Tissue-selective alteration of ethanolamine plasmalogen metabolism in dedifferentiated colon mucosa

Human colon lipid analysis by imaging mass spectrometry (IMS) demonstrates that the lipid fingerprint is highly sensitive to a cell's pathophysiological state. Along the colon crypt axis, and concomitant to the differentiation process, certain lipid species tightly linked to signaling (phosphatidylinositols and arachidonic acid (AA)-containing diacylglycerophospholipids), change following a rather simple mathematical expression. We extend here our observations to ethanolamine plasmalogens (PlsEtn), a unique type of glycerophospholipid presenting a vinyl ether linkage at sn-1 position. PlsEtn distribution was studied in healthy, adenomatous, and carcinomatous colon mucosa sections by IMS. In epithelium, 75% of PlsEtn changed in a highly regular manner along the crypt axis, in clear contrast with diacyl species (67% of which remained constant). Consistently, AA-containing PlsEtn species were more abundant at the base, where stem cells reside, and decreased while ascending the crypt. In turn, mono?/diunsaturated species experienced the opposite change. These gradients were accompanied by a gradual expression of ether lipid synthesis enzymes. In lamina propria, 90% of stromal PlsEtn remained unchanged despite the high content of AA and the gradient in AA-containing diacylglycerophospholipids. Finally, both lipid and protein gradients were severely affected in polyps and carcinoma. These results link PlsEtn species regulation to cell differentiation for the first time and confirm that diacyl and ether species are differently regulated. Furthermore, they reaffirm the observations on cell lipid fingerprint image sensitivity to predict cell pathophysiological status, reinforcing the translational impact both lipidome and IMS might have in clinical research.     

Release of Ethanolamine, but Not of Serine or Choline, in Rat Pontine Nuclei on Stimulation of Afferents from the Cortex, In Vivo

Release of ethanolamine, serine, and choline in rat pontine nuclei on electrical stimulation of afferents from the cortex was investigated using in vivo push-pull cannula techniques. Ethanolamine was determined by using gas chromatographic techniques; serine was measured with a HPLC system; and choline was assayed with a luminescence method. Resting elution rates of ethanolamine, serine, and choline were 50.8 +/- 8.4, 34.8 +/- 12.6, and 1.16 +/- 0.20 pmol/5 min, respectively. Stimulation of the cortico-pontine tract evoked a highly significant 3.4-fold increase in release of ethanolamine, whereas serine and choline release was unaffected. Reactions in membrane phospholipids are most likely involved in the stimulation-dependent release of ethanolamine and special consideration was given to base-exchange reactions. Alternatively, a release from intracellular, possibly synaptic stores cannot be excluded.     

Isoform-specific and Protein Kinase C-mediated Regulation of CTP:Phosphoethanolamine Cytidylyltransferase Phosphorylation

CTP:phosphoethanolamine cytidylyltransferase (Pcyt2) is the main regulatory enzyme for de novo biosynthesis of phosphatidylethanolamine by the CDP-ethanolamine pathway. There are two isoforms of Pcyt2, -α and -β; however, very little is known about their specific roles in this important metabolic pathway. We previously demonstrated increased phosphatidylethanolamine biosynthesis subsequent to elevated activity and phosphorylation of Pcyt2α and -β in MCF-7 breast cancer cells grown under conditions of serum deficiency. Mass spectroscopy analyses of Pcyt2 provided evidence for isoform-specific as well as shared phosphorylations. Pcyt2β was specifically phosphorylated at the end of the first cytidylyltransferase domain. Pcyt2α was phosphorylated within the α-specific motif that is spliced out in Pcyt2β and on two PKC consensus serine residues, Ser-215 and Ser-223. Single and double mutations of PKC consensus sites reduced Pcyt2α phosphorylation, activity, and phosphatidylethanolamine synthesis by 50–90%. The phosphorylation and activity of endogenous Pcyt2 were dramatically increased with phorbol esters and reduced by specific PKC inhibitors. In vitro translated Pcyt2α was phosphorylated by PKCα, PKCβI, and PKCβII. Pcyt2α Ser-215 was also directly phosphorylated with PKCα. Mapping of the Pcyt2α- and -β-phosphorylated sites to the solved structure of a human Pcyt2β showed that they clustered within and flanking the central linker region that connects the two catalytic domains and is a novel regulatory segment not present in other cytidylyltransferases. This study is the first to demonstrate differences in phosphorylation between Pcyt2 isoforms and to uncover the role of the PKC-regulated phosphorylation.     

Serum ethanolamine and hepatocyte proliferation in perinatal and partially hepatectomized rats

It has been shown that the administration of ethanolamine (Etn) to partially hepatectomized rats enhances stimulation of DNA synthesis in regenerating hepatocytes. The present study aimed to test the hypothesis that the level of serum Etn in vivo may be regulated to control the growth of hepatocytes. Concentrations of serum Etn were determined in rats 1) of varying ages (from embryonic-19 (E-19) to 7-week-old), and 2) during regeneration following two-thirds hepatectomy (PH), to investigate whether serum Etn concentration correlates with the rate of proliferation of hepatocytes in growing animals or during regeneration. Serum Etn levels were 3 fold higher in E-19 fetuses and newborns than in adults, and were increased 2 fold 4 h after PH and remained high for at least 24 h. Results in both systems indicated a significant positive correlation between the rate of hepatocyte proliferation and serum Etn levels. Furthermore, Etn supplementation of 0.1 to 1 mmol immediately after PH promoted a significant weight gain and stimulated phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) and phosphatidylcholine (PC) synthesis in the regenerating liver. We also observed that whenever serum Etn levels were elevated, the metabolism of PE and PC in the liver changed dynamically, first by elevating the net synthesis of PE. Taken together, these results suggested that the levels of serum Etn might be regulated based on the physiological state of an animal, which consequently regulates the proliferation of hepatocytes.     

Effect of salt stress on the metabolism of ethanolamine and choline in leaves of the betaine-producing mangrove species Avicennia marina

Glycinebetaine synthesis from [methyl-14C]choline and [1,2-14C]ethanolamine in leaf disks of Avicennia marina, was increased by salt stress (250 and 500 mM NaCl). After 18 h incubation with [methyl-14C]choline, phosphocholine and CO(2) were found to be heavily labelled. Phosphocholine contained 39% of the total radioactivity taken up by non-salinised (control) leaf disks and 15% of the total for salinised leaf disks stressed with 500 mM NaCl. Eighteen and 49% of the radioactivity absorbed by control and salinised disks, respectively, were released as CO(2). Metabolic studies of [1,2-14C]ethanolamine revealed that the radioactivity taken up by the leaf disks was recovered as the following compounds after 18 h: phosphorylated compounds (mainly phosphoethanolamine, phosphodimethylethanolamine and phosphocholine) (40-50%); choline (1-2%); glycinebetaine (3-5%); lipids (20-28%); CO(2) (6-10%). Unlike glycinebetaine, incorporation into phosphorylated compounds and lipids were reduced by salt stress. Incorporation of [methyl-14C]S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAM) into choline, phosphocholine and glycinebetaine in leaf disks was stimulated by salt stress. In vitro activities of adenosine kinase and adenosine nucleosidase, which are implicated in stimulating the SAM regeneration cycle, increased after the leaf disks were incubated with 250 and 500 mM NaCl for 18 h. Changes in metabolism involving choline and glycinebetaine due to salt stress are discussed.     

胆碱摄取及磷脂酰胆碱合成的调节研究

木文研究了多种氨基酸、乙醇胺和甲基乙醇胺对细胞摄取胆碱和合成磷脂酰胆碱（ＰＣ）的影响,发现多种氨基酸非竞争性地抑制细胞摄取胆碱。含胆碱代谢物的分析显示胆碱转变成ＣＤＰ－胆碱,随之形成ＰＣ均不受氨基酸影响。乙醇胺竞争性地抑制胆碱摄取,且存在剂量依赖关系。乙醇胺能明显抑制胆碱激酶活性,但细胞内胆碱和磷酸胆碱的代谢池并不改变,提示乙醇胺不影响胆碱转变成磷酸胆碱。根据ＣＤＰ－胆碱和ＰＣ的比放射性分布,乙醇胺也不影响ＰＣ的生物合成。甲基乙醇胺抑制胆碱摄入的程度强于乙醇胺,并抑制胆碱激酶和ＣＴＰ：磷酸胆碱胞苷转移酶活性,含胆碱代谢物以ＣＤＰ－胆碱下降最显著;提示甲基乙醇胺不仅抑制胆碱摄入而且还干扰了ＣＤＰ－胆碱通路。     

Phospholipase D-catalyzed synthesis of new phospholipids with polar head groups

A series of new phospholipids with polar head groups have been synthesized by enzymatic transphosphatidylation of 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycerophosphocholine and identified by 1H NMR and MALDI-TOF-MS. The acceptor alcohols were N- or C2-substituted derivatives of ethanolamine (diethanolamine, triethanolamine, serinol, Tris, BisTris). Phospholipases D from cabbage (PLDcab) and Streptomyces sp. (PLDStr) were compared with respect to product yield and purity as well as the initial rates in transphosphatidylation and competing hydrolysis. In all reactions, PLDStr showed a remarkably higher transphosphatidylation activity than PLDcab. However, higher yields of the phospholipids with diethanolamine, triethanolamine, and serinol were obtained by PLDcab because PLDStr resulted in the additional formation of diphosphatidyl derivatives. In the synthesis of the Tris and BisTris derivatives, PLD(Str) was much more appropriate because voluminous head group alcohols (>129A3) are poorly converted by PLDcab. With BisTris as acceptor alcohol two regioisomeric forms of phosphatidyl-BisTris were obtained.     

Phospholipid Metabolism in Mouse Sciatic Nerve In Vivo

To probe the activities of various pathways of lipid metabolism in peripheral nerve, six phospholipid-directed precursors were individually injected into the exposed sciatic nerves of adult mice, and their incorporation into phospholipids and proteins was studied over a 2-week period. Tritiated choline, inositol, ethanolamine, serine, and glycerol were mainly used in phospholipid synthesis; in contrast, methyl-labeled methionine was primarily incorporated into protein. Phosphatidylcholine was the main lipid formed from tritiated choline, glycerol, and methionine precursors. Phosphatidylserine, phosphatidylethanolamine, and phosphatidylinositol were the main lipids formed from serine, ethanolamine, and inositol, respectively. With time there was a shift in label among phospholipids, with higher proportions of choline appearing in sphingomyelin, glycerol in phosphatidylserine, ethanolamine in phosphatidylethanolamine (plasmalogen), and inositol in polyphosphoinositides, especially phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate. We suggest that the delay in formation of these phospholipids, which are concentrated in peripheral nerve myelin, may, at least in part, be due to their formation at a site(s) distant from the sites where the bulk of Schwann cell lipids are made. We propose that separating the synthesis of these myelin-destined lipids to near the Schwann cell's plasma membrane would facilitate their concentration in peripheral nerve myelin sheaths. At earlier labeling times, ethanolamine and glycerol were more actively incorporated into phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylinositol, respectively, than later. The transient labeling of these phospholipids may reflect some unique role in peripheral nerve function.     

Degradation of various amine compounds by mesophilic clostridia

From 60 species of the genus Clostridium tested 26 species were able to degrade one to three of the following compounds: betaine, choline, creatine, and ethanolamine. Degradation of betaine and choline was always associated with the formation of trimethylamine as one of the products. Creatine was converted to N-methylhydantoin and with one species (Clostridium sordellii) to sarcosine in addition. The diagnostic value of the ability of clostridial species to degrade the compounds mentioned is discussed. N,N-dimethylglycine, N,N-dimethylethanolamine or sarcosine were not metabolized by the strains tested.