Purification of two lipases with high phospholipase A1 activity from guinea-pig pancreas

From Classical to Alternative Pathways of 2-Arachidonoylglycerol Synthesis: AlterAGs at the Crossroad of Endocannabinoid and Lysophospholipid Signaling

2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) is the most abundant endocannabinoid (EC), acting as a full agonist at both CB1 and CB2 cannabinoid receptors. It is synthesized on demand in postsynaptic membranes through the sequential action of phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase Cβ1 (PLCβ1) and diacylglycerol lipase α (DAGLα), contributing to retrograde signaling upon interaction with presynaptic CB1. However, 2-AG production might also involve various combinations of PLC and DAGL isoforms, as well as additional intracellular pathways implying other enzymes and substrates. Three other alternative pathways of 2-AG synthesis rest on the extracellular cleavage of 2-arachidonoyl-lysophospholipids by three different hydrolases: glycerophosphodiesterase 3 (GDE3), lipid phosphate phosphatases (LPPs), and two members of ecto-nucleotide pyrophosphatase/phosphodiesterases (ENPP6-7). We propose the names of AlterAG-1, -2, and -3 for three pathways sharing an ectocellular localization, allowing them to convert extracellular lysophospholipid mediators into 2-AG, thus inducing typical signaling switches between various G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). This implies the critical importance of the regioisomerism of both lysophospholipid (LPLs) and 2-AG, which is the object of deep analysis within this review. The precise functional roles of AlterAGs are still poorly understood and will require gene invalidation approaches, knowing that both 2-AG and its related lysophospholipids are involved in numerous aspects of physiology and pathology, including cancer, inflammation, immune defenses, obesity, bone development, neurodegeneration, or psychiatric disorders.

In situ monitoring of galactolipid digestion by infrared spectroscopy in both model micelles and spinach chloroplasts

Galactolipids are the main lipids from plant photosynthetic membranes and they can be digested by pancreatic lipase related protein 2 (PLRP2), an enzyme found in the pancreatic secretion in many animal species. Here, we used transmission Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) to monitor continuously the hydrolysis of galactolipids by PLRP2, in situ and in real time. The method was first developed with a model substrate, a synthetic monogalactosyl diacylglycerol with 8-carbon acyl chains (C8-MGDG), in the form of mixed micelles with a bile salt, sodium taurodeoxycholate (NaTDC). The concentrations of the residual substrate and reaction products (monogalactosylmonoglyceride, MGMG; monogalactosylglycerol, MGG; octanoic acid) were estimated from the carbonyl and carboxylate vibration bands after calibration with reference standards. The results were confirmed by thin layer chromatography analysis (TLC) and specific staining of galactosylated compounds with thymol and sulfuric acid. The method was then applied to the lipolysis of more complex substrates, a natural extract of MGDG with long acyl chains, micellized with NaTDC, and intact chloroplasts isolated from spinach leaves. After a calibration performed with α-linolenic acid, the main fatty acid (FA) found in plant galactolipids, FTIR allowed quantitative measurement of chloroplast lipolysis by PLRP2. A full release of FA from membrane galactolipids was observed, that was not dependent on the presence of bile salts. Nevertheless, the evolution of amide vibration band in FTIR spectra suggested the interaction of membrane proteins with NaTDC and lipolysis products.

Quantitative monitoring of galactolipid hydrolysis by pancreatic lipase-related protein 2 using thin layer chromatography and thymol-sulfuric acid derivatization

Galactolipids are the most abundant lipids on earth where they are mainly found in photosynthetic membranes of plant, algae, and cyanobacteria. Pancreatic lipase-related protein 2 (PLRP2) is an enzyme with galactolipase activity allowing mammals, especially herbivores, to digest this important source of fatty acids. We present a method for the quantitative analysis of galactolipids and galactosylated products resulting from their digestion by guinea pig PLRP2 (GPLRP2), using thin-layer-chromatography (TLC), thymol-sulfuric acid as derivatization reagent and scanning densitometry for detection. Thymol-sulfuric acid reagent has been used for the colorimetric detection of carbohydrates. It is shown here that the derivatization of galactosyl group from galactolipids by this reagent is not affected by the bound acyl glycerol, acyl chains length and number of galactose residues in the polar head. This allowed quantifying simultaneously the initial substrate and all galactosylated products generated upon the hydrolysis of monogalactosyl di-octanoylglycerol (C8-MGDG) by GPLRP2 using a single calibration with C8-MGDG as reference standard. The reaction products, monogalactosyl monooctanoyl glycerol (C8-MGMG) and monogalactosyl glycerol (MGG), were identified and quantified, MGG being recovered from the aqueous phase and analyzed by a separate TLC analysis. This method is therefore suitable to quantify the products resulting from the release of both fatty acids present in MGDG and thereby shows that PLRP2 can contribute to the complete digestion of galactolipids and further intestinal absorption of their fatty acids.

A continuous spectrophotometric assay that distinguishes between phospholipase A1 and A2 activities

A new spectrophotometric assay was developed to measure, continuously and specifically, phospholipase A1 (PLA1) or phospholipase A2 (PLA2) activities using synthetic glycerophosphatidylcholines (PCs) containing α-eleostearic acid, either at the sn-1 position [1-α-eleostearoyl-2-octadecyl-rac-glycero-3-phosphocholine (EOPC)] or at the sn-2 position [1-octadecyl-2-α-eleostearoyl-rac-glycero-3-phosphocholine (OEPC)]. The substrates were coated onto the wells of microtiter plates. A nonhydrolyzable ether bond, with a non-UV-absorbing alkyl chain, was introduced at the other sn position to prevent acyl chain migration during lipolysis. Upon enzyme action, α-eleostearic acid is liberated and then solubilized into the micellar phase. The PLA1 or PLA2 activity was measured by the increase in absorbance at 272 nm due to the transition of α-eleostearic acid from the adsorbed to the soluble state. EOPC and OEPC differentiate, with excellent accuracy, between PLA1 and PLA2 activity. Lecitase(®), guinea pig pancreatic lipase-related protein 2 (known to be a PLA1 enzyme), bee venom PLA2, and porcine pancreatic PLA2 were all used to validate the assay. Compared with current assays used for continuously measuring PLA1 or PLA2 activities and/or their inhibitors, the development of this sensitive enzymatic method, using coated PC substrate analogs to natural lipids and based on the UV spectroscopic properties of α-eleostearic acid, is a significant improvement.

Forty five years with membrane phospholipids, phospholipases and lipid mediators: A historical perspective

Phospholipases play a key role in the metabolism of phospholipids and in cell signaling. They are also a very useful tool to explore phospholipid structure and metabolism as well as membrane organization. They are at the center of this review, covering a period starting in 1971 and focused on a number of subjects in which my colleagues and I have been involved. Those include determination of phospholipid asymmetry in the blood platelet membrane, biosynthesis of lysophosphatidic acid, biochemistry of platelet-activating factor, first attempts to define the role of phosphoinositides in cell signaling, and identification of novel digestive (phospho)lipases such as pancreatic lipase-related protein 2 (PLRP2) or phospholipase B. Besides recalling some of our contributions to those various fields, this review makes an appraisal of the impressive and often unexpected evolution of those various aspects of membrane phospholipids and lipid mediators. It is also the occasion to propose some new working hypotheses.

The lipolytic enzymes activities of Malassezia species

Malassezia yeasts are part of the cutaneous microflora commonly found on animals and human and may sometimes cause various opportunistic skin diseases. As most of Malassezia species show lipid-dependency, lipolytic enzymes such as lipase and phospholipase are necessary for them to obtain useful lipids from the environment. Consequently, these enzymes are thought to play an important role in the growth and pathogenicity of Malassezia. Here we analyze and compare extracellular lipase and phospholipase activities of several Malassezia species cultivated under common growth conditions. M. globosa showed the highest lipase activity of all of the Malassezia species included in our studies. The lipid-independent M. pachydermatis also showed high lipase and phospholipase activity. These results indicate that this Malassezia species are capable of utilizing lipids well in contrast to the other lipid-dependent species of the genus. Our data suggest that lipase may be a pathogenic factor in the skin disease associated with Malassezia and provide an explanation as to why M. globosa is an important pathogenic species in several human skin diseases despite its slow rate of growth.

Role of the structural domains in the functional properties of pancreatic lipase-related protein 2

Although structurally similar, classic pancreatic lipase (PL) and pancreatic lipase-related protein (PLRP)2, expressed in the pancreas of several species, differ in substrate specificity, sensitivity to bile salts and colipase dependence. In order to investigate the role of the two domains of PLRP2 in the function of the protein, two chimeric proteins were designed by swapping the N and C structural domains between the horse PL (Nc and Cc domains) and the horse PLRP2 (N2 and C2 domains). NcC2 and N2Cc proteins were expressed in insect cells, purified by one-step chromatography, and characterized. NcC2 displays the same specific activity as PL, whereas N2Cc has the same as that PLRP2. In contrast to N2Cc, NcC2 is highly sensitive to interfacial denaturation. The lipolytic activity of both chimeric proteins is inhibited by bile salts and is not restored by colipase. Only N2Cc is found to be a strong inhibitor of PL activity, due to competition for colipase binding. Active site-directed inhibition experiments demonstrate that activation of N2Cc occurs in the presence of bile salt and does not require colipase, as does PLRP2. The inability of PLRP2 to form a high-affinity complex with colipase is only due to the C-terminal domain. Indeed, the N-terminal domain can interact with the colipase. PLRP2 properties such as substrate selectivity, specific activity, bile salt-dependent activation and interfacial stability depend on the nature of the N-terminal domain.

Scorpion digestive lipase: A member of a new invertebrate's lipase group presenting novel characteristics

Unlike classical digestive lipases, the scorpion digestive lipase (SDL) has a strong basic character. The SDL activity's optimal pH, when using tributyrin or olive oil as substrate, was 9.0. Added to that, the estimated isoelectric point of the native SDL using the electrofocusing technique, was found to be higher than 9.6. To our knowledge, this is the first report of an animal digestive lipase having such a basic character. When olive oil was used as substrate, SDL was shown to be insensitive to the presence of amphiphilic proteins such as bovine serum albumin (BSA). Furthermore, the hydrolysis was found to be specifically dependent on the presence of Ca(2+) ions, since no significant SDL activity was detected in the presence of ions chelator such as EDTA. Nevertheless, the SDL does not require Ca(2+) to trigger the hydrolysis of tributyrin emulsion. Interestingly Zn(2+) and Cu(2+) ions act as strong inhibitors of SDL activity when using tributyrin as substrate. An internal chymotryptic cleavage of SDL generated two fragments of 28 and 25 kDa having the same N-terminal sequence. This sequence of 19 residues does not share any homology with known animal and microbial lipases. Polyclonal antibodies directed against SDL (pAbs anti-SDL) failed to recognise ostrich pancreatic and dog gastric lipases (OPL and rDGL). Moreover, both pAbs anti-OPL and anti-rDGL failed to immunoreact with SDL. These immunological as well as distinct biochemical properties strengthen the idea that SDL appears to belong to a new invertebrate's lipase group.

Pancreatic lipase and pancreatic lipase-related protein 2, but not pancreatic lipase-related protein 1, hydrolyze retinyl palmitate in physiological conditions

The major sources of vitamin A in the human diet are retinyl esters (mainly retinyl palmitate) and provitamin A carotenoids. It has been shown that classical pancreatic lipase (PL) is involved in the luminal hydrolysis of retinyl palmitate (RP), but it is not known whether pancreatic lipase-related proteins 1 (PLRP1) and 2 (PLRP2), two other lipases recovered in the human pancreatic juice, are also involved. The aim of this study was to assess whether RP acts a substrate for these lipase-related proteins. Pure horse PL, horse PLRP2 and dog PLRP1 were incubated with RP solubilized in its physiological vehicles, i.e., triglyceride-rich lipid droplets, mixed micelles and vesicles. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used to assess RP hydrolysis by the free retinol released in the incubation medium. Incubation of RP-containing emulsions with horse PL and colipase resulted in RP hydrolysis (0.051+/-0.01 micromol/min/mg). This hydrolysis was abolished when colipase was not added to the medium. PLRP2 and PLRP1 were unable to hydrolyze RP solubilized in emulsions, regardless of whether colipase was added to the medium. PL hydrolyzed RP solubilized in mixed micelles as well (0.074+/-0.014 micromol/min/mg). Again, this hydrolysis was abolished in the absence of colipase. PLRP2 hydrolyzed RP solubilized in micelles but less efficiently than PL (0.023+/-0.005 micromol/min/mg). Colipase had no effect on this hydrolysis. PLRP1 was unable to hydrolyze RP solubilized in micelles, regardless of whether colipase was present or absent. Both PL and PLRP2 hydrolyzed RP solubilized in a vesicle rich-solution, and a synergic phenomenon between the two lipases was enlighten. Taken together, these results show that (1) PL hydrolyzes RP whether RP is solubilized in emulsions or in mixed micelles, (2) PLRP2 hydrolyzes RP only when RP is solubilized in mixed micelles, and (3) PLRP1 is unable to hydrolyze RP regardless of whether RP is solubilized in emulsions or in mixed micelles.

Characterization of pancreatic lipase-related protein 2 isolated from human pancreatic juice

Human pancreatic lipase-related protein 2 (HPLRP2) was identified for the first time in pancreatic juice using specific anti-peptide antibodies and purified to homogeneity. Antibodies were raised in the rabbit using a synthetic peptide from the HPLRP2 protein sequence deduced from cDNA. Western blotting analysis showed that these antibodies did not react with classical human pancreatic lipase (HPL) or human pancreatic lipase-related protein 1 (HPLRP1) but cross-reacted with native rat PLRP2 (RPLRP2), as well as with recombinant rat and guinea-pig PLRP2 (GPLRP2). Immunoaffinity chromatography was performed on immobilized anti-recombinant HPLRP2 polyclonal antibodies to purify native HPLRP2 after conventional chromatographic steps including gel filtration and chromatrography on an anion-exchanger. The substrate specificity of HPLRP2 was investigated using various triglycerides, phospholipids and galactolipids as substrates. The lipase activity on triglycerides was inhibited by bile salts and weakly restored by colipase. The phospholipase activity of HPLRP2 on phospholipid micelles was very low. A significant level of galactolipase activity was measured using monogalactosyldiglyceride monomolecular films. These data suggest that the main physiological function of HPLRP2 is the hydrolysis of galactolipids, which are the main lipids present in vegetable food.

Lipase-catalysed hydrolysis of short-chain substrates in solution and in emulsion: a kinetic study

We have studied the enzymatic hydrolysis of solutions and emulsions of vinyl propionate, vinyl butyrate and tripropionin by lipases of various origin and specificity. Kinetic studies of the hydrolysis of short-chain substrates by microbial triacylglycerol lipases from Rhizopus oryzae, Mucor miehei, Candida rugosa, Candida antarctica A and by (phospho)lipase from guinea-pig pancreas show that these lipolytic enzymes follow the Michaelis-Menten model. Surprisingly, the activity against solutions of tripropionin and vinyl esters ranges from 70% to 90% of that determined against emulsions. In contrast, a non-hyperbolic (sigmoidal) dependence of enzyme activity on ester concentration is found with human pancreatic lipase, triacylglycerol lipase from Humicola lanuginosa (Thermomyces lanuginosa) and partial acylglycerol lipase from Penicillium camembertii and the same substrates. In all cases, no abrupt jump in activity (interfacial activation) is observed at substrate concentration corresponding to the solubility limit of the esters. Maximal lipolytic activity is always obtained in the presence of emulsified ester. Despite progress in the understanding of structure-function of lipases, interpretation of the mode of action of lipases active against solutions of short-chain substrates remains difficult. Actually, it is not known whether these enzymes, which possess a lid structure, are in open or/and closed conformation in the bulk phase and whether the opening of the lid that gives access to the catalytic triad is triggered by interaction of the enzyme molecule with monomeric substrates or/and multimolecular aggregates (micelles) both present in the bulk phase. From the comparison of the behaviour of lipases used in this study which, in some cases, follow the Michaelis-Menten model and, in others, deviate from classical kinetics, it appears that the activity of classical lipases against soluble short-chain vinyl esters and tripropionin depends not only on specific interaction with single substrate molecules at the catalytic site of the enzyme but also on physico-chemical parameters related to the state of association of the substrate dispersed in the aqueous phase. It is assumed that the interaction of lipase with soluble multimolecular aggregates of tripropionin or short-chain vinyl esters or the formation of enzyme-substrate mixed micelles with ester bound to lipase, might represent a crucial step that triggers the structural transition to the open enzyme conformation by displacement of the lid.

Structural basis for the substrate selectivity of pancreatic lipases and some related proteins

The classical human pancreatic lipase (HPL), the guinea pig pancreatic lipase-related protein 2 (GPLRP2) and the phospholipase A1 from hornet venom (DolmI PLA1) illustrate three interesting steps in the molecular evolution of the pancreatic lipase gene family towards different substrate selectivities. Based on the known 3D structures of HPL and a GPLRP2 chimera, as well as the modeling of DolmI PLA1, we review here the structural features and the kinetic properties of these three enzymes for a better understanding of their structure-function relationships. HPL displays significant activity only on triglycerides, whereas GPLRP2 displays high phospholipase and galactolipase activities, together with a comparable lipase activity. GPLRP2 shows high structural homology with HPL with the exception of the lid domain which is made of five amino acid residues (mini-lid) instead of 23 in HPL. The lid domain deletion in GPLRP2 allows the free access to the active site and reduces the steric hindrance towards large substrates, such as galactolipids. The role of the lid domain in substrate selectivity has been investigated by site-directed mutagenesis and the substitution of HPL and GPLRP2 lid domains. The addition of a large-size lid domain in GPLRP2 increases the substrate selectivity for triglycerides by depressing the phospholipase activity. The phospholipase activity is, however, not induced in the case of the HPL mutant with GPLRP2 mini-lid. Therefore, the presence of a full-length lid domain is not the unique structural feature explaining the absence of phospholipase activity in HPL. The 3D structure of the GPLRP2 chimera and the model of DolmI PLA1 reveal a higher hydrophilic/lipophilic balance (HLB) of the surface loops (beta5 loop, beta9 loop, lid domain) surrounding the active site, as compared to the homologous loops in HPL. This observation provides a potential explanation for the ability of GPLRP2 and DolmI PLA1 to hydrolyze polar lipids, such as phospholipids. In conclusion, the beta5 loop, the beta9 loop, and the lid domain play an essential role in substrate selectivity towards triglycerides, phospholipids and galactolipids.

Pancreatic lipase-related protein 1 (PLRP1) is present in the pancreatic juice of several species

Pancreatic lipase-related protein 1 (PLRP1) was purified from human, canine, porcine and rat pancreatic juices. The four PLRP1s were identified using microsequencing methods after performing gel filtration on Ultrogel AcA-54 followed by chromatography on Heparin-Sepharose cation-exchanger. Polyclonal antibodies specific to human PLRP1 (HPLRP1) were raised in the rabbit using a synthetic decapeptide from HPLRP1. The results of Western blotting analysis showed that these antibodies recognized native HPLRP1 and recombinant HPLRP1 produced by insect cells, and cross-reacted only with rat PLRP1 (RPLRP1). No significant lipolytic activity was observed with native canine PLRP1 and recombinant HPLRP1 on various glycerides, phospholipid and vitamin esters, or on cholesterol esters. It was established for the first time that this protein is secreted in variable amounts by the adult exocrine pancreas of several species.

Ectopic epididymal expression of guinea pig intestinal phospholipase B. Possible role in sperm maturation and activation by limited proteolytic digestion

Guinea pig intestinal phospholipase B is a calcium-independent phospholipase hydrolyzing sequentially the acyl ester bonds at sn-2 and sn-1 positions of glycerophospholipids, promoting the formation of sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine from phosphatidylcholine. This 140-kDa glycoprotein from the brush border membrane of differentiated enterocytes contributes to lipid digestion as an ectoenzyme. The cDNA coding for guinea pig phospholipase B was revealed to be the homologue of AdRab-B, an mRNA appearing in rabbit upon intestine development. The sequence predicts a polypeptide of 1463 amino acids displaying four homologous repeats, two of them containing the lipase consensus sequence GXSXG. A 5-kilobase transcript was particularly abundant in mature ileal and jejunal enterocytes but was also detected in epididymis, where phospholipase B displayed a higher molecular mass (170 kDa versus 140 kDa in intestine), with no obvious evidence for enzyme activity. Trypsin treatment of phospholipase B immunoprecipitated from epididymal membranes reduced its size to 140 kDa, coinciding with the appearance of a significant phospholipase A2 activity. The same results were obtained in COS cells transfected with phospholipase B cDNA. Since sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine present at high concentrations in seminal plasma mainly stems from epididymis, this suggests a possible role of phospholipase B in male reproduction. This novel localization also unravels a mechanism of phospholipase B activation by limited proteolysis involving either trypsin in the intestinal lumen or a trypsin-like endopeptidase in the male reproductive tract.

A pancreatic lipase with a phospholipase A1 activity: crystal structure of a chimeric pancreatic lipase-related protein 2 from guinea pig

BACKGROUND

The guinea pig pancreatic lipase-related protein 2 (GPLRP2) differs from classical pancreatic lipases in that it displays both lipase and phospholipase A1 activities; classical pancreatic lipases have no phospholipase activity. The sequence of GPLRP2 is 63 % identical to that of human pancreatic lipase (HPL), but the so-called lid domain, is much reduced in GPLRP2. A phospholipase A1 from hornet venom (Dolml PLA1) is very similar to HPL and GPLRP2 but is devoid of lipase activity; Dolml PLA1 also contains a reduced lid domain and lacks a region termed the beta9 loop, which is located in the vicinity of the HPL and GPLRP2 active sites. The structure determination of a chimera of GPLRP2 and HPL and domain building of Dolml PLA1 were undertaken to gain a better understanding of the structural parameters responsible for the differences in lipase versus phospholipase activity among these structurally related enzymes.

RESULTS

The crystal structure of a chimeric mutant of GPLRP2, consisting of the catalytic domain of GPLRP2 and the C-terminal domain of HPL, has been solved and refined to 2.1 A resolution. This enzyme belongs to the alpha/beta hydrolase fold family and shows high structural homology with classical pancreatic lipases. The active site is closely related to those of serine esterases, except for an unusual geometry of the catalytic triad. Due to the reduced size of the lid domain, the catalytic serine is fully accessible to solvent. Part of the beta9 loop, which stabilizes the lid domain in the closed conformation of the classical HPL, is totally exposed to the solvent and is not visible in the electron-density map.

CONCLUSIONS

The structures of the related enzymes, GPLRP2 and HPL and the model of Dolml PLA1, provide insights into the role played by the loops located above the active site in controlling substrate selectivity towards triglycerides or phospholipids. In GPLRP2, the lid domain is reduced in size compared to HPL, and hydrophilic residues are exposed to solvent. GPLRP2 is thus able to accommodate the polar head of phospholipids. The beta9 loop is still present in GPLRP2, making it possible for this enzyme to still accommodate triglycerides. In Dolml PLA1, the beta9 loop is absent, and this enzyme is unable to process triglycerides retaining only the phospholipase A1 activity.

Pancreatic lipase-related protein 2 but not classical pancreatic lipase hydrolyzes galactolipids

The pancreatic lipase family contains three subfamilies, the 'classical' lipases and the pancreatic lipase-related proteins 1 (PLRP1) and 2 (PLRP2). Galactolipids are present in membranes of leaves and vegetables and consist of digalactosyldiacylglycerol (DGalDG) monogalactosyldiacylglycerol (MGalDG) and sulfoquinovosyldiacylglycerol (SQDG). These lipids were incubated with PLRP2 from guinea-pig (GPLRP2) and rat (RPLRP2). In the presence of bile salts DGalDG was efficiently hydrolyzed by GPLRP2 and, although less efficiently, by RPLRP2 to digalactosylmonoacylglycerol (DGalMG), free fatty acids and water-soluble galactose-containing compounds. Also, MGalDG and SQDG were hydrolyzed by GPLRP2 and RPLRP2. These data suggest a possible role of PLRP2 in the digestion of dietary galactolipids.

Cloning and expression in insect cells of two pancreatic lipases and a procolipase from Myocastor coypus

The physiological role of pancreatic lipases has traditionally been assigned solely to triacylglyceride metabolism, while the digestion of phospholipids requires the presence of the pancreatic phospholipase A2, a 14-kDa enzyme unrelated to pancreatic lipases. However, in the guinea pig, it was observed that the pancreatic phospholipase A2 was absent and that a guinea pig pancreatic-lipase-related protein 2 (GPL-RP2) was responsible for phospholipase activity, in contrast to the situation observed in other mammalian species. As the guinea pig is a member of the hystricomorph rodents, it was of interest to investigate if other species within this evolutionary suborder display similar characteristics. The coypu (Myocastor coypus) also a member of the hystricomorph rodents, was chosen for further investigations. The cDNAs encoding two pancreatic lipases and a procolipase from the coypu were cloned, expressed and characterized. One lipase, CoPL-RP2, was identified as belonging to the RP2 subfamily, while the second, CoPL, was found to belong to the classical pancreatic lipase subfamily. Enzymic characterization and sequence data suggest a role for coypu colipase as a specific cofactor for CoPL, while this coypu colipase cannot be an important cofactor for CoPL-RP2 in vivo. Also, the new lipase cDNA sequences were used in a phylogentic analysis to reinvestigate the taxonomical position of the hystricomorph rodents (e.g. coypu and guinea pig) with respect to the myomorph rodents (e.g. rat and mouse).

Cloning of the classical guinea pig pancreatic lipase and comparison with the lipase related protein 2

Starting from total pancreatic mRNAs, the classical guinea pig pancreatic lipase was cloned using rapid amplification of 3' and 5' cDNA ends. Internal oligonucleotide primers were designed from a partial cDNA clone including the region coding for the lid domain. Using this strategy, we did not amplify the cDNA corresponding to the pancreatic lipase related protein 2 in which the lid domain is deleted. Amino acid sequences of the classical guinea pig pancreatic lipase and the related protein 2 were compared based on the primary and tertiary structures of the classical human pancreatic lipase. Their distinct physiological roles are discussed in the light of functional amino acid differences.

Purification and characterization of guinea pig gastric phospholipase A2 of the pancreatic type

Guinea pig gastric mucosa and juice contained exceptionally high phospholipase-A2 activity, whereas the activity in the pancreas was only minimal. Phospholipases A2 were purified to homogeneity from these three tissues. Structural evidence, including the sequence of the NH2-terminal 41 residues, the amino-acid composition and the molecular mass (13902 +/- 3 Da) determined accurately by mass spectrometry, showed that the gastric mucosa enzyme belongs to the pancreatic type. An unique feature of the sequence is the substitution of Phe for the hitherto invariant Tyr28 in the calcium-binding loop of pancreatic phospholipases A2. The affinity of the guinea pig enzyme for Ca2+ in the presence of substrate was, however, identical to that of the rat enzyme with Tyr28, suggesting the interaction of a phenolic hydroxyl group of the Tyr with its neighboring residues is not significantly linked to the binding of Ca2+. The NH2-terminal sequences and immunochemical properties of the enzymes purified from the gastric juice and pancreas were identical to those of the gastric mucosa enzyme. The distribution of cells immunoreactive with anti-(gastric PLA2) immunoglobulin in the stomach was quite similar to that of the chief cells. Unlike in pancreas of other animals, the prophospholipase A2 was not detectable in gastric mucosa or juice homogenates treated with diisopropyl fluorophosphate or in column effluents during purification under acidic conditions. An appreciable prophospholipase-A2-activating activity was not detectable in gastric mucosa extracts at low pH relevant to gastric juice, using rat prophospholipase A2 as substrate. This opposes the activation of secreted proenzyme in the gastric juice.

A structural domain (the lid) found in pancreatic lipases is absent in the guinea pig (phospho)lipase

Typically pancreatic lipases are characterized by the following properties: (1) they are activated by lipid/water interfaces (interfacial activation), (2) they are inhibited by bile salts but reactivated by colipase (a small activator protein), and (3) they do not hydrolyze significantly phospholipids. A cDNA clone encoding a guinea pig pancreatic (phospho)lipase (GPL) has been sequenced and expressed. The enzyme (recombinant as well as native) differs from other pancreatic lipases in that (1) it is not interfacially activated, (2) its activity is unaffected by the presence of bile salts and/or colipase using tributyrin as substrate, and (3) it exhibits equally phospholipase A1 and lipase activities. The amino acid sequence of GPL is highly homologous to that of other known pancreatic lipases, with the exception of a deletion in the so-called lid domain that regulates access to the active centers of other lipases. We propose that this deletion is directly responsible for the anomalous behavior of this enzyme. Thus GPL challenges the classical distinction between lipases, esterases, and phospholipases.

Stereoselective hydrolysis of triglycerides by animal and microbial lipases

In the present paper, a study on the stereoselectivity of 25 lipases of animal and microbial origin towards homogeneous prochiral triglycerides is presented. All the lipases tested catalyse the hydrolysis of the chemically alike but sterically nonequivalent ester groups in trioctanoin and triolein with different degrees of stereobias, depending on the fatty acyl chain length of the substrate (Rogalska et al., J. Biol. Chem. 256:20271-20276, 1990). Hydrolysis of the sn-2 ester group is catalysed by very few lipases and only Candida antarctica A shows a clear preference for this position. Most of the lipases investigated (12 with trioctanoin and 16 with triolein) showed a preference for the sn-1 position. Using trioctanoin as substrate we observed a total stereoselectivity for position sn-1 with Pseudomonas sp. and Pseudomonas aeruginosa and for position sn-3 with Candida antarctica B. This was not the case with triolein as substrate. Among the 23 lipases studied here and the other two lipases described previously (Rogalska et al., J. Biol. Chem. 256:20271-20276, 1990), 17 show a higher stereoselectivity with trioctanoin than with triolein. With guinea pig pancreatic lipase and with three mold lipases (Geotrichum candidum M, Geotrichum candidum A, and Candida antarctica B), the preference switches from sn-3 to sn-1 when the acyl chain length increases from eight to 18 carbon atoms. The main conclusion to emerge from the present study is that the specific stereopreference of each lipase for a given substrate under given lipolytic conditions can be said to be its fingerprint.

Lysophospholipase A2 activity in guinea-pig heart microsomal fractions displaying high activities with 2-acylglycerophosphocholines with linoleic and arachidonic acids

Lysophospholipases A1 which catalyse the hydrolysis of acyl groups from 1-acylglycerophosphocholine (GPC) have been characterized in a number of mammalian tissues and do not exhibit any acyl specificity. In the present study lysophospholipase activity in guinea-pig heart microsomes (microsomal fractions) that hydrolyses 2-acyl-GPC was detected and characterized. The enzyme showed a high degree of acyl specificity. The relative rates of hydrolysis of individual 2-acyl-GPCs with different fatty acids was as follows: C18:2/C20:1/C18:1/C16:0, 14:6:1:1. When substrates were presented in pairs, the hydrolysis of each substrate by the enzyme was inhibited, but to very different extents. Of each pair of lysolipids examined (2-arachidonoyl- and 2-palmitoyl-GPC; 2-arachidonoyl- and 2-linoleoyl-GPC), the one with the expected higher rate of hydrolysis was more severely inhibited and the degree of inhibition was dependent on the concentration of the other lysolipid. The characteristics of the lysophospholipase A2 suggest the enzyme could work in concert with phospholipase A1 to release arachidonic and linoeic acids for further metabolism. The properties of lysophospholipase A2 and A1 suggest that they are different enzymes.

Possible origins of PAF-acether and lyso-PAF-acether in rat lung alveoli secondary to hypoxia

After 4 h hypoxia, platelet activating factor (PAF-acether or 1-O-alkyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine) and its deacetylated derivative, lyso-PAF-acether, accumulate in rat lung surfactant, the latter in a 1000-fold excess (Prévost, M.C., Cariven, C., Simon, M.F., Chap, H. and Douste-Blazy, L. (1984) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 119, 58-63). In order to determine the origin of these two phospholipids, rat lung alveolar lavages and rat lung macrophages were examined for phospholipid composition before and after 4 h of hypoxic treatment. Our data indicate an activation of phospholipase A2 in both compartments, as detected by the accumulation of lysophosphatidylcholine. The main effect was observed in lung surfactant, where phosphatidylcholine hydrolysis attained 13%. This change was concomitant with the activation of a calcium-independent phospholipase A2 present in lung alveolar lavages, which might be responsible for the accumulation of some lyso-PAF-acether, alkylacylcholine glycerophospholipids being present in low but significant amounts in lung surfactant. However, the main source of PAF and lyso-PAF-acether appears to be alveolar macrophages, which secreted significant amounts of the two phospholipids upon in vitro hypoxic treatment, although the participation of other cells, such as type II pneumocytes, cannot be excluded. The relative amounts of the two compounds might be regulated by both an intracellular and an extracellular acetylhydrolase, the two enzymes being distinct proteins on the basis of their different isoelectric points.

Screening of preduodenal lipases in several mammals

The tissular localization of preduodenal lipases was studied from the tongue to the pyloric portion of the stomach in 11 mammals. Lipolytic activities were clearly differentiated from those of pancreas. All lipase activities show an acidic pH optimum, except the gastric enzyme from hog. For every mammal tested, preduodenal lipase activity was associated mainly with only a single tissue located either in tongue, or in the pharyngeal area, or in the stomach. Resistance to acidic pH medium allows the classification of lipase activities into three groups. These results are related to the dietary habits and zoologic classification of the different animal species.

Uptake of HDL unesterified and esterified cholesterol by human endothelial cells. Modulation by HDL phospholipolysis and cell cholesterol content

Human HDL (1.070-1.210), doubly labelled with 3H/14C-labelled unesterified cholesterol and 3H-labelled esterified cholesterol were incubated for 1-5 h with monolayer cultures of human endothelial cells. HDL were preincubated for 60-120 min the presence of albumin and with/without purified phospholipase A2 (control HDL, phospholipase A2 HDL) before dilution in the cell culture medium. Average phosphatidylcholine (PC) degradation was 62.10% +/- 2.57% (range 45-80%). A purified lipase/phospholipase A1 from guinea pig pancreas was used in some experiments (range of PC hydrolysis: 16-70%). (1) 3H/14C-labelled unesterified cholesterol and 3H-labelled esterified cholesterol appeared in cells during 0-5 h incubations. Trypsin treatment allowed a simple adsorption of HDL onto the cell surface to be avoided, and most of the 3H-labelled esterified cholesterol transferred to cells was hydrolysed. Cell uptake of radioactive cholesterol increased as a function of HDL concentration but no saturation was achieved at the highest lipoprotein concentration used (200 micrograms cholesterol/ml). Flux of 3H/14C-labelled unesterified cholesterol was related to the cell cholesterol content, suggesting that it might partly represent an exchange process. The cell cholesterol content was slightly increased after 5 h incubation with HDL (+16%). (2) Pretreatment of HDL with purified phospholipase A2 doubled on average the amount of cell recovered 3H-labelled esterified cholesterol, while the flux of 3H/14C-labelled unesterified cholesterol was enhanced by 15-25%. Both transfer and cell hydrolysis of 3H-labelled esterified cholesterol were increased. A stimulation was also observed using purified lipase/phospholipase A1, provided that a threshold phospholipid degradation was achieved (between 27 and 45%). (3) Endothelial cells were conditioned in different media so as to modulate their charge in cholesterol. The uptake of 3H-labelled esterified cholesterol was found to be significantly higher in cholesterol-enriched cells compared to the sterol-depleted state. Finally, movements of 3H-labelled esterified cholesterol from HDL to endothelial cells were essentially unaffected by cell density or by the presence of partially purified cholesterol ester transfer protein. The possible roles of the transfer of HDL esterified cholesterol to endothelial cells and its modulation by phospholipases are discussed.

Arachidonic acid transfer from diacyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine to ether phospholipids in rat peripheral blood lymphocytes

The main phospholipid fractions of rat peripheral blood lymphocytes consisted of 30.8% diacylglycerophosphocholine and 20.3% diacylglycerophosphoethanolamine; the proportion of the ether phospholipids were small especially of alkyl- and alkenyl-glycerophosphoethanolamine (3.3 and 6.6% respectively). Other classes of phospholipids included glycerophosphoserine (10.5%), glycerophosphoinositol (6.5%) and sphingomyelin (13.6%). The incorporation of labeled arachidonic acid in the glycerophospholipids showed a rapid uptake into diacyl and ether classes of phospholipids and into triglycerides. When labeled cells were reincubated without arachidonic acid the diacylglycerophosphocholine rapidly lost its radioactivity, but a concomitant increase was observed in alkylacylglycerophosphocholine and more especially in alkenylacylglycerophosphoethanolamine and a smaller increase in alkyl- and diacyl-glycerophosphoethanolamine. The radioactivity was fairly constant in glycerophosphoserine and in glycerophosphoinositol, but decreased slightly in triglycerides. The arachidonic acid transfer reaction was completed after 2-3 hours reincubation. When labeled cells were reincubated in the presence of sodium cholate, the loss of radioactivity in the diacylglycerophosphocholine fraction increased. The transfer of arachidonic acid to ether phospholipids was the same with or without sodium cholate, but the later enhanced arachidonic acid transfer to diacylglycerophosphoethanolamine.

Phospholipase C from human sperm specific for phosphoinositides

Human sperm lysates were incubated in the presence of 1-[14C]stearoyl-2-acyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine, 1-[14C]stearoyl-2-acyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine or 1-[14C]stearoyl-2-acyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoinositol. Only the latter substrate was hydrolyzed to a significant extent, with a concomitant formation of 1-[14C]stearoyl-2-acyl-sn-glycerol. Furthermore, incubation of phosphatidyl[3H]inositol under the same conditions was accompanied by the formation, in roughly equal amounts, of [3H]inositol 1-phosphate and [3H]inositol 1:2-cyclic monophosphate. Finally [32P]phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate and [32P]phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate were degraded into [32P]inositol 1,4-bisphosphate and [32P]inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate, respectively. The phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C was activated by calcium (optimal concentration 5-10 mM) and inhibited by EGTA, although endogenous calcium supported a half-maximal activity. The enzyme displayed an optimal pH of 6.0 and an apparent Km of 0.08 mM. Its specific activity was around 10 nmol/min per mg protein, which is approximately the same as that found in human blood platelets. Subcellular fractionation revealed that 55% of the enzyme was solubilized under conditions where 80% of acrosin appeared in the supernatants. The majority of the particulate phospholipase C activity (37% of total) was found in the 1000 X g pellet, which contained only 8% of total acrosin activity. Further fractionation of spermatozoa into heads and tails indicated no specific enrichment of phospholipase C activity in any of these two fractions. However, owing to a 4-fold higher protein content in the head compared to the tail fraction, it is concluded that about 80% of particulate phospholipase C activity is located in sperm head. The physiological significance of this enzyme is discussed in relation to a possible role in acrosome reaction and (or) in egg fertilization.

Distribution of high-density lipoprotein 2 and 3 constituents during in vitro phospholipid hydrolysis

Human high-density lipoproteins HDL2 (d = 1.068-1.125) and HDL3 (d = 1.125-1.210) doubly labelled with [3H]cholesterol/cholesteryl ester and with [acyl-14C]phosphatidylcholine were further incubated with phospholipases. Highly purified phospholipase A2 from Crotalus adamanteus allowed gradual degrees of lipolysis (30-90%) on both HDL2 and HDL3. Moderate phospholipid hydrolyses were achieved using hepatic triacylglycerol lipase, partially purified from post-heparin plasma. Moreover, the latter enzyme seemed to exert a lysophospholipase activity, acting on the 2-acyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine generated. A purified sphingomyelinase C from Staphylococcus aureus was also used and completely hydrolysed HDL sphingomyelin. After incubation, doubly labelled HDL2/HDL3 were reisolated in their appropriate density interval. In the presence of albumin, which bound most of the lipolysis products, phospholipolysis induced a phospholipid depletion of the particles and a heterogeneous partition of all HDL2 constituents between the HDL2 and HDL3 density intervals. Radioactivity distributions correlated with mass movements. The 'HDL3-like' particles isolated after HDL2 lipolysis were twice as rich in cholesterol as plasma HDL3. No loss of apoprotein A1 was recorded due to phospholipolysis. In the absence of albumin, the density distributions of HDL2 or HDL3 constituents were unaffected by phospholipolysis, the products of lipolysis being reisolated with the stable particles. Control and treated HDL were also reisolated by equilibrium density gradient ultracentrifugation, gel chromatography or by gradient gel electrophoresis. Phospholipase treatment in the presence of albumin induced a shift of the HDL2 or HDL3 whole distribution towards particles of higher density and lower apparent size. Lipolysed HDL2 thus showed characteristics intermediate between those of HDL2 and HDL3. So, phospholipolysis may affect the physical parameters of HDL particles, but additional pathways such as cholesterol movements and apoprotein loss must be linked to achieve the HDL2----HDL3 interconversion.

A correlative lipid and lipolytic study of the pancreas and small intestine of the guinea-pig

With the aid of a variety of TLC preparations the phospholipid and neutral lipid profiles of guinea-pig pancreas and small intestine has been established. Changes in these profiles, subsequent to incubation of these tissues and prior to lipid extraction, has provided evidence relating to their respective lipolytic enzyme capabilities, mainly in the phospholipase group.

Intestinal absorption of ester and ether glycerophospholipids in guinea pig. Role of a phospholipase A2 from brush border membrane

In vivo intestinal perfusion was used to follow the absorption of three different choline glycerophospholipids (CGP) in guinea pig. These included 1-[3H]palmitoyl-2-acyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (diacyl-GPC), 1-[3H]-O-hexadecyl-2-acyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (alkylacyl-GPC) and 1,2-di-O-hexadecyl-sn-glycero-3-phospho-[3H]-choline (dialkyl-GPC). About 80% of diacyl-GPC was absorbed within 4 hr, compared to 60% of alkylacyl-GPC and 30% of dialkyl-GPC. The radioactivity disappearing from the perfusion fluid was recovered in intestinal lipids, mostly triacylglycerol, free fatty acid and CGP from diacyl-GPC, CGP from alkylacyl-GPC and dialkyl-GPC. These results indicated that the nonhydrolyzable substrate dialkyl-GPC was much less absorbed, whereas diacyl-GPC, which released over 80% of [3H]palmitic acid in the perfusion fluid, displayed the highest absorption rate. The intermediate picture observed for alkylacyl-GPC suggested the possible involvement of a phospholipase A2, which was detected in the entire intestinal tract. This enzyme was further found to concentrate in villus cells, where it is localized in the brush border membrane, as shown using two different subcellular fractionation procedures. These data suggest a possible role of this new enzyme in the digestion of alimentary phospholipids.

Changes induced by PAF-acether in diacyl and ether phospholipids from guinea-pig alveolar macrophages

The release and the mobilization of arachidonic acid from guinea-pig alveolar macrophages labeled with [1-14C]arachidonic acid for short (1 h) and long (18 h) periods and stimulated with PAF-acether (1-alkyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine) was studied. After short labeling periods arachidonic acid was primarily incorporated into alkylacyl- and diacylglycerophosphocholine (alkylacylGPC, diacylGPC) and glycerophosphoinositol (GPI), whereas after long labeling periods arachidonic acid was mainly incorporated into alkenylacylglycerophosphoethanolamine (alkenylacylGPE). In macrophages labeled for 1 h, PAF-acether (1 microM) induced a significant decrease in the amount of arachidonic acid esterified into diacyl- and alkylacylGPC and GPI, as well as a significant increase of arachidonate transferred into alkenylacylGPE. No significant decrease in arachidonate esterified in GPC fractions and in GPI was induced by PAF-acether in macrophages labeled for 18 h, whereas the increased transfer of the fatty acid into alkenylacylGPE was still measurable. This study shows that PAF-acether induces the release and the mobilization of newly incorporated arachidonic acid in alveolar macrophages. When cells are labeled for long periods and the majority of arachidonic acid is retained in ether-linked phospholipids, no PAF-acether-induced release of arachidonate was obtained, whereas its transfer was maintained.

Arachidonate mobilization in diacyl, alkylacyl and alkenylacyl phospholipids on stimulation of rat platelets by thrombin and the Ca2+ ionophore A23187

Platelet stimulation by thrombin or Ca2+ ionophore induces mobilization of arachidonate from lipid stores. We have previously shown that, in [14C]arachidonic acid-prelabelled resting platelets, [14C]arachidonate was transferred from diacyl-sn-glycerophosphocholine to ethanolamine and choline-containing ether phospholipids. This transfer reached an equilibrium after 5 h incubation [Colard, Breton & Bereziat (1984a) Biochem. J. 222, 657-662]. [14C]Arachidonate-prelabelled platelets having reached this transfer equilibrium were used to study the mobilization of arachidonate in etheracyl and diacyl phospholipids. Upon thrombin stimulation, arachidonate decreased in diacyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoinositol, in alkylacyl- and diacyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine and increased in alkenylacyl- and diacyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine. Upon challenge with Ca2+ ionophore A23187, arachidonate decreased in diacyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine, in diacyl- and alkylacyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine and increased in alkenylacyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine. We also compared arachidonate mobilization in platelets stimulated immediately after [14C]arachidonic acid chase with platelets stimulated after 5 h reincubation. We observed that the arachidonate newly incorporated into diacyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine and triacylglycerols was rapidly released upon stimulation. This suggests the presence in these two lipids of a rapidly-turning-over arachidonate pool.

Turnover of phosphocholine and phosphoethanolamine in ether-phospholipids of Krebs II ascite cells

Krebs II ascite cells suspended in Eagle medium were incubated at 37 C for up to 6 hr in the presence of [3H] glycerol or [32P] orthophosphate. After extraction, their lipids were treated with guinea pig phospholipase A1 under conditions where all diacyl-phospholipids (diacyl-PL) became hydrolyzed with 55% recovery of lyso-PL. Using a bidimensional thin layer chromatography (TLC) involving exposure to HCl fumes between the two runs, it then became possible to determine at once the specific radioactivity of the three subclasses (diacyl-, alkylacyl- and alkenylacyl-) present in choline glycerophospholipids (CGP) and ethanolamineglycerophospholipids (EGP). Compared to diacyl-PL, a lower de novo synthesis of ether subclasses was evidenced in both CGP and EGP by [3H] glycerol incorporation. Although the same profile was obtained for CGP with [32P] orthophosphate, the three EGP subclasses displayed in this case the same specific radioactivity. These data indicate a higher turnover rate of the polar head group of ether-EGP compared to either-CGP. The simple methodology used in the present study might thus prove helpful in developing enzymatic studies dealing with the mechanism of this accelerated renewal.

Ether-phospholipid composition in neutrophils and platelets

It is well documented that ether-lipids, especially the 1-0-alkyl-2-0-acyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine, can serve as precursors in paf-acether (platelet-activating factor) biosynthesis. This study was undertaken to determine the amount of these compounds in two cell types which are good producers of paf-acether: human neutrophils and rabbit platelets. The method of phospholipid analysis was based on selective destruction of diacyl molecules by lipase from guinea pig pancreas and of plasmalogens by acidolysis; phospholipids were then separated by bidimensional thin-layer chromatography. In platelets as in neutrophils, the major phospholipids were choline (37%) and ethanolamine (30 and 32%, respectively) phosphoglycerides and sphingomyelin (18 and 16%, respectively). In rabbit platelets the 1-alkyl molecules represented 15% of the choline class (0.7 nmol/10(7) cells). Neutrophils differed strikingly from platelets by the high level of these molecules which constituted 50% of the choline class (16.3 nmol/10(7) cells). It therefore appears that in the two cell types, the amount of 1-0-alkyl-2-0-acyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine largely exceeded that would be necessary for paf-acether biosynthesis.

Evidence for a highly asymmetric arrangement of ether- and diacyl-phospholipid subclasses in the plasma membrane of Krebs II ascites cells

(1) Krebs II ascites cells were taken as a model of the neoplastic cells to investigate the transverse distribution of phospholipids in the plasma membrane. The experimental procedure was based on non-lytic degradation of phospholipids in the intact cell by Naja naja phospholipase A2 and Staphylococcus aureus sphingomyelinase C and on phospholipid analysis of purified plasma membranes. It was shown that the three major phospholipids, i.e., phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine and sphingomyelin, are randomly distributed between the two halves of the membranes, whereas phosphatidylserine remains located in the inner leaflet. (2) The membrane localization of phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine subclasses (diacyl, alkylacyl and alkenylacyl) was also examined, using a new procedure of ether-phospholipid determination. The method involves a selective removal of diacyl species by guinea pig pancreas phospholipase A1 and of alkenylacyl species by acidolysis. This analysis revealed a 50% increase of ether phospholipids in the plasma membrane as compared to the whole cell (36.5 and 23.1% of total phospholipid, respectively). Furthermore, a strong membrane asymmetry was demonstrated for the three phosphatidylcholine subclasses, since 1-alkyl-2-acyl-sn-glycerol-3-phosphocholine (alkylacyl-GPC) was entirely found in the inner leaflet, whereas both diacyl- and alkenylacyl-GPC displayed an external localization. The same pattern was observed for phosphatidylethanolamine subclasses, except for 1-alkenyl-2-acyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine, which was found randomly distributed. These results are discussed in relation to the process of cell malignant transformation and to the biosynthesis of platelet-activating factor (PAF-acether or 1-alkyl-2-acetyl-GPC).

Studies on enzymes related to diacylglycerol production in activated platelets. II. Subcellular distribution, enzymatic properties and positional specificity of diacylglycerol- and monoacylglycerol-lipases

The subcellular distribution of diacylglycerol- and monoacylglycerol-lipases has been studied in human platelets. Using a fractionation procedure on Percoll gradient (Perret, B., Chap, H. and Douste-Blazy, L. (1979) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 556, 434-446), the enzyme activity displayed the same profile as that of [3H]concanavalin A, a plasma membrane marker. This result was confirmed with highly purified platelet plasma membranes prepared by adsorption onto polyethylenimine-bonded polyacrylamide beads (Kinoshita, T., Nachman, R.L. and Minick, R. (1979) J. Cell Biol. 82, 688-696). Studies with isolated membranes or crude homogenate revealed that the enzyme requires calcium or magnesium and displays an optimal pH of 6.2, showing that it is able to hydrolyse diacylglycerol under conditions where phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C is fully active. Using diacylglycerol labelled in the 1- or 2-position, it was found that the two fatty acids are released at the same rate, which is supported by the lack of monoacylglycerol accumulation and by the observation that monoacylglycerol is hydrolysed at a 20-fold faster rate than diacylglycerol. Increasing concentrations of Mg-ATP promote the conversion of diacylglycerol into phosphatidic acid by diacylglycerol kinase, but only high concentrations become inhibitory for diacylglycerol lipase. These results are discussed in the light of our former hypothesis that arachidonic acid release from platelet phospholipids might occur through the sequential action of a phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C coupled to a diacylglycerol lipase (Mauco, G., Chap, H., Simon, M.F. and Douste-Blazy, L. (1978) Biochimie 60, 553-561). The possible role of this enzyme in the regulation of the activity of protein kinase C is also emphasized.

Arachidonyl transfer from diacyl phosphatidylcholine to ether phospholipids in rat platelets

High levels of ether phospholipids were found in rat platelets. Alkylacyl compounds constituted 18 and 29% of glycerophosphocholine (GPC) and glycerophosphoethanolamine (GPE). Alkenylacyl compounds, not detected in GPC, represented 40% of GPE. Arachidonate comprised 60%, 42% and 26% of the acyl residues in the sn-2 position of alkenylacyl-GPE, alkylacyl-GPE and alkylacyl-GPC respectively. Based on all arachidonate being linked to the sn-2 position of the diacyl species, the arachidonate level was 47% in diacyl-GPE and 30% in diacyl-GPC. The incorporation and metabolic fate of arachidonate in various phospholipid classes of resting platelets was examined. Arachidonate was essentially recovered in the diacyl phospholipids and very poorly in alkylacyl- and alkenylacyl-GPE and GPC after 30 min incubation in the presence of [14C]arachidonic acid. Upon reincubation of the platelets after removal of free arachidonate, the radioactivity was gradually lost from diacyl-GPC. Concomitantly, the radioactivities in alkylacyl-GPC, alkylacyl-GPE, alkenylacyl-GPE and to a lower extent in diacyl-GPE were increased. Labelling of glycerophosphoinositol was not changed. This labelling transfer was linear up to 5-6 h, except for alkylacyl-GPC; then labelling remained constant. These data strongly suggest that free arachidonate incorporation through the Lands pathway occurs only for diacyl species and that arachidonate incorporation into the ether phospholipids is achieved by exchange from diacyl-GPC. Based on specific activities related to phosphorus content, the arachidonate incorporation rates into diacyl-GPE and diacyl-GPC were approximately equivalent. The very large differences between specific radioactivities related to arachidonate observed at the starting reincubation time were strongly attenuated when labelling equilibrium was reached. The turnover rate by this exchange pathway was higher in alkylacyl-GPC than in alkyl- and alkenylacyl-GPE. This finding agrees with the selectivity for arachidonate observed in the acylation of PAF-acether in human neutrophils [Chilton, O'Flaherty, Ellis, Swendsen & Wykle (1983) J. Biol. Chem. 258, 7268-7271].