Distribution of glycosylphosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase D mRNA in bovine tissue sections

Impact of glycosylphosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase D on hepatic diacylglycerol accumulation, steatosis, and insulin resistance in diet-induced obesity

Glycosylphosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase D (GPI-PLD) is an enzyme that specifically cleaves GPI anchors. Previous human studies suggested the relationship of GPI-PLD to insulin resistance, type 1 and type 2 diabetes, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). However, the biological roles of GPI-PLD have not been elucidated. Here, we hypothesized that GPI-PLD impacted on lipid and glucose metabolism, especially in the liver. GPI-PLD mRNA was most highly expressed in the liver, and the hepatic mRNA level and circulating concentration of GPI-PLD were significantly augmented in diabetic mice. To investigate in vivo functions of GPI-PLD, we generated GPI-PLD knockout (GP-KO) mice. Mice lacking GPI-PLD exhibited the amelioration of glucose intolerance and hepatic steatosis under high-fat and high-sucrose diet. Furthermore, diacylglycerol (DAG) content was significantly decreased, and PKCε activity was suppressed in the livers of GP-KO mice. In vitro knockdown and overexpression experiments of GPI-PLD using rat primary hepatocytes showed the GPI-PLD-dependent regulation of intracellular DAG content. Finally, serum GPI-PLD levels were strongly and independently associated with serum alanine transaminase (R = 0.37, P = 0.0006) and triglyceride (R = 0.34, P = 0.001) levels in male subjects with metabolic syndrome. In conclusion, upregulation of hepatic GPI-PLD in diabetic conditions leads to DAG accumulation in the liver by shedding GPI anchors intracellularly, which may play a causal role in impaired hepatic insulin signaling and the progression of NAFLD.

Plasma glycosylphosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase D predicts the change in insulin sensitivity in response to a low-fat but not a low-carbohydrate diet in obese women

Although circulating glycosylphosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase D (GPI-PLD), a minor high-density lipoprotein-associated protein, is elevated in patients with insulin resistance or high triglycerides, no information is available on the effect of weight loss or changes in insulin sensitivity on circulating GPI-PLD levels. The objective of the study was to determine the effect of weight loss and changes in insulin sensitivity on plasma GPI-PLD levels. Forty-two nondiabetic obese women were included in the study, which involved a 3-month dietary intervention randomizing patients to a low-fat or a low-carbohydrate diet. The study's main outcome measures were plasma GPI-PLD levels and insulin sensitivity as estimated by the homeostasis model assessment. The very low carbohydrate diet group lost more weight after 3 months (-7.6 +/- 3.2 vs -4.2 +/- 3.5 kg, P < .01), although the decrease in insulin resistance was similar between groups. Weight loss with either diet did not alter plasma GPI-PLD levels. However, baseline GPI-PLD levels correlated with the change in insulin sensitivity in response to the low-fat diet, whereas baseline insulin sensitivity correlated with the change in insulin sensitivity in response to the low-carbohydrate diet. Plasma GPI-PLD may serve as a clinical tool to determine the effect of a low-fat diet on insulin sensitivity.

Glycosylphosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase D influences triglyceride-rich lipoprotein metabolism

Glycosylphosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase D (GPI-PLD) is a minor HDL-associated protein. Because many minor HDL-associated proteins exchange between different lipoprotein classes during the postprandial state and are also involved in triglyceride (TG) metabolism, we hypothesized that GPI-PLD may play a role in the metabolism of TG-rich lipoproteins. To test this hypothesis, we examined the distribution of GPI-PLD among lipoprotein classes during a fat tolerance test in C57BL/6 and LDL receptor-deficient (LDLR(-/-)) mice fed either a chow or high-fructose diet. In the fasting state in wild-type mice fed a chow diet, GPI-PLD was only present in HDL, whereas in LDLR(-/-) mice GPI-PLD was present in HDL and intermediate-density lipoproteins (IDL)/LDL. During the fat tolerance test, there was no change in total serum GPI-PLD levels in either model; however, a significant amount of GPI-PLD appeared in both VLDL (0.5-1% of total GPI-PLD) and IDL/LDL (5-10% of total GPI-PLD) in both models. The high-fructose diet increased both fasting and postprandial TG and serum GPI-PLD levels in both strains as well as the amount of GPI-PLD in VLDL. To determine whether GPI-PLD plays a direct role in TG metabolism, we increased liver GPI-PLD expression in C57BL/6 mice by adenovirus-mediated gene transfer, which resulted in a sevenfold increase in serum GPI-PLD levels. This change was associated with an increase in fasting (30%) and postprandial TG (50%) and a twofold reduction in TG-rich lipoprotein catabolism compared with saline or control adenovirus-treated mice. These studies demonstrate that GPI-PLD affects serum TG levels by altering catabolism of TG-rich lipoproteins.

Mutating His29, His125, His133 or His158 abolishes glycosylphosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase D catalytic activity

Glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-specific phospholipase D (GPI-PLD) specifically cleaves GPIs. This phospholipase D is a secreted protein consisting of two domains: an N-terminal catalytic domain and a predicted C-terminal b-propeller. Although the biochemical properties of GPI-PLD have been extensively studied, its catalytic site has not been identified. We hypothesized that a histidine residue(s) may play a critical role in the catalytic activity of GPI-PLD, based on the observations that (i) Zn2+, which utilizes histidine residues for binding, is required for GPI-PLD catalytic activity, (ii) a phosphohistidine intermediate is involved in phospholipase D hydrolysis of phosphatidylcholine, (iii) computer modelling suggests a catalytic site containing histidine residues, and (iv) our observation that diethyl pyrocarbonate, which modifies histidine residues, inhibits GPI-PLD catalytic activity. Individual mutation of the ten histidine residues to asparagine in the catalytic domain of murine GPI-PLD resulted in three general phenotypes: not secreted or retained (His56 or His88), secreted with catalytic activity (His34, His81, His98 or His219) and secreted without catalytic activity (His29, His125, His133 or His158). Changing His133 but not His29, His125 or His158 to Cys resulted in a mutant that retained catalytic activity, suggesting that at least His133 is involved in Zn2+ binding. His133 and His158 also retained the biochemical properties of wild-type GPI-PLD including trypsin cleavage pattern and phosphorylation by protein kinase A. Hence, His29, His125, His133 and His158 are required for GPI-PLD catalytic activity.

GPI-specific phospholipase D (GPI-PLD) is expressed during mouse development and is localized to the extracellular matrix of the developing mouse skeleton

Glycosylphosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase D (GPI-PLD) is abundant in serum and has a well-characterized biochemistry; however, its physiological role is completely unknown. Previous investigations into GPI-PLD have focused on the adult animal or on in vitro systems and a putative role in development has been neither proposed nor investigated. We describe the first evidence of GPI-PLD expression during mouse embryonic ossification. GPI-PLD expression was detected predominantly at sites of skeletal development, increasing during the course of gestation. GPI-PLD was observed during both intramembraneous and endochondral ossification and localized predominantly to the extracellular matrix of chondrocytes and to primary trabeculae of the skeleton. In addition, the mouse chondrocyte cell line ATDC5 expressed GPI-PLD after experimental induction of differentiation. These results implicate GPI-PLD in the process of bone formation during mouse embryogenesis.

Glycosylphosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase D immunoreactivity is present in islet amyloid in type 2 diabetes

Numerous apolipoproteins associate with amyloid plaques. A minor high-density lipoprotein-associated protein, glycosylphosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase D (GPI-PLD), has recently been described by the authors and others. Since GPI-PLD is synthesized by, and secreted from, pancreatic islet beta cells, the present study examined the hypothesis that GPI-PLD associates with islet amyloid. GPI-PLD immunoreactivity was examined in pancreatic tissues from type 2 diabetic and non-diabetic humans. GPI-PLD binding to heparan sulphate proteoglycan was determined in the absence or presence of heparan sulphate or heparin. Fibril formation from human islet amyloid polypeptide was determined in the absence or presence of GPI-PLD. In non-diabetics, GPI-PLD immunoreactivity was present and co-localized with insulin, as opposed to co-localizing with amyloid in diabetics. No immunoreactivity for apolipoprotein A-I was present in islet cells or islet amyloid. Heparan sulphate proteoglycan, which is commonly present in most amyloid, bound GPI-PLD in vitro. GPI-PLD inhibited the formation of amyloid fibrils from synthetic islet amyloid polypeptide in vitro. GPI-PLD is therefore present in islet amyloid and appears to derive from local production from islets. This localization likely derives from interaction between GPI-PLD and heparan sulphate proteoglycan. Since GPI-PLD also inhibited islet amyloid polypeptide fibril formation in vitro, it is concluded that GPI-PLD may play a role in islet amyloid formation in type 2 diabetes.

Phosphorylation decreases trypsin activation and apolipoprotein al binding to glycosylphosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase D

Glycosylphosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase D (GPI-PLD) is present in plasma as an apolipoprotein and as a cell-associated lipase. GPI-PLD mRNA levels are regulated, but it is unclear if posttranslational mechanisms also regulate GPI-PLD function. We examined the effect of protein kinase A phosphorylation on human serum GPI-PLD activity, trypsin activation, and apolipoprotein AI binding. Protein kinase A phosphorylation did not activate GPI-PLD activity in vitro, nor did phosphorylated GPI-PLD cleave a GPI-anchored protein from intact porcine erythrocytes. Trypsin cleaves the C-terminal beta propeller of purified human serum GPI-PLD to generate three immunodetectable fragments (75, 28, and 18 kDa) in association with a 12-fold increase in enzyme activity. After phosphorylation, the amounts of 28- and 18-kDa fragments were markedly decreased with trypsin treatment, and activity was only increased five-fold. Phosphorylation also inhibits binding of GPI-PLD to apolipoprotein AI. These data are the first demonstrating that phosphorylation may regulate GPI-PLD interaction with other proteins.

GLUT4-containing vesicles are released from membranes by phospholipase D cleavage of a GPI anchor

We have previously developed a cell-free assay from rat skeletal muscle that displayed in vitro glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) transfer from large to small membrane structures by the addition of a cytosolic protein fraction. By combining protein fractionation and the in vitro GLUT4 transfer assay, we have purified a glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) phospholipase D (PLD) that induces transfer of GLUT4 from small to large membranes. The in vitro GLUT4 transfer was activated and inhibited by suramin and 1,10-phenanthroline (an activator and an inhibitor of GPI-PLD activity, respectively). Furthermore, upon purification of the GLUT4 transporter protein, the protein displayed an elution profile in which the molecular mass was related to the charge, suggesting the presence or absence of phosphate. Second, by photoaffinity labeling of the purified GLUT4 with 3-(trifluoromethyl)-3-(m-[(125)I]iodopenyl)diazirine, both labeled phosphatidylethanolamine and fatty acids (constituents of a GPI link) were recovered. Third, by using phase transition of Triton X-114, the purified GLUT4 was found to be partly detergent resistant, which is a known characteristic of GPI-linked proteins. Fourth, the purified GLUT4 protein was recognized by an antibody raised specifically against GPI links. In conclusion, GLUT4-containing vesicles may be released from a membrane compartment by action of a GPI-PLD.

Insulin reduces serum glycosylphosphatidylinositol phospholipase D levels in human type I diabetic patients and streptozotocin diabetic rats

The enzyme glycosylphosphatidylinositol phospholipase D has a postulated role in the insulin-mimetic signaling pathway of glycosylphosphatidylinositol compounds. We have investigated enzyme activity in the serum of human type I diabetic patients and plasma and tissues of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats following insulin administration. In the human diabetic patients serum enzyme activity fell by an average of 10.6% (SEM = 2.7; P = 0.008; n = 20) following administration of insulin. In addition serum enzyme activity appeared to be depleted by 27% (SEM = 8.8; P = 0.011; n = 10) compared to nondiabetic controls. In untreated diabetic rats plasma enzyme activity gradually increased 0.3-fold over a 6-week period (P < 0.001; n = 8), this increase was reversed and activity normalized when these animals were treated with insulin. Cloning of the rat glycosylphosphatidylinositol phospholipase D cDNA enabled confirmation of the liver as the principal organ of synthesis. Analysis of mRNA levels in the livers of the diabetic rats showed that gene expression was reduced in the insulin-treated animals compared to the noninsulin-treated controls by 0.7-fold (P = 0.004; n = 4). Tissue enzyme activity was also reduced in the insulin-treated rats; in skeletal muscle enzyme activity was 0.3-fold lower (P = 0.001; n = 4). Insulin therefore decreases glycosylphosphatidylinositol phospholipase D synthesis in diabetic animals resulting in decreased serum enzyme levels, suggesting a relationship between this enzyme and the function of insulin.

Increased expression of GPI-specific phospholipase D in mouse models of type 1 diabetes

Glycosylphosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase D (GPI-PLD) is a high-density lipoprotein-associated protein. However, the tissue source(s) for circulating GPI-PLD and whether serum levels are regulated are unknown. Because the diabetic state alters lipoprotein metabolism, and liver and pancreatic islets are possible sources of GPI-PLD, we hypothesized that GPI-PLD levels would be altered in diabetes. GPI-PLD serum activity and liver mRNA were examined in two mouse models of type 1 diabetes, a nonobese diabetic (NOD) mouse model and low-dose streptozotocin-induced diabetes in CD-1 mice. With the onset of hyperglycemia (2- to 5-fold increase over nondiabetic levels), GPI-PLD serum activity and liver mRNA increased 2- to 4-fold in both models. Conversely, islet expression of GPI-PLD was absent as determined by immunofluorescence. Insulin may regulate GPI-PLD expression, because insulin treatment of diabetic NOD mice corrected the hyperglycemia along with reducing serum GPI-PLD activity and liver mRNA. Our data demonstrate that serum GPI-PLD levels are altered in the diabetic state and are consistent with liver as a contributor to circulating GPI-PLD.

Structure and expression of the human glycosylphosphatidylinositol phospholipase D1 (GPLD1) gene

Here we report the structure of the human glycosylphosphatidylinositol phospholipase D1 gene, which covers at least 80 kb on chromosome 6p22. The gene comprises 25 exons and encodes a 5.8 kb mRNA, which was detected only in the liver. Southern blot analysis shows that the human genome contains only one GPLD gene and we could only detect one of the two previously reported cDNAs.

Glycosylphosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase D in blood serum: is the liver the only source of the enzyme?

In cases of systemic inflammatory response syndrome, sepsis, and septic shock, the activity of glycosylphosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase D (GPI-PLD) in serum amounts to 20 to 25% of the activity found in a healthy control group. The activity of serum GPI-PLD is positively correlated with inflammatory markers and counts of monocytes and stab cells (bands) and negatively correlated with polymorphonuclear neutrophils and lymphocytes in severe diseases. This indicates a yet unknown involvement of the inflammatory system in GPI-PLD liberation and suggests that the liver is not the only source of the plasma enzyme. Plasma was shown to contain an effective inhibitor of GPI-PLD which is soluble in organic solvents. Its concentration in capillary plasma is 20-fold higher than in venous plasma. To find possible other sources of plasma GPI-PLD besides the liver, the GPI-degrading activity was measured in different organs of the rat. Product formation was analysed using [125I]TID-labeled GPI-AP.

Posttranslational modification of glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-specific phospholipase D and its activity in cleavage of GPI anchors

Human glycosylphosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase D (GPI-PLD) was exogenously expressed in mammalian CHO cells and in insect H5 cells. GPI-PLD was initially synthesized as a 105-kDa form and then secreted as a mature 115-kDa form from the CHO cells, whereas it was secreted as an immature 98-kDa form from the H5 cells. The difference of the molecular forms was caused by its oligosaccharide processing in the two cell lines. These forms showed a different reactivity to anti-C-terminal peptide of GPI-PLD; the 105-kDa and 98-kDa forms were directly recognized by the antibodies, whereas the 115-kDa form was immunoreactive only after being denatured. In an in vitro assay, the 98-kDa form but not the 115-kDa form was able to release a significant amount of GPI-anchored proteins from intact membranes, although the two forms had the same GPI-anchor cleavage activity in the presence of detergents. In addition, a GPI-anchored protein, when coexpressed in CHO cells, was intracellularly cleaved by GPI-PLD in the secretory pathway. Taken together, these results suggest that GPI-PLD undergoes a conformational change by posttranslational modification, which affects its immunoreactive and enzymatic properties.

Expression of intracellular and GPI-anchored forms of GPI-specific phospholipase D in COS-1 cells

Glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-specific phospholipase D (GPI-PLD) is a secretory protein present in high amounts in mammalian body fluids. Its cDNA has been isolated and encodes a signal peptide of 23 amino acids and the mature protein of 816 amino acids. We generated cDNAs encoding a signal peptide-deficient and a GPI-anchored form of GPI-PLD and transiently transfected these constructs into COS-1 cells. The signal peptide-deficient form of GPI-PLD was expressed as a 90-kDa protein that was catalytically active and was localized intracellularly. Cells transfected with cDNA encoding the GPI-anchored form of GPI-PLD expressed a catalytically active enzyme of 100 kDa that could be labelled with [3H]ethanolamine demonstrating its modification by a GPI structure. Expression of the GPI-anchored form of GPI-PLD resulted in the release of endogenous GPI-anchored alkaline phosphatase from COS-1 cells, whereas expression of the intracellular form of GPI-PLD had no effect on membrane attachment of endogenous alkaline phosphatase. Similarly, in cells cotransfected with GPI-anchored placental alkaline phosphatase (PLAP) and the GPI-anchored form of GPI-PLD, PLAP was released into the cell culture supernatant while expression of the signal peptide-deficient form of GPI-PLD did not affect the amount of cell-associated PLAP.

Uptake and intracellular stability of glycosylphosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase D in neuroblastoma cells

Glycosylphosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase D from mammalian serum has been described to be relatively stable towards the action of proteases in vitro, and it has been speculated that the enzyme may only be active on glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored substrates after its proteolytic processing in an intracellular compartment following uptake from body fluids. To test this hypothesis, we studied the possible uptake and intracellular processing of purified glycosylphosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase D into the mouse neuroblastoma cell line N2A. We found that after incubation of neuroblastoma cells with glycosylphosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase D at 37 degrees C the amount of cell-associated glycosylphosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase D activity increased in a concentration- and time-dependent way. A similar uptake was also observed with 125I-labeled intact and trypsin-treated form of glycosylphosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase D. We found that the incorporated radiolabeled proteins were processed intracellularly to distinct low molecular mass products, and that this process was in part inhibited by the presence of chloroquine during incubation.

The C-terminus of glycosylphosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase D is essential for biological activity

Glycosylphosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase D (GPI-PLD) (EC 3.1.4.50) from mammalian serum is a 115 kDa glycoprotein consisting of 816 amino acids. We found that C-terminal deletions of only two to five amino acids reduced GPI-PLD enzymatic activity by roughly 70% as compared to wild-type protein. C-terminal deletions of more than five amino acids resulted in a complete loss of GPI-PLD enzymatic activity. Point mutations at position 811 indicate that Tyr-811 may play a major role in maintaining the biological activity of GPI-PLD.

Subcellular distribution of glycosylphosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase D in rat liver

Glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-hydrolysing enzymes have been described in many mammalian tissues and body fluids; however, their site(s) of action and in vivo functions have remained unclear. In order to identify a possible intracellular site of GPI hydrolysis, we studied the subcellular distribution of GPI-hydrolysing activity in rat liver. We found that purified fractions from rat liver hydrolysed the GPI moieties of two GPI-anchored proteins with the specificity of a phospholipase D. This GPI-specific phospholipase D (GPI-PLD) activity was found to be highly enriched in a lysosomal fraction and showed a similar intracellular distribution to that of typical lysosomal enzymes. Our results indicate that lysosomes may represent a possible intracellular site of GPI-PLD action.

Streptolysin-O induces release of glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored alkaline phosphatase from ROS cells by vesiculation independently of phospholipase action

Streptolysin-O (SLO), a cholesterol-binding agent, was used for studies on the release of glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored alkaline phosphatase (AP) from ROS cells. Treatment of cells with SLO resulted in a time- and concentration-dependent release of AP into the extracellular medium. This release was potentiated by Ca2+ and bovine serum, but not by GPI-specific phospholipase D (GPI-PLD) purified from bovine serum. The released AP distributed to the detergent phase after Triton X-114 phase separation. This result suggested that the released AP contained an intact GPI anchor, and thus both proteolysis and anchor degradation by anchor-specific hydrolases, including GPI-PLD, as the potential mechanisms for SLO-mediated AP release were ruled out. The released AP sedimented at 100,000 g. A substantial amount of lipids was detected in the 100,000 g pellet. Cholesterol and sphingomyelin were enriched in SLO-released material, compared with intact cells. These results were consistent with vesiculation as the mechanism for SLO induction of AP release. Two other cholesterol-binding agents, saponin and digitonin, were also able to release AP, possibly by a similar vesiculation mechanism, whereas others, including nystatin, filipin and beta-escin, failed to elicit any AP release. Eight GPI-anchored proteins were identified in ROS cells, and all were substantially enriched in the vesicles released by SLO. Taken together, these results do not provide any support for the hypothesis that the clustering of GPI-anchored proteins in the plasma membrane is responsible for their resistance to GPI-PLD cleavage.

Glycosyl phosphatidyl inositol phospholipase D activity in human serum

We measured serum glycosyl phosphatidyl inositol phospholipase D (GPI-PLD) by its alkaline phosphatase releasing activity in healthy and diseased individuals. Linearity with respect to serum concentration was obtained only with very low serum volumes (below about 0.2 microL) necessitating a large predilution of serum to avoid potential artefacts. The assay was sufficiently precise for routine use. Patients with liver disease had lower activities and those with renal disease had higher activities than healthy controls. Following liver transplantation there was no correlation between GPI-PLD and conventional markers of liver function but there was a marked correlation with cholesterol concentration. These observations suggest that liver is a major source of GPI-PLD in serum. Its function remains unknown.

Generation by limited proteolysis of a catalytically active 39-kDa protein from the 115-kDa form of phosphatidylinositol-glycan-specific phospholipase D from bovine serum

It has been suggested previously that small amounts of the mature 115-kDa form of phosphatidylinositol (PtdIns)-glycan-specific phospholipase D from bovine serum may exist as a 47-kDa form which can also be generated in vitro by treatment with proteases. In this study, we investigated the possible proteolytic processing by trypsin of partially purified PtdIns-glycan- specific phospholipase D from bovine serum and found that tryptic digestion caused an apparent activation of the enzyme when assayed in the presence of 0.1% (mass/vol.) Triton X-100. Trypsin cleaved the 115-kDa form of PtdIns-glycan-specific phospholipase D into three major polypeptides with molecular masses of 33, 39, and 47 kDa. Under non-denaturing conditions, the polypeptides remained tightly but noncovalently associated with each other. However, in the presence of 6 M urea, the polypeptides could be separated by anion-exchange chromatography. After renaturation, PtdIns-glycan-specific phospholipase D activity was found to be associated with a 39-kDa fragment. Based on its size and its amino acid sequence, the active-site-containing fragment consisted of approximately 275 residues of the N-terminal region of PtdIns-glycan-specific phospholipase D. The active 39-kDa fragment hydrolyzed the PtdIns-glycan-anchors of solubilized acetylcholinesterase from bovine erythrocytes and variant surface glycoprotein from blood stream trypanosomes. However, this fragment was inactive on membrane-associated acetylcholinesterase and PtdIns.