits induces enzymatic activation

Calmodulin interacted with phospholipase A₂ from two different sources, as established by affinity chromatography, dimethylsuberimidate protein crosslinking, and phospholipase A₂ assays. Calmodulin was covalently crosslinked to pancreatic and bee venom phospholipases A₂ in a calcium-dependent manner, and enhanced the enzymatic activities of these phospholipases. Pancreatic phospholipase A₂ was separated into two species of identical molecular weight by calmodulin affinity chromatography; the species that bound to immobilized calmodulin in a calcium-dependent manner was stimulated by calmodulin. This presents further evidence that phospholipase A₂ is directly activated by calmodulin.     

Studies on the phospholipase A of dermatophytes

The presence of phospholipase A activity was detected in three dermatophytes:Microsporum cookei, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, andEpidermophyton floccosum. The activity was always higher inT. mentagrophytes than inM. cookei andE. floccosum. All exhibited phospholipase A₁ and A₂ activities, but the activity was largely A₂ inM. cookei and A₁ inE. floccosum. T. mentagrophytes possessed almost equal activities of phospholipase A₁ and A₂.     

Inhibition of phospholipase A2 activity by fluosol®, an artificial blood substitute

This paper described the effect of Fluosol® on phospholipase A₂ activity both _vitro and in vivo. This compound inhibited both postheparin plasma and hepatic phospholipase A₂ activities. Furthermore, in Fluosol transfussed rats the postheparin plasma phospholipase A₂ activity was 41% below that observed in control animals. The inhibition of phospholipase A₂ activity was due to the micellar forms of pluoronic, F-68, a detergent present in Fluosol. It is postulated that the inhibition of phospholipase A₂ activity by Fluosol might interfere with the release of arachidonic acid, a substrate used in biosynthesis of prostaglandin.     

Simple and rapid screening methods for microorganisms with phospholipase A1, A2 and C activities

Summary A simple and rapid screening method for microorganisms with phospholipase A₁, A₂ and C activities using agar plate and gas chromatography (GC) method was successfully carried out. In agar plate method, soy bean lecithin and taurocholic acid were used as carbon source and emulsifier, respectively. In this agar plate method, microorganisms with phospholipase A₁ and A₂ or C activity produce a halo around the colony and two kinds(A's and C) of microorganisms are clearly distinguished by turbidity of the halo. Microorganisms with phospholipase A₁ and A₂ activity is simply distinguished by GC using a synthetic phospholipid containing different fatty acid at sn-1 and sn-2 position.     

Refolding and purification of the human secreted group IID phospholipase A2 expressed as inclusion bodies in Escherichia coli

The secreted phospholipases A₂ (sPLA₂s) are water-soluble enzymes that bind to the surface of both artificial and biological lipid bilayers and hydrolyze the membrane phospholipids. The tissue expression pattern of the human group IID secretory phospholipase A₂ (hsPLA₂-IID) suggests that the enzyme is involved in the regulation of the immune and inflammatory responses. With an aim to establish an expression system for the hsPLA₂-IID in Escherichia coli, the DNA-coding sequence for hsPLA₂-IID was subcloned into the vector pET3a, and expressed as inclusion bodies in E. coli (BL21). A protocol has been developed to refold the recombinant protein in the presence of guanidinium hydrochloride, using a size-exclusion chromatography matrix followed by dilution and dialysis to remove the excess denaturant. After purification by cation-exchange chromatography, far ultraviolet circular dichroism spectra of the recombinant hsPLA₂-IID indicated protein secondary structure content similar to the homologous human group IIA secretory phospholipase A₂. The refolded recombinant hsPLA₂-IID demonstrated Ca²⁺-dependent hydrolytic activity, as measuring the release free fatty acid from phospholipid liposomes. This protein expression and purification system may be useful for site-directed mutagenesis experiments of the hsPLA₂-IID which will advance our understanding of the structure–function relationship and biological effects of the protein.     

Antibacterial properties of recombinant human non-pancreatic secretory phospholipase A2

Human non-pancreatic secretory phospholipase A₂ (hnpsPLA₂) is a group IIA phospholipase A₂ which plays an important role in the innate immune response. This enzyme was found to exhibit bactericidal activity toward Gram-positive bacteria, but not Gram-negative ones. Though native hnpsPLA₂ is active over a broad pH range, it is only highly active at alkaline conditions with the optimum activity pH of about 8.5. In order to make it highly active at neutral pH, we have obtained two hnpsPLA₂ mutants, Glu89Lys and Arg100Glu that work better at neutral pH in a previous study. In the present study, we tested the bactericidal effects of the native hnpsPLA₂ and the two mutants. Both native hnpsPLA₂ and the two mutants exhibit bactericidal activity toward Gram-positive bacteria. Furthermore, they can also kill Escherichia coli, a Gram-negative bacterium. The two mutants showed better bactericidal activity for E. coli at neutral pH than the native enzyme, which is consistent with the enzyme activities. As hnpsPLA₂ is highly stable and biocompatible, it may provide a promising therapy for bacteria infection treatment or other bactericidal applications.     

Calcium-dependent mitochondrial formation of species promoting strand scission of genomic DNA in U937 cells exposed to tert-butylhydroperoxide: The role of arachidonic acid

Treatment of U937 cells with a sublethal concentration of tert-butylhydroperoxide generates DNA single strand breakage in U937 cells and this response is increased by caffeine, ATP, pyruvate or antimycin A. As we previously reported (Guidarelli, Clementi, Brambilla and Cantoni, (1997) Biochem. J. 328, 801–806), the enhancing effects of antimycin A are mediated by inhibition of complex III and the ensuing formation of superoxides and hydrogen peroxide in a reaction in which ubisemiquinone serves as an electron donor. Active electron transport was required in pyruvate-supplemented cells since the increased genotoxic response occurred as a consequence of enforced mitochondrial Ca²⁺ accumulation, a process driven by the increased electrochemical gradient. The enhancing effects of caffeine or ATP were also the consequence of mitochondrial Ca²⁺ accumulation but these responses were independent on electron transport. The increased formation of DNA lesions resulting from exposure to tert-butylhydroperoxide associated with the Ca²⁺-mobilizing agents or the respiratory substrate was mediated by arachidonic acid generated by Ca²⁺-dependent activation of phospholipase A₂. Melittin, a potent phospholipase A₂ activator, and reagent arachidonic acid mimicked the effects of caffeine, ATP or pyruvate on the tert-butylhydroperoxide-induced DNA single strand breakage.     

N49 phospholipase A2, a unique subgroup of snake venom group II phospholipase A2

A novel phospholipase A₂ (PLA₂) with Asn at its site 49 was purified from the snake venom of Protobothrops mucrosquamatus by using SP-Sephadex C25, Superdex 75, Heparin-Sepharose (FF) and HPLC reverse-phage C₁₈ chromatography and designated as TM-N49. It showed a molecular mass of 13.875 kDa on MALDI-TOF. TM-N49 does not possess enzymatic, hemolytic and hemorrhagic activities. It fails to induce platelet aggregation by itself, and does not inhibit the platelet aggregation induced by ADP. However, it exhibits potent myotoxic activity causing inflammatory cell infiltration, severe myoedema, myonecrosis and myolysis in the gastrocnemius muscles of BALB/c mice. Phylogenetic analysis found that that TM-N49 combined with two phospholipase A₂s from Trimeresurus stejnegeri, TsR6 and CTs-R6 cluster into one group. Structural and functional analysis indicated that these phospholipase A₂s are distinct from the other subgroups (D49 PLA₂, S49 PLA₂ and K49 PLA₂) and represent a unique subgroup of snake venom group II PLA₂, named N49 PLA₂ subgroup.     

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.     

Effect of hormones and antihormones on phospholipase A2 activity in human endometrial stromal cells

Phospholipase A₂ activity was studied in isolated human endometrial predecidual cells, and in human endometrium collected from day 19–23 of the menstrual cycle, by performing a radiochemical assay. Phospholipase A₂ activity on day 20 was significantly higher than other days (P < 0.001), and the activity was found to gradually decrease after day 20 of the menstrual cycle. The effects of the hormones estradiol and progesterone, and antihormones tamoxifen and RU 486, were studied on the phospholipase A₂ activity in isolated predecidual stromal cells. Estradiol produced a significant stimulatory effect (P < 0.001) on phospholipase A₂ activity in predecidual cells, and this effect was antagonized by tamoxifen. The combination of estradiol and tamoxifen was significantly different from estradiol alone (P < 0.001), but not from tamoxifen alone. RU 486 alone significantly increased (P < 0.001) phospholipase A₂ activity in predecidual stromal cells. However, progesterone had no effect on phospholipase A₂ activity in predecidual stromal cells.     

Suppression of respiratory growth defect of mutant deficient in mitochondrial phospholipase A1 by overexpression of genes involved in coenzyme Q synthesis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

DDL1 encodes a mitochondrial phospholipase A₁ involved in acyl chain remodeling of mitochondrial phospholipids and degradation of cardiolipin in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The deletion of DDL1 leads to respiratory growth defects. To elucidate the physiological role of DDL1, we screened for genes that, when overexpressed, suppress the respiratory growth defect of the DDL1 deletion mutant. Introduction of COQ8, COQ9, or COQ5, which are involved in coenzyme Q (CoQ) synthesis, using a multicopy vector suppressed the respiratory growth defect of the DDL1 deletion mutant. In contrast, introduction of COQ8 using a multicopy vector did not accelerate the growth of the deletion mutants of TAZ1 or CLD1, which encode an acyltransferase or phospholipase A₂, respectively, involved in the remodeling of cardiolipin. These results suggest genetic interactions between the mitochondrial phospholipase A₁ gene and the genes involved in CoQ synthesis.