Transmembrane movements of lipids

Electrostatic switch mechanisms of membrane protein trafficking and regulation

Lipid-protein interactions are normally classified as either specific or general. Specific interactions refer to lipid binding to specific binding sites within a membrane protein, thereby modulating the protein's thermal stability or kinetics. General interactions refer to indirect effects whereby lipids affect membrane proteins by modulating the membrane's physical properties, e.g., its fluidity, thickness, or dipole potential. It is not widely recognized that there is a third distinct type of lipid-protein interaction. Intrinsically disordered N- or C-termini of membrane proteins can interact directly but nonspecifically with the surrounding membrane. Many peripheral membrane proteins are held to the cytoplasmic surface of the plasma membrane via a cooperative combination of two forces: hydrophobic anchoring and electrostatic attraction. An acyl chain, e.g., myristoyl, added post-translationally to one of the protein's termini inserts itself into the lipid matrix and helps hold peripheral membrane proteins onto the membrane. Electrostatic attraction occurs between positively charged basic amino acid residues (lysine and arginine) on one of the protein's terminal tails and negatively charged phospholipid head groups, such as phosphatidylserine. Phosphorylation of either serine or tyrosine residues on the terminal tails via regulatory protein kinases allows for an electrostatic switch mechanism to control trafficking of the protein. Kinase action reduces the positive charge on the protein's tail, weakening the electrostatic attraction and releasing the protein from the membrane. A similar mechanism regulates many integral membrane proteins, but here only electrostatic interactions are involved, and the electrostatic switch modulates protein activity by altering the stabilities of different protein conformational states.

Distribution of cholesterol in asymmetric membranes driven by composition and differential stress

Many lipid membranes of eukaryotic cells are asymmetric, which means the two leaflets differ in at least one physical property, such as lipid composition or lateral stress. Maintaining this asymmetry is helped by the fact that ordinary phospholipids rarely transition between leaflets, but cholesterol is an exception: its flip-flop times are in the microsecond range, so that its distribution between leaflets is determined by a chemical equilibrium. In particular, preferential partitioning can draw cholesterol into a more saturated leaflet, and phospholipid number asymmetry can force it out of a compressed leaflet. Combining highly coarse-grained membrane simulations with theoretical modeling, we investigate how these two driving forces play against each other until cholesterol's chemical potential is equilibrated. The theory includes two coupled elastic sheets and a Flory-Huggins mixing free energy with a χ parameter. We obtain a relationship between χ and the interaction strength between cholesterol and lipids in either of the two leaflets, and we find that it depends, albeit weakly, on lipid number asymmetry. The differential stress measurements under various asymmetry conditions agree with our theoretical predictions. Using the two kinds of asymmetries in combination, we find that it is possible to counteract the phospholipid number bias, and the resultant stress in the membrane, via the control of cholesterol mixing in the leaflets.

Molecular dynamics study of lipid bilayers modeling outer and inner leaflets of plasma membranes of mouse hepatocytes. I. Differences in physicochemical properties between the two leaflets

Outer and inner leaflets of plasma cell membranes have different lipid compositions, and the membrane properties of each leaflet can differ from each other significantly due to these composition differences. However, because of the experimental difficulty in measuring the membrane properties for each leaflet separately, the differences are not well understood at a molecular level. In this study, we constructed two lipid bilayer systems, modeling outer and inner leaflets of plasma membranes of mouse hepatocytes based on experimental composition data. The ion concentration in the interlamellar water phase was also set to match the concentration in extra- and intracellular fluids. The differences in physical properties between the outer and inner leaflets of mouse hepatocyte cell membrane models were investigated by performing 1.2 μs-long all-atomistic molecular dynamics calculations under physiological temperature and pressure conditions (310.15 K and 1 atm). The calculated electron density profiles along the bilayer normal for each model bilayer system captured well the asymmetric feature of the experimental electron density profile across actual cell plasma membranes, indicating that our procedure of modeling the outer and inner leaflets of the cell plasma membranes was satisfactory. We found that compared to the outer leaflet model, the inner leaflet model had a very bulky and soft structure in the lateral direction. To confirm the differences, membrane fluidity was measured from the lateral diffusivity and relaxation times. The fluidity was significantly higher in the inner leaflet model than in the outer leaflet model. We also discuss two topics that are of wide interest in biology, i.e., the interdigitation of acyl tails of lipid molecules between two monolayers and the lateral concentration fluctuation of lipid molecules in the bilayers.

Cholesterol Flip-Flop in Heterogeneous Membranes

Cholesterol is the most abundant molecule in the plasma membrane of mammals. Its distribution across the two membrane leaflets is critical for understanding how cells work. Cholesterol trans-bilayer motion (flip-flop) is a key process influencing its distribution in membranes. Despite extensive investigations, the rate of cholesterol flip-flop and its dependence on the lateral heterogeneity of membranes remain uncertain. In this work, we used atomistic molecular dynamics simulations to sample spontaneous cholesterol flip-flop events in a DPPC:DOPC:cholesterol mixture with heterogeneous lateral distribution of lipids. In addition to an overall flip-flop rate at the time scale of sub-milliseconds, we identified a significant impact of local environment on flip-flop rate. We discuss the atomistic details of the flip-flop events observed in our simulations.

Dynamics of the Glycophorin A Dimer in Membranes of Native-Like Composition Uncovered by Coarse-Grained Molecular Dynamics Simulations

Membranes are central for cells as borders to the environment or intracellular organelle definition. They are composed of and harbor different molecules like various lipid species and sterols, and they are generally crowded with proteins. The membrane system is very dynamic and components show lateral, rotational and translational diffusion. The consequence of the latter is that phase separation can occur in membranes in vivo and in vitro. It was documented that molecular dynamics simulations of an idealized plasma membrane model result in formation of membrane areas where either saturated lipids and cholesterol (liquid-ordered character, L_o) or unsaturated lipids (liquid-disordered character, L_d) were enriched. Furthermore, current discussions favor the idea that proteins are sorted into the liquid-disordered phase of model membranes, but experimental support for the behavior of isolated proteins in native membranes is sparse. To gain insight into the protein behavior we built a model of the red blood cell membrane with integrated glycophorin A dimer. The sorting and the dynamics of the dimer were subsequently explored by coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations. In addition, we inspected the impact of lipid head groups and the presence of cholesterol within the membrane on the dynamics of the dimer within the membrane. We observed that cholesterol is important for the formation of membrane areas with L_o and L_d character. Moreover, it is an important factor for the reproduction of the dynamic behavior of the protein found in its native environment. The protein dimer was exclusively sorted into the domain of L_d character in the model red blood cell plasma membrane. Therefore, we present structural information on the glycophorin A dimer distribution in the plasma membrane in the absence of other factors like e.g. lipid anchors in a coarse grain resolution.

The role of extracellular vesicles in phenotypic cancer transformation

Background

Cancer has traditionally been considered as a disease resulting from gene mutations. New findings in biology are challenging gene-centered explanations of cancer progression and redirecting them to the non-genetic origins of tumorigenicity. It has become clear that intercellular communication plays a crucial role in cancer progression. Among the most intriguing ways of intercellular communication is that via extracellular vesicles (EVs). EVs are membrane structures released from various types of cells. After separation from the mother membrane, EVs become mobile and may travel from the extracellular space to blood and other body fluids.

Conclusions

Recently it has been shown that tumour cells are particularly prone to vesiculation and that tumour-derived EVs can carry proteins, lipids and nucleic acids causative of cancer progression. The uptake of tumour-derived EVs by noncancerous cells can change their normal phenotype to cancerous. The suppression of vesiculation could slow down tumour growth and the spread of metastases. The purpose of this review is to highlight examples of EV-mediated cancer phenotypic transformation in the light of possible therapeutic applications.

Triglyceride blisters in lipid bilayers: implications for lipid droplet biogenesis and the mobile lipid signal in cancer cell membranes

Triglycerides have a limited solubility, around 3%, in phosphatidylcholine lipid bilayers. Using millisecond-scale course grained molecular dynamics simulations, we show that the model lipid bilayer can accommodate a higher concentration of triolein (TO) than earlier anticipated, by sequestering triolein molecules to the bilayer center in the form of a disordered, isotropic, mobile neutral lipid aggregate, at least 17 nm in diameter, which forms spontaneously, and remains stable on at least the microsecond time scale. The results give credence to the hotly debated existence of mobile neutral lipid aggregates of unknown function present in malignant cells, and to the early biogenesis of lipid droplets accommodated between the two leaflets of the endoplasmic reticulum membrane. The TO aggregates give the bilayer a blister-like appearance, and will hinder the formation of multi-lamellar phases in model, and possibly living membranes. The blisters will result in anomalous membrane probe partitioning, which should be accounted for in the interpretation of probe-related measurements.

Decrease of elastic moduli of DOPC bilayers induced by a macrolide antibiotic, azithromycin

The elastic properties of membrane bilayers are key parameters that control its deformation and can be affected by pharmacological agents. Our previous atomic force microscopy studies revealed that the macrolide antibiotic, azithromycin, leads to erosion of DPPC domains in a fluid DOPC matrix [A. Berquand, M. P. Mingeot-Leclercq, Y. F. Dufrene, Real-time imaging of drug-membrane interactions by atomic force microscopy, Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1664 (2004) 198-205.]. Since this observation could be due to an effect on DOPC cohesion, we investigated the effect of azithromycin on elastic properties of DOPC giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs). Microcinematographic and morphometric analyses revealed that azithromycin addition enhanced lipid membranes fluctuations, leading to eventual disruption of the largest GUVs. These effects were related to change of elastic moduli of DOPC, quantified by the micropipette aspiration technique. Azithromycin decreased both the bending modulus (k(c), from 23.1+/-3.5 to 10.6+/-4.5 k(B)T) and the apparent area compressibility modulus (K(app), from 176+/-35 to 113+/-25 mN/m). These data suggested that insertion of azithromycin into the DOPC bilayer reduced the requirement level of both the energy for thermal fluctuations and the stress to stretch the bilayer. Computer modeling of azithromycin interaction with DOPC bilayer, based on minimal energy, independently predicted that azithromycin (i) inserts at the interface of phospholipid bilayers, (ii) decreases the energy of interaction between DOPC molecules, and (iii) increases the mean surface occupied by each phospholipid molecule. We conclude that azithromycin inserts into the DOPC lipid bilayer, so as to decrease its cohesion and to facilitate the merging of DPPC into the DOPC fluid matrix, as observed by atomic force microscopy. These investigations, based on three complementary approaches, provide the first biophysical evidence for the ability of an amphiphilic antibiotic to alter lipid elastic moduli. This may be an important determinant for drug: lipid interactions and cellular pharmacology.

Sterol structure determines the separation of phases and the curvature of the liquid-ordered phase in model membranes

The existence of lipid rafts in biological membranes in vivo is still debated. In contrast, the formation of domains in model systems has been well documented. In giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) prepared from ternary mixtures of dioleoyl-phosphatidylcholine/sphingomyelin/cholesterol, a clear separation of liquid-disordered and sphingomyelin-enriched, liquid-ordered phases could be observed. This phase separation can lead to the fission of the liquid-ordered phase from the vesicle. Here we show that in cholesterol-containing GUVs, the phase separation can involve dynamic redistribution of lipids from one phase into another as a result of a cross-linking perturbation. We found that the molecular structure of a sterol used for the preparation of GUVs determines (i) its ability to induce phase separation and (ii) the curvature (positive or negative) of the formed liquid-ordered phase. As a consequence, the latter can pinch off to the outside or inside of the vesicle. Remarkably, some mixtures of sterols induce liquid-ordered domains exhibiting both positive and negative curvature, which can lead to a new type of budding behavior in GUVs. Our findings could have implications for the role of sterols in various cell-biological processes such as budding of secretory vesicles, endocytosis, or formation of multivesicular bodies.

Evidence that the wzxE gene of Escherichia coli K-12 encodes a protein involved in the transbilayer movement of a trisaccharide-lipid intermediate in the assembly of enterobacterial common antigen

The assembly of many bacterial cell surface polysaccharides requires the transbilayer movement of polyisoprenoid-linked saccharide intermediates across the cytoplasmic membrane. It is generally believed that transverse diffusion of glycolipid intermediates is mediated by integral membrane proteins called translocases or "flippases." The bacterial genes proposed to encode these translocases have been collectively designated wzx genes. The wzxE gene of Escherichia coli K-12 has been implicated in the transbilayer movement of Fuc4NAc-ManNAcA-GlcNAc-P-P-undecaprenol (lipid III), the donor of the trisaccharide repeat unit in the biosynthesis of enterobacterial common antigen (ECA). Previous studies (Feldman, M. F., Marolda, C. L., Monteiro, M. A., Perry, M. B., Parodi, A. J., and Valvano, M. (1999) J. Biol. Chem. 274, 35129-35138) provided indirect evidence that the wzx(016) gene product of E. coli K-12 encoded a translocase capable of mediating the transbilayer movement of N-acetylglucosaminylpyrophosphorylundecaprenol (GlcNAc-P-P-Und), an early intermediate in the synthesis of ECA and many lipopolysaccharide O antigens. Therefore, genetic and biochemical studies were conducted to determine if the putative Wzx(O16) translocase was capable of mediating the transport of N-acetylglucosaminylpyrophosphorylnerol (GlcNAc-P-P-Ner), a water-soluble analogue of GlcNAc-P-P-Und. [(3)H]GlcNAc-P-P-Ner was transported into sealed, everted cytoplasmic membrane vesicles of E. coli K-12 as well as a deletion mutant lacking both the wzx(016) and wzxC genes. In contrast, [(3)H]GlcNAc-P-P-Ner was not transported into membrane vesicles prepared from a wzxE-null mutant, and metabolic radiolabeling experiments revealed the accumulation of lipid III in this mutant. The WzxE transport system exhibited substrate specificity by recognizing both a pyrophosphoryl-linked saccharide and an unsaturated alpha-isoprene unit in the carrier lipid. These results support the conclusion that the wzxE gene encodes a membrane protein involved in the transbilayer movement of lipid III in E. coli.

Docosahexaenoic acid-containing phosphatidylethanolamine in the external layer of liposomes protects docosahexaenoic acid from 2,2'-azobis(2-aminopropane)dihydrochloride-mediated lipid peroxidation

We have proposed that incorporation of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) into phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) might enhance resistance to lipid peroxidation in vivo. In this study, we examined the relationship between the transbilayer distribution of PE and the oxidative stability of DHA in PE. Liposomes composed of a phospholipid mixture were used as models for biological membranes. To modulate the transbilayer distribution of PE obtained from the liver of rats fed DHA (PE-DHA), we used phosphatidylcholine (PC) with two types of acyl chain region: dipalmitoyl (PC16:0) or dioleoyl (PC18:1). The proportion of PE-DHA in the liposomal external layer was significantly higher in liposomes containing PC18:1 than in those containing PC16:0. This tendency was more pronounced in liposomes extruded using a polycarbonate filter with smaller pore sizes. Additionally, PE-DHA in the external layer of liposomes prepared using a filter with smaller pore sizes could protect DHA itself from 2,2(')-azobis(2-aminopropane)dihydrochloride-mediated lipid peroxidation.

Extensive electroporation abolishes experimentally induced shape transformations of erythrocytes: a consequence of phospholipid symmetrization?

As shown in earlier work (M.M. Henszen et al., Mol. Membr. Biol. 14 (1997) 195-204), exposure of erythrocytes to single brief electric field pulses (5-7 kV cm(-1)) enhances the transbilayer mobility of phospholipids and produces echinocytes which can subsequently be transformed into stomatocytes in an ATP-dependent process. These shape transformations arise from partly reversible changes of the transbilayer disposition of phospholipids, in agreement with the bilayer couple concept. Extensive membrane modification by repetitive (</=20) field pulses followed by 20 h incubation at 37 degrees C is now shown to produce discocytic cells which are resistant to many established shape-transforming treatments, including (A) single electric field pulses, Ca(2+) incorporation and exposure to membrane active amphiphiles, but also (B) metabolic depletion, binding of band 3 ligands, alkaline pH and contact with glass surfaces. The suppression of type A effects can readily be interpreted by a complete symmetrization of the phospholipids in extensively field pulse-modified cells which prevents shape transformations related to the asymmetric disposition of the phospholipids. This symmetrization could be further substantiated by more direct determinations of the transbilayer distribution of phospholipids. Suppression of shape transformations of type B may indicate an involvement of phospholipid asymmetry in these processes on a yet unknown mechanistic basis. Alternatively we discuss field pulse-induced alterations of the disposition of peripheral proteins or of the conformation of integral membrane proteins as mechanisms interfering with shape transformations of type B.

Lectin-like oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor 1 mediates phagocytosis of aged/apoptotic cells in endothelial cells

Recognition of the exposure of phosphatidylserine (PS) on the outer surface of plasma membrane has been implicated in the phagocytosis of aged/apoptotic cells. Because oxidized low-density lipoprotein (OxLDL) has been reported to block the phagocytosis, here we examined whether lectin-like OxLDL receptor 1 (LOX-1), the OxLDL receptor in endothelial cells, mediates phagocytosis of aged/apoptotic cells by endothelial cells. Cultured bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAE) and Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells expressing bovine LOX-1 (BLOX-1-CHO), but not wild-type CHO-K1 cells, bound aged red blood cells (RBC) and apoptotic cells, which were further phagocytosed. The binding of aged RBC and the phagocytosis of apoptotic cells were inhibited by OxLDL, acetyl LDL, and other LOX-1 ligands in both BAE and BLOX-1-CHO. mAb against LOX-1 blocked the binding of aged RBC to BAE, suggesting a role for LOX-1 in the recognition of aged cells. The recombinant soluble LOX-1 inhibited the interactions of aged/apoptotic cells with both BLOX-1-CHO and BAE and distinguished aged RBC from native RBC and apoptotic cells from native cells. PS liposome inhibited these LOX-1-mediated interactions with aged/apoptotic cells, suggesting LOX-1 recognizes PS of the apoptotic cells. PS exposed on the surface of apoptotic cells is known to be procoagulant. Accordingly, increased OxLDL may be one of the reasons for enhanced coagulation in atherosclerosis, inhibiting the removal of apoptotic cells.

Uncouplers of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation are not substrates of the erythrocyte glutathione-S-conjugate pump

Uncouplers of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation, dinitrophenol (DNP) and carbonyl cyanide p-trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone (FCCP), were found to stimulate Mg(2+)-ATPase activity of human erythrocyte membranes in a manner competitive with respect to 2,4-dinitrophenyl-S-glutathione (DNP-SG) which suggested that these compounds may also be substrates of the glutathione-S-conjugate pump. We confirm that the stimulation of erythrocyte membrane ATPase activity by DNP and by another uncoupler, carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone (CCCP), is competitive with respect to DNP-SG. However, we found no evidence for active transport of DNP and CCCP out of erythrocytes and demonstrate that they inhibit the low-affinity component of DNP-SG transport noncompetitively while stimulating the high-affinity DNP-SG transport (mediated by multidrug resistance-associated protein, MRP1). Implications of these findings may indicate the electrogenic nature of MRP1-mediated transport of glutathione-S conjugates and stimulation of aminophospholipid translocase (flippase) rather than the glutathione-S-conjugate pump by the uncouplers.

Electric field pulses induce reversible shape transformation of human erythrocytes

Electric field pulses > 2-3 kV cm-1, long known to induce membrane poration and fusion of erythrocytes as well as to enhance the transbilayer mobility of phospholipids and to perturb aminophospholipid asymmetry, are shown to induce, at 0 degree C, transformation of the discocytic cells into echinocytes and spheroechinocytes. The extent of transformation increases with strength, duration and number of pulses. Its time course is biphasic, a major rapid phase (t/2 approximately 5 s) being followed by a minor one, lasting for 2-3 h. Shape transformation goes along with the exofacial exposure of phosphatidylserine (PS), detected by FITC-annexin V binding and quantified by a calibration curve established via externally inserted dilauroylphosphatidylserine. Incubation of these echinocytes at 37 degrees C leads to a rapid recovery of the discocytic shape followed by slower formation of stomatocytes. Shape recovery is temperature dependent (Ea approximately 100 kJ/mol), and can be impaired by depletion of ATP or Mg++ and by addition of vanadate or fluoride. Shape recovery and stomatocyte formation go along with a rapid loss of annexin binding in about 45% of the cells while the rest maintains its binding capacity. In the presence of vanadate, annexin binding increases in all cells. The results are discussed in the light of the bilayer couple concept of erythrocyte shape and the enhanced transverse mobility of phospholipids. Echinocyte formation is most likely caused by the reorientation of endofacial aminophospholipids to the outer leaflet of the bilayer. Shape recovery and stomatocyte formation probably result from a continuous reinternalization of PS via the ATP dependent aminophospholipid translocase, but may also be supported by downhill movement of PC to the inner leaflet and by other yet unidentified processes.

Micropipette aspiration of human erythrocytes induces echinocytes via membrane phospholipid translocation

When a discocytic erythrocyte (RBC) was partially aspirated into a 1.5-microns glass pipette with a high negative aspiration pressure (delta P = -3.9 kPa), held in the pipette for 30 s (holding time, th), and then released, it underwent a discocyte-echinocyte shape transformation. The degree of shape transformation increased with an increase in th. The echinocytes recovered spontaneously to discocytes in approximately 10 min, and there was no significant difference in recovery time at 20.9 degrees C, 29.5 degrees C, and 37.4 degrees C, respectively. At 11 degrees C the recovery time was significantly elevated to 40.1 +/- 6.7 min. At 20.9 degrees C the shape recovery time varied directly with the isotropic RBC tension induced by the pipetting. Sodium orthovanadate (vanadate, 200 microM), which inhibits the phospholipid translocase, blocks the shape recovery. Chlorpromazine (CP, 25 microM) reversed the pipette-induced echinocytic shape to discocytic in < 2 min, and the RBC became a spherostomatocyte-II after another 30 min. It was hypothesized that the increase in cytosolic pressure during the pipette aspiration induced an isotropic tension in the RBC membrane followed by a net inside-to-outside membrane lipid translocation. After a sudden release of the aspiration pressure the cytosolic pressure and the membrane tension normalized immediately, but the translocated phospholipids remained temporarily "trapped" in the outer layer, causing an area excess and hence the echinocytic shape. The phospholipid translocase activity, when not inhibited by vanadate, caused a gradual return of the translocated phospholipids to the inner layer, and the RBC shape recovered with time.

Protease involvement in fodrin cleavage and phosphatidylserine exposure in apoptosis

A detailed kinetic analysis of three extranuclear end points of apoptosis, phosphatidylserine exposure, alpha-fodrin degradation, and plasma membrane blebbing, was performed and compared with nuclear fragmentation and the activation of the interleukin-1beta-converting enzyme (ICE)-like proteases in Jurkat T lymphocytes stimulated by anti-Fas monoclonal antibody (anti-Fas mAb) and in monocytic U937 cells stimulated by tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and cycloheximide. Phosphatidylserine exposure was quantitated by plasma clotting time, as well as annexin V-fluorescein isothiocyanate binding, and the ICE-like protease activity was examined by the cleavage of a specific fluorogenic peptide substrate Ac-Asp-Glu-Val-Asp-amino-4-methylcoumarin. VAD-chloromethylketone (VAD-cmk), an inhibitor of ICE-like proteases, effectively inhibited ICE-like activity in both cell types studied, whereas the calpain inhibitor calpeptin was ineffective. VAD-cmk also effectively inhibited all three extranuclear events, as well as nuclear fragmentation, in Jurkat cells stimulated by anti-Fas monoclonal antibody, indicating that ICE-like proteases play an important role in the regulation of this apoptotic system. Calpain inhibitors were ineffective in this system. TNF-induced extranuclear and nuclear changes in U937 cells were inhibited by calpeptin but were not as effectively inhibited by VAD-cmk as in Jurkat cells. This suggests that ICE-like enzymes predominate in anti-Fas monoclonal antibody-stimulated Jurkat cells, whereas proteases affected by calpain inhibitors as well as the ICE-like enzymes are involved in the signaling of apoptotic events in TNF-induced U937 cells. Importantly, the two apoptotic systems seem to be regulated by different proteases.

Phospholipid asymmetry in red blood cells and spectrin-free vesicles during prolonged storage

Erythrocytes and spectrin-free DMPC-induced vesicles released from the cells were incubated for 3 weeks at 6 degrees C under conditions of metabolic ATP-depletion. Phosphatidylserine (PS) asymmetry was monitored during this period by use of the prothrombinase assay. Prothrombinase activities measured at the beginning of the incubation period indicated that approximately 0.06% of PS was located at the outer layer of the red cell membrane, whereas in DMPC-induced vesicles approximately 1.5% the PS was exposed on the outside. After completion of the incubation period PS exposure on the outside of red cells and vesicles was increased by no more than 5-fold. On the other hand, with vesicles prepared with a significantly increased (4-fold) ATP-content to sustain translocase activity, the incubation process resulted in a surprisingly high (20-fold) increase of PS exposure. With vanadate, an inhibitor of the aminophospholipid translocase, included in the incubation medium, the redistribution of PS was even more pronounced. These observations indicate that PS asymmetry in spectrin-free vesicles can not be directly correlated to either ATP content or translocase activity and suggest that besides the aminophospholipid translocase and the membrane skeleton, other mechanisms must be involved in maintaining phospholipid asymmetry.

Manipulation of the phosphatidylethanolamine pool in the human red cell membrane affects its Mg2+-ATPase activity

Decreasing the size of the outer leaflet pool of phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) in the erythrocyte membrane by treatment of intact cells with either phospholipase A2, or trinitrobenzenesulphonic acid (TNBS), causes a corresponding decrease in Mg(2+)-ATPase activity as determined in their respective ghosts. Also, incubation of ghosts with Ro09-0198, a cyclic peptide from Streptoverticillium which is known to interact specifically with PE, causes a decrease in Mg(2+)-ATPase activity which is dependent on the amount of peptide added. These three different approaches, all causing a decrease in endogenous PE, thus result in a concomitant decrease in Mg(2+)-ATPase activity which reaches a plateau level at approximately 25% residual activity. Hence, it is inferred that the complementary fraction (75%) of the total Mg(2+)-ATPase in the red cell membrane is closely related to the functioning of its aminophospholipid specific translocase as it mediates a (continuous) transport of PE molecules from outer to inner membrane leaflet. This view is supported by the observation that an increase in the total amount of PE in the membrane by decarboxylation of an appreciable fraction of its PS, results in a considerable increase in Mg(2+)-ATPase activity.

Transmembrane movement of a water-soluble analogue of mannosylphosphoryldolichol is mediated by an endoplasmic reticulum protein

Based on topological studies mannosylphosphoryldolichol (Man-P-Dol) is synthesized on the cytoplasmic face of the RER, but functions as a mannosyl donor in Glc3Man9GlcNAc2-P-P-dolichol biosynthesis after the mannosyl-phosphoryl headgroup diffuses transversely to the luminal compartment. The transport of mannosylphosphorylcitronellol (Man-P-Cit), a water-soluble analogue of Man-P-Dol, by microsomal vesicles from mouse liver, has been investigated as a potential experimental approach to determine if a membrane protein(s) mediates the transbilayer movement of Man-P-Dol. For these studies beta-[3H]Man-P-Cit was synthesized enzymatically with a partially purified preparation of Man-P-undecaprenol synthase from Micrococcus luteus. The uptake of the radiolabeled water-soluble analogue was found to be (a) time dependent; (b) stereoselective; (c) dependent on an intact permeability barrier; (d) saturable; (e) protease-sensitive; and (f) highest in ER-enriched vesicles relative to Golgi complex-enriched vesicles and intact mitochondria. Consistent with the involvement of a membrane protein, the analogue did not enter synthetic phosphatidylcholine-liposomes. [3H]Man-P-Cit also was not transported by human erythrocytes. These results indicate that the transport of Man-P-Cit by sealed microsomal vesicles from mouse liver is mediated by a membrane protein transport system. It is possible that the same membrane protein(s) participates in the transbilayer movement of Man-P-Dol in the ER.

A unique feature of lipid dynamics in small intestinal brush border membrane

The lipid composition of the brush border membrane (BBM) or apical plasma membrane of enterocytes is characterized by a remarkably high glycosphingolipid content (glycosphingolipid: phospholipid:neutral lipid mole ratio of about 1:1:1). A manifestation of the high glycolipid content of the BBM is the lipid fluidity which is low compared to other mammalian plasma membranes and related to it a steep flexibility gradient: hydrocarbon chain segments close to the lipid-water interface have quasi-crystalline packing while hydrocarbon chain segments close to the centre of the lipid bilayer behave like a fluid. An important function of the BBM is the absorption of dietary lipids. The absorption of cholesterol from bile salt micelles has been shown to be protein-mediated. The integral membrane protein responsible for this activity has features similar to non-specific lipid transfer proteins. Another remarkable property of the BBM is described here: phospholipids are exchanged between the lipid bilayer of the BBM and the lipid bilayers of small unilamellar egg phosphatidylcholine (PC) vesicles. In the course of this probably 1:1 exchange, endogenous BBM phospholipids move out of the BBM and the lipid loss is compensated by the insertion of exogenous PC from the small unilamellar vesicles. This exchange activity is probably due to the same protein(s) responsible for lipid absorption in this membrane or at least related to the absorptive capacity of the BBM. The unique feature of small intestinal BBM is that the on- and off-rate of certain lipids is remarkably high: the underlying structure of this activity is still unknown.

Back and forth: the regulation and function of transbilayer phospholipid movement in eukaryotic cells

That some membranes restrict certain lipid species to one side of the bilayer and others to the opposite side has been known for two decades. However, how this asymmetric transbilayer distribution is generated and controlled, how many and what type of membranes are so structured, and even the reason for its existence is just now beginning to be understood. It has been a decade since the discovery of an activity which transports in an ATP-dependent manner only the aminophospholipids from the outer to the inner leaflet of the plasma membrane. This aminophospholipid translocase has yet to be isolated, reconstituted, and identified molecularly. Elevating intracellular Ca2+ allows all the major classes of phospholipids to move freely across the bilayer, scrambling lipids and dissipating asymmetry. The nature of this pathway and its mode of activation by Ca2+ remain to be determined. Though loss of transbilayer asymmetry by blood cells clearly produces a procoagulant surface and increases interactions with the reticuloendothelial system, it remains to be elucidated whether maintenance of blood homeostasis is just one expression of a more general raison d'être for lipid asymmetry. It is these persisting uncertainties and gaps in our knowledge which make the field such an interesting and exciting challenge at the present time.

Phospholipid asymmetry in plasma membrane vesicles derived from BHK cells

The transbilayer distribution of phospholipids in plasma membrane vesicles derived from BHK cells by treatment with iodoacetamide or fluoride and merocyanine 540 has been examined by exposing the vesicles to bee venom phospholipase A2 (PLA2) or to Bacillus cereus sphingomyelinase. The results show that almost all of the phosphatidylserine (PS) is on the inner lipid leaflet and most of the sphingomyelin is on the outer lipid leaflet. In contrast, about 50% of the phosphatidylcholine (PC) and 30-40% of the phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) is rapidly degraded by PLA2 and thus appears to be present on the surface of the vesicles. The pools of PC and PE which are accessible only slowly to PLA2 are degraded with halftimes of about 5 h and 2 h, respectively, and it is suggested that this rate reflects the rate of transbilayer migration of these lipids. We conclude that the profound energy depletion caused by treatment with iodoacetamide or fluoride does not alter the asymmetric distribution of PS across the plasma membrane but does have a marked effect on the transbilayer distribution of PE. Residual cells after treatment with fluoride and MC540 were also exposed to PLA2. The results were broadly in agreement with those obtained with vesicles, suggesting that the vesicles were representative of the BHK cell plasma membrane in terms of phospholipid asymmetry. Fluoride or MC540 added separately caused little vesicle release but did lead to significant loss of phospholipid asymmetry. When centrifuged on a sucrose density gradient, vesicles were separated into two major fractions accounting for about two thirds and about 20%, respectively, of total phospholipid but no significant differences were seen in the transbilayer phospholipid asymmetry of the two fractions.

Exposure of phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylinositol in plasma membranes from rat brain synaptosomes treated with phospholipase A2 toxins (beta-bungarotoxin, notexin) and enzymes (Naja nigricollis, Naja naja atra)

Phospholipase A2 (PLA2) toxins act presynaptically to block acetylcholine release and are much more potent and specific in their actions than PLA2 enzymes even though they have lower enzymatic activity. Since their mechanism of action is not completely understood, it was of interest to examine the toxins' effects on phospholipid asymmetry as changes in asymmetry are associated with changes in membrane functioning. Rat brain synaptosomes were treated with the PLA2 toxins beta-bungarotoxin (beta-BuTx) and notexin and with the PLA2 enzymes Naja nigricollis and Naja naja atra under relatively non-disruptive conditions as judged by leakage of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and levels of phospholipid hydrolysis. The exposure of phosphatidylcholine (PC) and phosphatidylinositol (PI) on the synaptosomal surface was investigated by means of a specific PC-exchange protein (PCEP) and a PI-specific phospholipase C (PI-PLC), respectively. Treatment of the synaptosomes with N. nigricollis PLA2, beta-BuTx and notexin did not affect the availability of PC to exchange by PCEP, but significantly increased the exposure of PI to hydrolysis by PI-PLC. In contrast, N. n. atra PLA2 slightly decreased the exposure of PC and did not affect that of PI. The differences between N. n. atra PLA2, on the one hand, and N. nigricollis PLA2, beta-BuTx and notexin, on the other hand, parallel differences in their pharmacological activities. Our earlier studies showed that PLA2 enzymes, and possibly PLA2 toxins, have a pharmacological site separate from the enzymatic site. Since in the present study the effect on PI was abolished by EDTA, the presence of an enzymatic site in addition to the pharmacological site may be required or alternatively divalent cations may be required for the effects on PI asymmetry independent of the inhibition of PLA2 by EDTA.

Band 3, the anion exchanger of the erythrocyte membrane, is also a flippase

The transbilayer reorientation (flip-flop) of the long-chain amphiphilic anion DENSA (5-(N-decyl)aminonaphthalene-2-sulfonic acid) in the erythrocyte membrane was studied by fluorescence spectroscopy. DENSA intercalates into the membrane at a high membrane/water partition coefficient (3.2.10(5)) and rapidly reorients from the outer to the inner layer in a first order process (k = 0.11 min-1, 37 degrees C, pH 7.4) leading to a steady-state distribution inner:outer layer of about 30:70. The activation energy of the fully reversible and symmetric flip process is about 110 kJ/mol. DIDS and various other established covalent and non-covalent inhibitors of anion transport via the erythrocyte anion exchanger, band 3 (AE 1), suppress the flip to a minimum of about 30-35% of the control. The flip is also inhibited by Cl- with a half maximal inhibitory concentration equal to that required for the inhibition of the exchange flux of ordinary anions via band 3. These findings indicate the involvement of a band 3 mediated (DIDS-sensitive) component of the flip and a DIDS-insensitive one, possibly involving, at least to some extent, simple transbilayer 'diffusion'. This latter component is stimulated by diamide, an SH oxidant known to increase the permeability of the membrane lipid domain of the erythrocyte. Alcohols (butanol, hexanol) accelerate both flip components. Papain treatment, known to inhibit 'ordinary' anion exchange, accelerates both flip and flop. The results suggest that band 3 protein, besides being a conventional transporter of anions, can act as a flippase translocating anionic, membrane-intercalated amphiphiles approaching the transporter from the lipid domain. The flippase mode of operation of band 3 must, however, differ in its mechanism from the conventional exchange mode.

Direct analysis and significance of cardiolipin transverse distribution in mitochondrial inner membranes

The distribution of cardiolipin across the inner mitochondrial membrane was directly determined by using the ability of the fluorescent dye 10-N-nonyl-3,6-bis(dimethylamino)acridine (10-N-nonyl acridine orange) to form dimers when it interacts with the diacidic phospholipid. Two independent methods were employed: (a) a spectrophotometric measurement of 10-N-nonyl acridine orange binding to isolated rat liver mitochondria, mitoplasts and inside-out submitochondrial particles, and (b) a flow-cytometric analysis of specific red fluorescence, emitted when two dye molecules are bound to one membrane cardiolipin; the stoichiometry of 10-N-nonyl acridine orange binding to phosphatidylserine and phosphatidylinositol, 1 mol dye/mol phospholipid, prevented dye dimerisation and subsequent red-fluorescence appearance. 57% total cardiolipin was present in the outer leaflets of inner membranes of isolated organelles, a distribution confirmed by saturation measurements for mitoplasts and inside-out submitochondrial particles. The same asymmetry was directly observed in situ with mitochondrial membranes of quiescent L1210 cells, and with mitochondrial membranes of respiring yeasts. Nevertheless, alterations in ATP synthesis and inhibition of mitochondrial protein synthesis revealed that cardiolipin distribution was apparently tightly correlated with mitochondrial membrane assembly and activity.

Rapid determination of the transbilayer distribution of NBD-phospholipids in erythrocyte membranes with dithionite

The assessment of the transverse distribution and mobility of NBD-labelled phospholipid analogues in biological membranes by selective chemical destruction of fluorescent label in the outer monolayer with dithionite has been investigated using resealed erythrocyte ghosts as a model system. The distribution of those analogues can be determined in < 30 s directly in the cell suspension provided the permeation of dithionite across the membrane is suppressed. The results were compared with data on translocation of either NBD- or spin-labelled phospholipid analogues obtained with the technique of back exchange to BSA. It is shown that the passage of dithionite can be mediated by anion-transport systems such as band 3 which is inhibited by DIDS. Appropriate conditions for the applicability of the assay were elucidated also using resealed ghosts having fluorescent NBD-taurine in the intracellular lumen. The application of the assay to measure fast translocation processes, e.g. those mediated by the aminophospholipid translocase, is described.

Membrane phospholipid asymmetry in DMPC-induced human red cell vesicles

Vesicles that do not contain spectrin were released from human erythrocytes by incubation with dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine. The transbilayer orientation of membrane phospholipids was subsequently determined by two independent methods. Incubation with phospholipase A2 revealed that the phospholipid asymmetry observed in red blood cells was essentially preserved in vesicles. By use of the prothrombinase assay a still highly asymmetric distribution of phosphatidylserine could be demonstrated in spite of its slightly increased exposure on the vesicle surface. These results show that membrane phospholipid asymmetry can be maintained in a system that does not contain an intact membrane skeleton or spectrin.

Transmembrane mobility and distribution of phospholipids in the membrane of mouse beta-thalassaemic red blood cells

Using spin-labelled lipid analogues, the transmembrane mobility and distribution of phospholipids in normal and beta-thalassaemic murine red blood cells were investigated. The velocities of spin-labelled phosphatidylserine (PS*) and spin-labelled phosphatidylethanolamine (PE*) active transport into the inner leaflet were not significantly different between normal and pathological cells. The stationary distribution of PE* in thalassaemic erythrocytes (79.5 +/- 2.0% inside) differed from that of control cells (91.1 +/- 1.6% inside), while that of PS* was unaffected. In thalassaemic cells the passive diffusion of spin-labelled phosphatidylcholine (PC*) was accelerated 4-fold and its stationary distribution was shifted to 34.5 +/- 2.3% inside compared to 19.5 +/- 1.6% in control cells. Spin-labelled sphingomyelin (SM*), which showed no inward movement in normal cells, diffused partially towards the inner leaflet of thalassaemic erythrocyte membranes. These results indicate that modifications of the transverse lipid organisation in beta-thalassaemic red blood cells are due to changes in passive diffusion movements, and not to changes in aminophospholipid translocase activity.

Novel radioactive phospholipid probes as a tool for measurement of phospholipid translocation across biomembranes

In an attempt to develop a new method to measure transbilayer phospholipid translocation, with a higher sensitivity and higher temporal resolution, novel radioactive phospholipid probes (*C5-PC, *C5-PE, and *C5-PS) with a short acyl chain at the 2-position were synthesized. The *C5-PC probe was made by coupling lysophosphatidylcholine with [14C]pentanoic acid, using N,N-carbonyldiimidazole as a coupling agent (yield 37%), and *C5-PE and *C5-PS were synthesized by exchanging the choline moiety of *C5-PC for ethanolamine and L-serine, respectively, as catalyzed by phospholipase D. The usefulness of the probes was confirmed by measuring phospholipid translocation across the human erythrocyte plasma membrane, in which the presence of aminophospholipid translocase was revealed using EPR techniques (Zachowski, A., Farve, E., Cribier, S., Herve, P. and Devaux, P.F. (1986) Biochemistry 25, 2585-2590). Using the present probes, ATP-dependent and SH-reagent-inhibitable translocation of *C5-PS and *C5-PE from outer to inner leaflets, which is characteristic to the translocation mediated by aminophospholipid translocase, was detected with a higher sensitivity than seen with the EPR technique. These radioactive phospholipid probes will be useful to measure phospholipid translocation with a high sensitivity and have the potential for application in measurements of transbilayer lipid-translocation for a wide variety of membranes.

Phospholipids in animal eukaryotic membranes: transverse asymmetry and movement

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Metabolism of the 'organic osmolyte' glycerophosphorylcholine in isolated rat inner medullary collecting duct cells. I. Pathways for synthesis and degradation

In isolated inner medullary collecting duct (IMCD) cells the adaptation to changes in extracellular osmolarity involves alterations in intracellular content of organic osmolytes such as glycerophosphorylcholine (GPC), sorbitol and others. To elucidate the basis of such alterations, the metabolism of GPC in IMCD cells was investigated with the labeled GPC precursor [methyl-3H]choline. The lipids phosphatidylcholine (PC), lyso PC (LPC) and sphingomyelin (SM), as well as the non lipids phosphorylcholine (Pcholine), GPC and an unknown water-soluble compound could be identified as intermediates of choline metabolism. In pulse-chase experiments the radioactivity of PC expressed as specific activity was at a higher level than the other metabolites (> 10-fold after 1h). Extended chase incubations caused the specific activity of PC and LPC to decrease significantly. GPC was the only metabolite with a significant increase in specific activity under these conditions, suggesting that PC (via LPC) could be the precursor of GPC. In short-term pulse experiments the specific activity of PC and LPC was always significantly higher compared to the specific activity of GPC. Pulse chase incubations using phosphatidyl[methyl-3H]choline showed a significant decrease in specific activity of PC after 15 h accompanied by a significant increase in specific activity of LPC as well as GPC. Inhibition of the PC hydrolyzing enzyme phospholipase A2 revealed a significant increase in the specific activity of PC. For GPC, a significant decrease in the radioactive labeling could be detected. The total amount of PC decreased by 10% under these conditions whereas the amount of GPC decreased by 22% which was significantly higher because of GPC breakdown. GPC degradation was catalyzed by GPC: choline diesterase generating choline (and phosphoglycerol). Significant activity of GPC:phosphocholine diesterase could not be detected. Betaine synthesis from choline was also not present. The slowest, and probably rate-limiting reaction of GPC synthesis from choline may be the reaction of phosphocholine cytidylyltransferase generating CDP choline, since no radioactive CDP choline could be detected under any conditions. Thus, isolated IMCD cells possess the ability for the synthesis of GPC from choline via PC and LPC, as well as for the GPC degradation to choline (and phosphoglycerol). Significant experimental evidence for the occurrence of de-novo synthesis of GPC from choline or a precursor function of GPC for PC could not be detected. However, although the former possibility seems unlikely, a final proof is still lacking.

ATP-dependent aminophospholipid translocation in erythrocyte vesicles: stoichiometry of transport

Vesicles released from human red blood cells by incubation with a suspension of sonicated dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine were purified by gel filtration. Purified vesicles and intact red cells had a very similar composition with respect to phospholipids and integral membrane proteins, but spectrin, the major component of the membrane skeleton, was not found in vesicles. Comparison of red cell and vesicle ATP levels (expressed as micromolar ATP per millimolar hemoglobin) showed a marked difference with a reduced content of only about 30% in vesicles, whatever the initial concentration in the erythrocytes. Spin-labeled aminophospholipids (phosphatidylserine and phosphatidylethanolamine) were translocated to the inner vesicle membrane layer at a comparable rate as in intact red cells provided that vesicles contained enough ATP. The maximum fraction of spin-labeled phospholipids translocated to the inner membrane layer was 84% for phosphatidylserine, 65% for phosphatidylethanolamine, 20-40% for phosphatidylcholine, and below 20% for sphingomyelin. The apparent Km of translocation, expressed as percent of total membrane phospholipid, was 0.14% for spin-labeled phosphatidylserine and 1.19% for spin-labeled phosphatidylethanolamine. This compares well to values established earlier for intact red blood cells. The fact that no ATP was synthesized in vesicles allowed determination of ATP consumption by aminophospholipid transport. The basic ATP hydrolysis rate was increased upon the addition of labeled aminophospholipids but not of labeled phosphatidylcholine or sphingomyelin. The stoichiometry between lipid translocation and ATP consumption, calculated from the respective initial velocities, was 1.13 +/- 0.2 for phosphatidylserine and 1.11 +/- 0.16 for phosphatidylethanolamine.

Translocation of spin-labeled phospholipids through plasma membrane during thrombin- and ionophore A23187-induced platelet activation

After incorporation of spin-labeled phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylserine, and phosphatidylethanolamine analogues in the outer leaflet of the plasma membrane in resting platelets, more than 90% amino-head analogues accumulated within 30 min in the inner leaflet by aminophospholipid translocase activity, while choline analogues mostly remained on the outer leaflet. Platelets were then activated by thrombin or Ca2+ ionophore A23187. No outward movement of internally located spin-labeled aminophospholipids was observed during thrombin-induced activation, whereas the influx of externally located probes increased slightly. During A23187-mediated activation, similar slightly increased influx was observed, while 40-50% of the initially internally located aminophospholipids could then be extracted from the outer leaflet. This sudden exposure on the outer face was dependent on an increase in intracellular Ca2+ and achieved in less than 2 min at 37 degrees C. Inhibition of translocase activity by N-ethylmaleimide did not induce any aminophospholipid outflux. When probes were incorporated on the outer face of the plasma membrane in resting platelets, they were still fully accessible from the extracellular medium after A23187-induced activation. Moreover, they were distributed between the vesicles and remnant platelets in proportion to the external membrane phospholipidic content in each structure. This suggested that no scrambling of plasma membrane leaflets occurred during the vesicle blebbing. Moreover, the spin-labeled aminophospholipids exposure rate and amplitude were unchanged when vesicle formation was inhibited by the calpain inhibitor calpeptin. These results indicate that loss of asymmetry thus inducing generation of a catalytic surface is not the consequence of vesicle formation. Conversely, we propose that vesicle shedding is an effect of PL transverse redistribution and calpain-mediated proteolysis during activation.

The asymmetric distribution of phosphatidylcholine in rat brain synaptic plasma membranes

The distribution of phosphatidylcholine between inner and outer monolayers of rat brain synaptic plasma membrane was investigated by means of a phosphatidylcholine specific exchange protein. About 70% of the total membranal phosphatidylcholine was in the outer leaflet, 33% of which was exposed and readily exchanged in intact synaptosomes while the remainder was exchangeable following osmotic shock. Permeabilization of the synaptic plasma membranes by overnight incubation in buffer or by saponin (< 0.08%) exposed an additional 30% of phosphatidylcholine to exchange, presumably from the inner cytoplasmic leaflet. Phosphatidylcholine is therefore asymmetrically distributed in the synaptosomal plasma membrane, as it is in other plasma membranes.

Dynamics of the membrane lipid phase

The lipid bilayer of a membrane is sometimes seen as an inert hydrophobic phase allowing the 'solubility' of transmembrane proteins and acting as a barrier between two compartments. However, the bilayer is, in fact, a highly organized system subjected to many movements leading to a dynamically equilibrated structure. A lipid within a membrane experiences intramolecular motions (movement of some segments of the molecule) and moves or diffuses in and across each monolayer. In plasma membranes, transverse diffusion is either passive (cholinecontaining phospholipids, fatty acids ...) or active via a carrier protein (amino-phospholipids). The known asymmetric transverse distribution of phospholipids between the two plasma membrane leaflets is a stationary state resulting from all these motions, especially the active transport. Nevertheless, recent studies have shown that it is also possible to obtain an uneven distribution of some lipids (e.g. fatty acid, phosphatidic acid) across a membrane via a pH gradient. Lateral diffusion within a monolayer depends on the composition of the monolayer and not on the nature of the diffusing lipid. The phospholipid asymmetry, based on the polar head groups, exists also for the corresponding fatty acids, as the nature of the acyl chains differs according to the head group. A consequence is that the cytoplasmic leaflet of plasma membranes has a different 'fluidity' from that of the outer leaflet.

Alcohols produce reversible and irreversible acceleration of phospholipid flip-flop in the human erythrocyte membrane

The slow, non-mediated transmembrane movement of the lipid probes lysophosphatidylcholine, NBD-phosphatidylcholine and NBD-phosphatidylserine in human erythrocytes becomes highly enhanced in the presence of 1-alkanols (C2-C8) and 1,2-alkane diols (C4-C8). Above a threshold concentration characteristic for each alcohol, flip rates increase exponentially with the alcohol concentration. The equieffective concentrations of the alcohols decrease about 3-fold per methylene added. All 1-alkanols studied are equieffective at comparable calculated membrane concentrations. This is also observed or the 1,2-alkane diols, albeit at a 5-fold lower membrane concentration. At low alcohol concentrations, flip enhancement is reversible to a major extent upon removal of the alcohol. In contrast, a residual irreversible flip acceleration is observed following removal of the alcohol after a treatment at higher concentrations. The threshold concentrations to produce irreversible flip acceleration by 1-alkanols and 1,2-alkane diols are 1.5- and 3-fold higher than those for flip acceleration in the presence of the corresponding alcohols. A causal role in reversible flip-acceleration of a global increase of membrane fluidity or membrane polarity seems to be unlikely. Alcohols may act by increasing the probability of formation of transient structural defects in the hydrophobic barrier that already occur in the native membrane. Membrane defects responsible for irreversible flip-acceleration may result from alterations of membrane skeletal proteins by alcohols.

Effects of snake venom phospholipase A2 toxins (beta-bungarotoxin, notexin) and enzymes (Naja naja atra, Naja nigricollis) on aminophospholipid asymmetry in rat cerebrocortical synaptosomes

The effects of snake venom phospholipase A2 (PLA2) toxins (beta-bungarotoxin, notexin) and PLA2 enzymes (Naja nigricollis, Naja naja atra) on aminophospholipid asymmetry in rat cerebrocortical synaptic plasma membranes (SPM) were examined. Incubation of intact synaptosomes with 2 mM 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS) for 40 min, under non-penetrating conditions, followed by SPM isolation, allowed us to calculate the percentage of phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) and phosphatidylserine (PS) in the outer leaflet of the SPM, while incubation with disrupted synaptosomes provided total labeling values with the difference representing labeling of the inner leaflet. We found that 30% of the PE and 2% of the PS were in the outer leaflet, with 54% of the PE and 80% of the PS in the inner leaflet; 16% of the PE and 18% of the PS was inaccessible to TNBS. PLA2 toxins and enzymes increased in a concentration-dependent manner the percentage of PS and, to a lesser extent, the percentage of PE in the outer leaflet of the SPM, due to a redistribution from the inner to the outer leaflet. There was no correlation between the PLA2 enzymatic activities and the increased percentage of PS in the outer leaflet of the SPM induced by the PLA2 toxins and enzymes. Alteration of aminophospholipid asymmetry does not explain the greater presynaptic specificity and potencies of the PLA2 toxins as compared to the PLA2 enzymes, but may be associated with the increased acetylcholine release from synaptosomes induced by both the toxins and enzymes.

Effect of benzyl alcohol on phospholipid transverse mobility in human erythrocyte membrane

The effect of benzyl alcohol on the transverse mobility and repartition of phospholipids in the human erythrocyte membrane was investigated using electron spin resonance and morphological modification of red blood cells. Transmembrane internalization rates and equilibrium distribution in red blood cells of short-chain spin-labeled phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylserine were strongly modified by treatment with 10-70 mM benzyl alcohol. A dual effect was observed: (a) at 4 degrees C and 37 degrees C there was an N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive, long lasting and fully reversible increase in the spin-labeled phosphatidylserine and phosphatidylethanolamine internalization rate; (b) at 37 degrees C, an enhancement of N-ethylmaleimide-insensitive fluxes of all the labeled phospholipids through the membrane occurred. Both effects were dose-dependent. Erythrocytes submitted to benzyl alcohol incubation also showed dose-dependent shape changes: an immediate one from discocytes to echinocytes, followed by a slower N-ethylmaleimide- and ATP-dependent change to stomatocytes. Moreover, benzyl alcohol treatment was shown to lead to enhanced hydrolysis of intracellular ATP. All the effects of benzyl alcohol can be described as an accumulation of labeled phosphatidylethanolamine (and labeled phosphatidylcholine at 37 degrees C) in the inner leaflet. This can be interpreted as a perturbation of the erythrocyte membrane, leading to an energy-consuming specific increase in aminophospholipid translocase activity, in addition to a slow and passive bidirectional flux of all phospholipids at 37 degrees C.

Transmembrane redistribution of phospholipids of the human red cell membrane during hypotonic hemolysis

The transmembrane distribution of spin-labeled phospholipids was measured in human erythrocytes before and after hypotonic hemolysis by electron paramagnetic resonance. With a first series of partially water soluble probes a complete randomization of phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylserine and sphingomyelin analogues was achieved when cells were resealed in the absence of Mg-ATP or when the aminophospholipid translocase was inhibited by vanadate or calcium. If the ghosts were resealed with Mg-ATP inside, the transmembrane asymmetry of the aminophospholipids was reestablished. With long chain insoluble spin-labeled lipids complete randomization was obtained with the phosphatidylcholine analogue but even in the presence of vanadate only a small percentage (approx. 15%) of the spin-labeled phosphatidylserine flopped to the outer monolayer and comparable percentage of the spin-labeled sphingomyelin flipped to the inner monolayer, indicating a hierarchy in the phospholipid redistribution for these water insoluble lipids during hemolysis. The mechanism by which a selective randomization takes place is not known. It may involve phosphatidylserine-protein interactions in the inner leaflet and sphingomyelin-cholesterol or sphingomyelin-sphingomyelin interaction in the outer leaflet.