Sphingolipids in immature and mature soybeans

The contribution of polar sphingolipids to total sphingolipid content in food sources determined using a facile method for quantitation of long-chain bases

Evidence indicates that dietary sphingolipids may influence health and disease, and increasingly are considered a functional food component. A facile method for quantifying total sphingolipid content in a wide variety of food samples would be valuable in nutrition research involving these lipid components. Such a method using basic HPLC instrumentation to quantify fluorescent derivatives of long-chain bases liberated from sphingolipids following direct hydrolysis of food samples is described. The results demonstrate that the sphingolipid content of plant-based foods obtained using direct hydrolysis is greater than that obtained using conventional extraction methods. Direct hydrolysis yields sphingolipid content for animal-based samples similar to more complicated conventional methods. With these advantages, direct hydrolysis is a valuable and broadly applicable method for quantifying the total sphingolipid content of both plant- and animal-based food samples.

Diversity in sphingolipid metabolism across land plants

Sphingolipids are essential metabolites found in all plant species. They are required for plasma membrane integrity, tolerance of and responses to biotic and abiotic stresses, and intracellular signalling. There is extensive diversity in the sphingolipid content of different plant species, and in the identities and roles of enzymes required for their processing. In this review, we survey results obtained from investigations of the classical genetic model Arabidopsis thaliana, from assorted dicots with less extensive genetic toolkits, from the model monocot Oryza sativa, and finally from the model bryophyte Physcomitrium patens. For each species or group, we first broadly summarize what is known about sphingolipid content. We then discuss the most insightful and puzzling features of modifications to the hydrophobic ceramides, and to the polar headgroups of complex sphingolipids. Altogether, these data can serve as a framework for our knowledge of sphingolipid metabolism across the plant kingdom. This chemical and metabolic heterogeneity underpins equally diverse functions. With greater availability of different tools for analytical measurements and genetic manipulation, our field is entering an exciting phase of expanding our knowledge of the biological functions of this persistently cryptic class of lipids.

Neurite Outgrowth and Morphological Changes Induced by 8-trans Unsaturation of Sphingadienine in kCer Molecular Species

Konjac ceramide (kCer), which consists of plant-type molecular species of characteristic shingoid bases and fatty acids, is prepared from konjac glucosylceramide GlcCer by chemoenzymatical deglucosylation. kCer activates the semaphorin 3A (Sema3A) signaling pathway, inducing collapsin response mediator protein 2 (CRMP2) phosphorylation. This results in neurite outgrowth inhibition and morphological changes in remaining long neurites in PC12 cells. Whether a specific molecular species of kCer can bind to the Sema3A receptor (Neuropilin1, Nrp1) and activate the Sema3A signaling pathway remains unknown. Here, we prepared kCer molecular species using endoglycoceramidase I-mediated deglucosylation and examined neurite outgrowth and phosphorylation of collapsin response mediator protein 2 in nerve growth factor (NGF)-primed cells. The 8-trans unsaturation of sphingadienine of kCer was essential for Sema3A-like signaling pathway activation. Conversely, 8-cis unsaturation of kCer molecular species had no effect on Sema3A-like activation, and neurite outgrowth inhibition resulted in remaining short neurites. In addition, α-hydroxylation of fatty acids was not associated with the Sema3A-like activity of the kCer molecular species. These results suggest that 8-trans or 8-cis isomerization of sphingadienine determines the specific interactions at the ligand-binding site of Nrp1.

Konjac Ceramide (kCer) Regulates NGF-Induced Neurite Outgrowth via the Sema3A Signaling Pathway

The tuber of the konjac plant is a source enriched with GlcCer (kGlcCer), and has been used as a dietary supplement to improve the dry skin and itching that are caused by a deficiency of epidermal ceramide. Previously, we showed chemoenzymatically prepared konjac ceramide has a neurite-outgrowth inhibitory effect that is very similar to that of Sema3A and is not seen with animal-type ceramides. While, it has been unclear whether kCer may act on Sema3A or TrkA signaling pathway. In the present study, we showed kCer induces phosphorylation of CRMP2 and microtubules depolymerization via Sema3A signaling pathway not TrkA. It is concluded that kCer may be a potential Sema3A-like agonist that activates Sema3A signaling pathway directly.

Potential Applications of Phyto-Derived Ceramides in Improving Epidermal Barrier Function

The outer most layer of the skin, the stratum corneum, consists of corneocytes which are coated by a cornified envelope and embedded in a lipid matrix of ordered lamellar structure. It is responsible for the skin barrier function. Ceramides (CERs) are the backbone of the intercellular lipid membranes. Skin diseases such as atopic dermatitis and psoriasis and aged skin are characterized by dysfunctional skin barrier and dryness which are associated with reduced levels of CERs. Previously, the effectiveness of supplementation of synthetic and animal-based CERs in replenishing the depleted natural skin CERs and restoring the skin barrier function have been investigated. Recently, however, the barrier function improving effect of plant-derived CERs has attracted much attention. Phyto-derived CERs (phytoCERs) are preferable due to their assumed higher safety as they are mostly isolated from dietary sources. The beneficial effects of phytoCER-based oral dietary supplements for skin hydration and skin barrier reinforcement have been indicated in several studies involving animal models as well as human subjects. Ingestible dietary supplements containing phytoCERs are also widely available on the market. Nonetheless, little effort has been made to investigate the potential cosmetic applications of topically administered phytoCERs. Therefore, summarizing the foregoing investigations and identifying the gap in the scientific data on plant-derived CERs intended for skin-health benefits are of paramount importance. In this review, an attempt is made to synthesize the information available in the literature regarding the effects of phytoCER-based oral dietary supplements on skin hydration and barrier function with the underlying mechanisms.

Transcriptional modulation of SLC26A3 (DRA) by sphingosine-1-phosphate

SLC26A3 or Downregulated in adenoma (DRA) is the major Cl(-)/HCO3 (-) exchanger involved in electroneutral NaCl absorption in the mammalian intestine. Alterations in DRA function and expression have been implicated in diarrheal diseases associated with inflammation or infection. Therefore, agents that upregulate DRA activity may serve as potential antidiarrheals. In this regard, sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P), a member of the bioactive sphingolipid family, has been shown to modulate various cellular processes including improvement of intestinal barrier function. However, the role of S1P in modulating intestinal chloride absorption by regulating DRA is not known. Therefore, the present studies were designed to examine the direct effects of S1P on apical Cl(-)/HCO3 (-) exchange activity and DRA expression. S1P significantly increased Cl(-)/HCO3 (-) exchange activity and also significantly increased DRA mRNA and protein expression. Increased DRA mRNA by S1P was accompanied by enhanced DRA promoter activity, indicating involvement of transcriptional mechanisms. The specific S1P receptor subtype-2 (S1PR2) antagonist JTE-013 blocked the stimulatory effects of S1P on DRA promoter activity, indicating the involvement of S1PR2 S1P-mediated increase in DRA promoter activity involved PI3K/Akt pathway. Progressive deletions of the DRA promoter indicated that the putative S1P-responsive elements are present in the -790/-398 region of the DRA promoter. Furthermore, results obtained from electrophoretic mobility shift assay showed that S1P stimulated DRA promoter activity via increased binding of Ying-Yang1 (YY1) in the S1P-responsive region. In conclusion, transcriptional modulation of DRA expression and function in response to S1P through a PI3/Akt pathway represents a novel role of S1P as a potential proabsorptive agent.

Characterization of glycosphingolipid epimers by radical-directed dissociation mass spectrometry

Radical chemistry can efficiently distinguish isomers varying in position at a single alcohol.

Chemoenzymatically prepared konjac ceramide inhibits NGF-induced neurite outgrowth by a semaphorin 3A-like action

Dietary sphingolipids such as glucosylceramide (GlcCer) are potential nutritional factors associated with prevention of metabolic syndrome. Our current understanding is that dietary GlcCer is degraded to ceramide and further metabolized to sphingoid bases in the intestine. However, ceramide is only found in trace amounts in food plants and thus is frequently taken as GlcCer in a health supplement. In the present study, we successfully prepared konjac ceramide (kCer) using endoglycoceramidase I (EGCase I). Konjac, a plant tuber, is an enriched source of GlcCer (kGlcCer), and has been commercialized as a dietary supplement to improve dry skin and itching that are caused by a deficiency of epidermal ceramide. Nerve growth factor (NGF) produced by skin cells is one of the itch factors in the stratum corneum of the skin. Semaphorin 3A (Sema 3A) has been known to inhibit NGF-induced neurite outgrowth of epidermal nerve fibers. It is well known that the itch sensation is regulated by the balance between NGF and Sema 3A. In the present study, while kGlcCer did not show an in vitro inhibitory effect on NGF-induced neurite outgrowth of PC12 cells, kCer was demonstrated to inhibit a remarkable neurite outgrowth. In addition, the effect of kCer was similar to that of Sema 3A in cell morphological changes and neurite retractions, but different from C2-Ceramide. kCer showed a Sema 3A-like action, causing CRMP2 phosphorylation, which results in a collapse of neurite growth cones. Thus, it is expected that kCer is an advanced konjac ceramide material that may have neurite outgrowth-specific action to relieve uncontrolled and serious itching, in particular, from atopic eczema.

Analytical methods in sphingolipidomics: Quantitative and profiling approaches in food analysis

In recent years, sphingolipidomics has emerged as an interesting omic science that encompasses the study of the full sphingolipidome characterization, content, structure and activity in cells, tissues or organisms. Like other omics, it has the potential to impact biomarker discovery, drug development and systems biology knowledge. Concretely, dietary food sphingolipids have gained considerable importance due to their extensively reported bioactivity. Because of the complexity of this lipid family and their diversity among foods, powerful analytical methodologies are needed for their study. The analytical tools developed in the past have been improved with the enormous advances made in recent years in mass spectrometry (MS) and chromatography, which allow the convenient and sensitive identification and quantitation of sphingolipid classes and form the basis of current sphingolipidomics methodologies. In addition, novel hyphenated nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) strategies, new ionization strategies, and MS imaging are outlined as promising technologies to shape the future of sphingolipid analyses. This review traces the analytical methods of sphingolipidomics in food analysis concerning sample extraction, chromatographic separation, the identification and quantification of sphingolipids by MS and their structural elucidation by NMR.

4,8-Sphingadienine and 4-hydroxy-8-sphingenine activate ceramide production in the skin

Background

Ingestion of glucosylceramide improves transepidermal water loss (TEWL) from the skin, but the underlying mechanism by which a small amount of dietary glucosylceramide can vastly improve skin conditions remains unclear. In a previous report, glucosylceramides were shown to be digested to sphingoids, which were shown to be absorbed through the intestinal epithelium. Based on these observations, we hypothesized that sphingoids are the key molecules facilitating endogenous ceramide production. In this study, we assessed the effect of 4,8-sphingadienine (d18:2) and 4-hydroxy-8-sphingenine (t18:1), derived from konjac glucosylceramide, on stimulating ceramide production.

Methods

Konjac glucosylceramide acidolysis was performed using hydrochloric acid; the resulting d18:2 and t18:1 were fractionated by column chromatography. Real-time quantitative RT-PCR was performed to assess the effect of d18:2 and t18:1 on gene expression in normal human epidermal keratinocytes, while their effect on the nuclear receptor, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)γ, was measured using a receptor-cofactor assay system. The effect of d18:2 and t18:1 on stimulating ceramide production was evaluated using HPTLC analysis in a 3-dimensional human skin model.

Results

We noted the upregulation of genes related to de novo ceramide synthesis as well as of those encoding the elongases of very long-chain fatty acids by d18:2 and t18:1, but not by glucosylceramide and 4-sphingenine. Both these sphingoids also facilitated the expression of PPARβ/δ and PPARγ; moreover, they also demonstrated ligand activity for PPARγ. These results indicated that d18:2 and t18:1 promote the differentiation of keratinocytes. Analysis of the lipids within the 3-dimensional human skin model indicated that treatment with d18:2 and t18:1 not only upregulated gene expression but also increased ceramide production.

Conclusions

The sphingoids d18:2 and t18:1 activated genes related to de novo ceramide synthesis and increased ceramide production, whereas glucosylceramide and 4-sphingenine could not. These results suggest that the effect of dietary glucosylceramides on the skin is mediated by d18:2 and t18:1.

Characterization of sphingolipids from sunflower seeds with altered fatty acid composition

Sphingolipids are a group of lipids that are derived from long-chain 1,3-dihydroxy-2-amino bases and that are involved in important processes in plants. Long-chain bases are usually found bound to long-chain fatty acids forming ceramides, the lipophilic moiety of the most common sphingolipid classes found in plant tissues: glucosyl-ceramides and glucosyl inositol phosphoryl-ceramides (GIPCs). The developing sunflower seed kernel is a tissue rich in sphingolipids, although, importantly, its glycerolipid composition can vary if some steps of the fatty acid synthesis are altered. Here, the sphingolipid composition of the seed from different sunflower mutants with altered fatty acid compositions was studied. The long-chain base composition and content were analyzed, and it was found to be similar in all of the mutants studied. The sphingolipid species were also determined by mass spectrometry, and some differences were found in highly saturated sunflower mutants, which contained higher levels of GIPC, ceramides, and hydroxyl-ceramides.

Sphingoid long-chain base composition of glucosylceramides in Fabaceae: a phylogenetic interpretation of Fabeae

The sphingoid long-chain base (LCB) composition of glucosylceramides was characterized in 31 species of Fabaceae including the model legumes Lotus japonicus and Medicago truncatula. With the exception of Lupinus texensis L, the 8-trans/cis-unsaturated isomers of 4-hydroxy-8-sphingenines [i.e., t18:1 (8t) plus t18:1 (8c)] were the major components in each species. In tribe Fabeae, each species from four genera--Pisum, Lathyrus, Lens, and Vicia--showed that more than 50% of dihydroxy sphingoid LCBs are 8-sphingenines [i.e., d18:1 (8t) plus d18:1 (8c)]. These results suggest that the sphingoid LCB composition of glucosylceramides reflects the phylogenetic relationships within the Fabeae.

Analysis of sphingolipids in potatoes (Solanum tuberosum L.) and sweet potatoes (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.) by reversed phase high-performance liquid chromatography electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-ESI-MS/MS)

Ceramides and glucocerebrosides of potatoes (Solanum tuberosum L.) and sweet potatoes (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.) were analyzed using RP-HPLC-ESI-MS/MS. Ceramides and glucocerebrosides containing the three different long-chain bases 4,8-sphingadienine (d18:2(delta4,delta8)), 4-hydroxy-8-sphingenine (t18:1(delta8)), and 8-sphingenine (d18:1(delta8)) acylated to saturated and unsaturated hydroxy- and nonhydroxy fatty acids with 16-26 carbon atoms were detected. For ceramides and glucocerebrosides 4,8-sphingadienine (d18:2(delta4,delta8)) was found as the major long-chain base, with lesser amounts of 4-hydroxy-8-sphingenine (t18:1(delta8)) and 8-sphingenine (d18:1(delta8)). 2-(Alpha-)hydroxypalmitic acid (C16:0h) was the major fatty acid, which was found to be acylated to the long-chain bases. For quantification of these compounds, an RP-HPLC-ESI-MS/MS method with an "echo-peak"-technique simulating internal standard injection was developed. The analyzed samples of potatoes and sweet potatoes showed amounts of approximately 0.1-8 microg/kg single ceramides and amounts up to 500 microg/kg glucocerebrosides, with C16:0h-glucosyl-4,8-sphingadienine as the major component.

Effect of seed development stage on sphingolipid and phospholipid contents in soybean seeds

Glucosylceramide (GlcCer) and ceramide (Cer) are the predominant sphingolipids (SL) in soybeans. They have been recognized as functional components in plants and may have health benefits for humans. The objective of this study was to evaluate the changes in SL and phospholipid (PL) contents that occurred during seed development. Soybean seeds of three cultivars (IA1008, IA1010, and IA1014) were harvested at 5-day intervals from 28 days after flowering (DAF) to 68 DAF (mature seed). SL and PL contents of seeds were quantified using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with an evaporative light scattering detector (ELSD). SL and PL contents decreased significantly during seed development. Averaged across cultivars, Cer content on a dry weight basis decreased from 51.4 nmol/g at 28 DAF to 22.2 nmol/g at 68 DAF, whereas GlcCer content decreased from 522.8 nmol/g at 28 DAF to 135.8 nmol/g at 68 DAF. PL percentage of the total lipid decreased from 9.1% at 28 DAF to 3.5% at 68 DAF.

HPLC quantification of sphingolipids in soybeans with modified palmitate content

Efficient separation and accurate quantification of sphingolipids (SL) are important for studying SL concentrations and biological functions. The objectives of this study were to develop effective methods for the separation and quantification of SL and to determine the relationship between palmitate and SL contents of mature soybean seeds. Methods using column chromatography and high-performance liquid chromatography-evaporative light scattering detector (HPLC-ELSD) were developed to separate and quantify glucosylceramide (GlcCer) and ceramide (Cer) in 15 soybeans lines in which palmitate content ranged from 3.7 to 40.7%. There were significant differences among the lines for GlcCer (83.4-397.6 nmol/g) and major Cer contents (8.4-20.7 nmol/g) on a dry weight basis. The correlations of palmitate content with GlcCer and Cer concentrations were not significant. The results indicated that the palmitate content of soybean seed did not affect their GlcCer and Cer contents. Genetic factors other than those that control palmitate content seemed to be responsible for the variation among soybean lines for GlcCer and Cer contents.

Separation and identification of major plant sphingolipid classes from leaves

Sphingolipids are major components of the plasma membrane, tonoplast, and other endomembranes of plant cells. Previous compositional analyses have focused only on individual sphingolipid classes because of the widely differing polarities of plant sphingolipids. Consequently, the total content of sphingolipid classes in plants has yet to be quantified. In addition, the major polar sphingolipid class in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana has not been previously determined. In this report, we describe the separation and quantification of sphingolipid classes from A. thaliana leaves using hydrolysis of sphingolipids and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis of o-phthaldialdehyde derivatives of the released long-chain bases to monitor the separation steps. An extraction solvent that contained substantial proportions of water was used to solubilized >95% of the sphingolipids from leaves. Neutral and charged sphingolipids were then partitioned by anion exchange solid phase extraction. HPLC analysis of the charged lipid fraction from A. thaliana revealed only one major anionic sphingolipid class, which was identified by mass spectrometry as hexose-hexuronic-inositolphosphoceramide. The neutral sphingolipids were predominantly composed of monohexosylceramide with lesser amounts of ceramides. Extraction and separation of sphingolipids from soybean and tomato showed that, like A. thaliana, the neutral sphingolipids consisted of ceramide and monohexosylceramides; however, the major polar sphingolipid was found to be N-acetyl-hexosamine-hexuronic-inositolphosphoceramide. In extracts from A. thaliana leaves, hexosehexuronic-inositolphosphoceramides, monohexosylceramides, and ceramides accounted for approximately 64, 34, and 2% of the total sphingolipids, respectively, suggesting an important role for the anionic sphingolipids in plant membranes.

Presence of glucosylceramide in yeast and its relation to alkali tolerance of yeast

Glycosylceramide is a membrane lipid that has physiological functions in eukaryotic organisms. The presence of glucosylceramide has been confirmed in some yeast; however, the extent of the role of glucosylceramide in yeast is unknown. Thus, the extent of presence of glucosylceramide in yeast was surveyed using 90 strains of 24 genera. The strains were divided into two groups according to whether they had glucosylceramide (45 strains) or not (45 strains). The distribution of the ceramide glucosyltransferase gene (EC 2.4.1.80), which catalyzes glucosylation to a sphingoid lipid in glucosylceramide synthesis, and the phylogenetic classification of the strains were in agreement with those of glucosylceramide. Thus, the presence of glucosylceramide in yeast was caused by the presence of the gene involved in glucosylceramide synthesis and was closely associated with yeast evolution. Furthermore, the relationship between glucosylceramide presence and alkali tolerance of yeast was evaluated. The yeast with glucosylceramide tended to grow at higher pH, and a ceramide-glucosyltransferase-defective mutant from Kluyveromyces lactis did not grow at pH 8.5 even though the parent strain could grow under the same conditions. These results indicate that glucosylceramide in yeast might be a component that enables yeast to grow under alkali conditions.

Determination of glucosylceramide contents in crop tissues and by-products from their processing

Glucosylceramides were surveyed in crop tissues and by-products from their processing. Apple pulp contained the highest amount (0.94 mg g(-1)) of glucosylceramide and relatively less sterylglucoside, which is the major contaminant of partially purified glucosylceramide. Glucosylceramide from apple pulp was principally composed of 2-hydroxypalmitic acid as the fatty acid, 4-hydroxy-cis-8-sphingenine as the sphingoid base, and glucose as the hexose, similar to those of commercial preparations isolated from rice bran or wheat germ. Apple pulp may be an alternative source for the commercial production of glucosylceramides.

An introduction to plant sphingolipids and a review of recent advances in understanding their metabolism and function

Sphingolipids are ubiquitous constituents of eukaryotic cells, and have been intensively investigated in mammals and yeast for decades. Aspects of sphingolipid biochemistry in plants have been explored only recently. To date, progress has been made in determining the structure and occurrence of sphingolipids in plant tissues; in characterizing the enzymatic steps involved in production and turnover of sphingolipids (and, in some cases, the genes encoding the relevant enzymes); and in identifying a variety of biological functions for sphingolipids in plants. Given that these efforts are far from complete and much remains to be learned, this review represents a status report on the burgeoning field of plant sphingolipid biochemistry. Contents Summary 677 I. Introduction 678 II. Plant sphingolipid structure 678 III. Sphingolipid metabolism in plants 683 IV. Sphingolipid functions in plants 693 V. Conclusions 696 Acknowledgements 696 References 696.

Neutral ceramidase gene: role in regulating ceramide-induced apoptosis

The sphingolipid, ceramide, is a natural dietary constituent and a potent mediator of apoptosis. If left undegraded, it may induce apoptosis and cause disruption of cellular integrity. A potential mechanism to prevent ceramide-induced apoptosis in various organs may involve ceramidases that facilitate the degradation of ceramide. In this study, we first isolated and characterized the murine neutral ceramidase (N-CDase) gene, mapped its chromosomal location and determined its developmental and organ-specific expression. Then we used cultured mesangial cells as our in vitro model and mouse gastrointestinal (GI) tract as the in vivo model to determine the effects of an inhibitor of N-CDase, D-erythro-MAPP, to delineate whether N-CDase plays a role in preventing ceramide-induced apoptosis. Our results show that: (i) the structure of the murine neutral ceramidase gene is virtually identical to that of the human gene; (ii) it is localized on chromosome 19 at bands C2-C3 that is syntenic to human chromosome 10q24-26; (iii) N-CDase expression is developmentally regulated and it is expressed at high levels in cultured mesangial cells and in specific regions of the mouse small intestine; (iv) inhibition of N-CDase by D-erythro-MAPP leads to increased ceramide levels and consequent apoptosis in cultured mesangial cells; (v) mice treated with D-erythro-MAPP alone also caused apoptosis in the small intestine; and (vi) mice treated with D-erythro-MAPP prior to feeding C2 ceramide manifest markedly elevated levels of apoptosis in the GI tract raising the possibility that neutral ceramidase plays a detoxifying role against inadvertent stimulation of ceramide-induced apoptosis in organs that come in contact with this sphingolipid. We propose that N-CDase is an essential component of an innate detoxifying mechanism to prevent ceramide-induced apoptosis.

Plant sphingolipids: structural diversity, biosynthesis, first genes and functions

In mammals and Saccharomyces cerevisiae, sphingolipids have been a subject of intensive research triggered by the interest in their structural diversity and in mammalian pathophysiology as well as in the availability of yeast mutants and suppressor strains. More recently, sphingolipids have attracted additional interest, because they are emerging as an important class of messenger molecules linked to many different cellular functions. In plants, sphingolipids show structural features differing from those found in animals and fungi, and much less is known about their biosynthesis and function. This review focuses on the sphingolipid modifications found in plants and on recent advances in the functional characterization of genes gaining new insight into plant sphingolipid biosynthesis. Recent studies indicate that plant sphingolipids may be also involved in signal transduction, membrane stability, host-pathogen interactions and stress responses.

Cerebrosides from Longan Arillus

From the pulp of Euphoria longana (Longan Arillus), three cerebroside molecular species have been isolated. Six known cerebrosides, soyacerebrosides I and II, 1-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(2S,3R,4E,8E)-2-(2'-lignoceroylamino)-4,8-octadecadiene-1,3-diol (longan cerebroside I) and its 8Z isomer (longan cerebroside II), momor-cerebroside I, and phytolacca cerebroside, were identified as major components of these cerebroside molecular species. All the cerebrosides were shown to be a mixture of geometrical isomers (8E and 8Z) of sphingosine-type or phytosphingosine-type glucocerebrosides possessing 2-hydroxy fatty acids. The structures of these cerebrosides have been determined on the basis of chemical and spectroscopic evidence.

Existence of cerebroside in Saccharomyces kluyveri and its related species

Sphingolipids are ubiquitous compounds derived from ceramide that consist of a sphingoid long-chain base with a 2-amino group amide linked to fatty acid and are present in the membranes of many organisms. As a principal sphingolipid, Saccharomyces cerevisiae contains a free ceramide and its inositol-phosphorylated derivatives (acidic types) but not a neutral glycosylated ceramide, glucosylceramide (cerebroside), which usually appears in eukaryotic cells. When 31 strains accepted in the genera Saccharomyces, Torulaspora, Zygosaccharomyces, and Kluyveromyces were analyzed for sphingolipids, cerebrosides were found in S. kluyveri, Z. cidri, Z. fermentati, K. lactis, K. thermotolerans, and K. waltii. The cerebrosides of S. kluyveri and K. lactis included 9-methyl 4-trans, 8-trans-sphingadienine and its putative metabolic intermediates. A unique characteristic of S. kluyveri was the presence of a trihydroxy sphingoid base, which rarely occurs in fungal cerebrosides. A polymerase chain reaction with primers targeted to the glucosylceramide synthase gene of other microorganisms amplified the fragments of the expected size from S. kluyveri and K. lactis and further extended to the adjacent regions. The presumed protein of S. kluyveri had 54.4% similarity to that of K. lactis, higher than the glucosylceramide synthases from Candida albicans, Pichia pastoris, and other organisms. From these observations, the divergence of S. kluyveri from the lineage of K. lactis in their evolution is discussed.

Suppression of aberrant colonic crypt foci by synthetic sphingomyelins with saturated or unsaturated sphingoid base backbones

Supplementation of the diet of CF1 mice with sphingomyelin isolated from milk has been shown to reduce the number of aberrant crypt foci (ACF) and the appearance of colonic adenocarcinoma induced by 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (Schmelz et al., Cancer Res 56, 4936-4941, 1996). The objective of this study was to determine whether chemically synthesized sphingomyelin reduces the appearance of ACF, one of the earliest morphological changes in the development of colonic tumors, and to investigate the specificity of this inhibition for the unsaturated sphingoid base backbone. 1,2-Dimethylhydrazine was administered intraperitoneally to female CF1 mice, then the animals were fed a semipurified AIN 76A diet without supplementation (controls) or supplemented with 0.1% (wt/wt) sphingomyelin isolated from skim milk powder, synthetic N-palmitoylsphingomyelin, or N-palmitoyldihydrosphingomyelin for four weeks. The number of ACF in the sphingomyelin-fed groups was significantly lower than in the control by 54% (p = 0.002), 52% (p = 0.002), and 70% (p < 0.0001) for milk sphingomyelin, synthetic sphingomyelin, and synthetic dihydrosphingomyelin, respectively. Suppression of ACF by the synthetic dihydrosphingomyelin was significantly greater than by synthetic sphingomyelin (p = 0.035). These findings establish that sphingomyelin, and not merely a possible contaminant of the naturally occurring sphingomyelin preparation used previously, suppresses ACF formation. Furthermore, the greater potency of dihydrosphingomyelin reveals that the 4,5-trans double bond of the sphingoid backbone is not required for this suppression.

Structure determination of soybean and wheat glucosylceramides by tandem mass spectrometry

Glucosylceramide (GluCer) is a major sphingolipid of plant tissue and, thus, abundant in nature and in dietary food sources. The lipid backbones of mammalian GluCer (sphingosine, d18:1(delta4), and ceramide) induce cell death (apoptosis) and inhibit colon carcinogenesis, it is critical to know the structures of GluCer present in plants as a first step toward understanding this potential link between diet and cancer. This study characterized the molecular species of GluCer from soybean and wheat by low-resolution, high-resolution and tandem mass spectrometry. Soybean GluCer was comprised primarily (>95%) of ceramide with 4,8-sphingadiene (d18:2(delta4,delta8)) and alpha-hydroxypalmitic acid (h16:0); the remainder had the same backbone with h18:0, h20:0, h22:0 and h24:0 fatty acids. Wheat GluCer had three major ceramide, d18:2(delta4,delta8) with h16:0, d18:1(delta8) with h16:0 and d18: 2(delta4,delta8) with h20:0, and smaller amounts of other homologs. These backbones differ from those of mammalian sphingolipids, which often have a delta4-double bond (but rarely a delta8-double bond), and have alpha-hydroxy fatty acids in only some cases. Previously unexplained fragmentations that were diagnostic for the type of sphingoid base backbone (i.e. by homolytic cleavage of the doubly allylic C-6-C-7 bond to yield a stable distonic allylic radical cation and an allylic radical neutral) were also identified. Hence this method should be useful in the identification of double bonds in sphingolipids, and structure-function relationships between sphingolipids and colon carcinogenesis.

Sphingolipids in food and the emerging importance of sphingolipids to nutrition

Eukaryotic organisms as well as some prokaryotes and viruses contain sphingolipids, which are defined by a common structural feature, i.e. , a "sphingoid base" backbone such as D-erythro-1,3-dihydroxy, 2-aminooctadec-4-ene (sphingosine). The sphingolipids of mammalian tissues, lipoproteins, and milk include ceramides, sphingomyelins, cerebrosides, gangliosides and sulfatides; plants, fungi and yeast have mainly cerebrosides and phosphoinositides. The total amounts of sphingolipids in food vary considerably, from a few micromoles per kilogram (fruits) to several millimoles per kilogram in rich sources such as dairy products, eggs and soybeans. With the use of the limited data available, per capita sphingolipid consumption in the United States can be estimated to be on the order of 150-180 mmol (approximately 115-140 g) per year, or 0.3-0.4 g/d. There is no known nutritional requirement for sphingolipids; nonetheless, they are hydrolyzed throughout the gastrointestinal tract to the same categories of metabolites (ceramides and sphingoid bases) that are used by cells to regulate growth, differentiation, apoptosis and other cellular functions. Studies with experimental animals have shown that feeding sphingolipids inhibits colon carcinogenesis, reduces serum LDL cholesterol and elevates HDL, suggesting that sphingolipids represent a "functional" constituent of food. Sphingolipid metabolism can also be modified by constituents of the diet, such as cholesterol, fatty acids and mycotoxins (fumonisins), with consequences for cell regulation and disease. Additional associations among diet, sphingolipids and health are certain to emerge as more is learned about these compounds.

Importance of sphingolipids and inhibitors of sphingolipid metabolism as components of animal diets

Sphingolipids are highly bioactive compounds that participate in the regulation of cell growth, differentiation, diverse cell functions, and apoptosis. They are present in both plant and animal foods in appreciable amounts, but little is known about their nutritional significance. Recent studies have shown that feeding sphingomyelin to female CF1 mice treated with a colon carcinogen (1,2-dimethylhydrazine) reduced the number of aberrant colonic crypt foci; longer-term feeding also affected the appearance of colonic adenocarcinomas. Therefore, dietary sphingolipids should be considered in studies of the relationships between diet and cancer. Sphingolipids have also surfaced as important factors in understanding the mechanism of action of a recently discovered family of mycotoxins, termed fumonisins. Fumonisins are produced by fungi commonly found on maize and a few related foods, and their consumption can result in equine leukoencephalomalacia, porcine pulmonary edema and a number of other diseases of veterinary animals and, perhaps, humans. A cellular target of fumonisins is the enzyme ceramide synthase, and disruption of sphingolipid metabolism by fumonisins has been established by studies with both cells in culture and animals that have consumed these toxic mycotoxins. These findings underscore the ways in which sphingolipids and agents that affect sphingolipid utilization should be given consideration in selecting animal diets for nutritional and toxicological studies.

Characterization of glucosylceramide from plasma membranes of plant root cells

Plasma membranes of oat root cells were isolated from intracellular membranes by subfractionation of the microsomal fraction using an aqueous polymer two-phase system. The plasma membranes originated from oat plants which were acclimated to dehydration by exposure to a repeated water-deficit stress program. Glucosylceramides was a major component of the plasma membrane lipids and amounted to 9% of the lipid of control plants and 5% of the lipid of acclimated plants. Structural analysis using FAB-MS showed only one type of glucosylceramides. The constituent monosaccharide was exclusively glucose and the sphingosine base was 4,8-sphingadienine. The fatty acid composition was determined to 24:1-OH, with only trace levels of non-hydroxy acids. The decrease in the level of glucosylceramides during acclimation to dehydration was accompanied by a corresponding decrease in phospholipids and increase in free sterols.