Metabolism of cerebrosides and sulfatides in subcellular fractions of developing rat brain

The myelin-axolemmal complex: biochemical dissection and the role of galactosphingolipids

Myelin-axolemmal interactions regulate many cellular and molecular events, including gene expression, oligodendrocyte survival and ion channel clustering. Here we report the biochemical fractionation and enrichment of distinct subcellular domains from myelinated nerve fibers. Using antibodies against proteins found in compact myelin, non-compact myelin and axolemma, we show that a rigorous procedure designed to purify myelin also results in the isolation of the myelin-axolemmal complex, a high-affinity protein complex consisting of axonal and oligodendroglial components. Further, the isolation of distinct subcellular domains from galactolipid-deficient mice with disrupted axoglial junctions is altered in a manner consistent with the delocalization of axolemmal proteins observed in these animals. These results suggest a paradigm for identification of proteins involved in neuroglial signaling.

Entry of newly synthesized gangliosides into myelin

Ganglioside synthesis and transport to myelin was studied in brainstem slices prepared from 19-21-day-old rats. The slices were incubated for up to 2 h in the presence of [3H]glucosamine to label primarily the hexosamine portion of complex gangliosides. The amount of radioactivity incorporated into gangliosides during slice incubations was only 10-15% of the amount of the label incorporated during in vivo labeling of brainstem gangliosides using equivalent amounts of [3H]glucosamine. Among individual gangliosides this inhibition was greater for the more complex gangliosides. When labeled gangliosides were isolated from homogenate and myelin fractions prepared from brain slices, the complex total gangliosides of both fractions showed a lag in labeling kinetics but with a lower specific radioactivity for the myelin fraction, reflecting the larger pool size and slower turnover rate exhibited by myelin components. Chase experiments showed that more complex gangliosides in homogenate exhibited almost no effect of chase after 30 min. Addition of the Golgi-disrupting agent monensin to slice incubations inhibited the labeling of all gangliosides except GM3, GM2, and GD3, and transport to myelin of all complex gangliosides except GM2. These results show that a monensin-sensitive mode of transport is responsible for the translocation of most newly synthesized gangliosides into myelin.

Synthesis and transport of cerebrosides and sulfatides in rat brain during development

Synthesis and transport of nonhydroxy fatty acid (NFA)- and hydroxy fatty acid (HFA)-containing ceramides, cerebrosides, and sulfatides were studied in vivo in rat brain during development. After an intracerebral injection of [3H]serine, incorporation into these lipids of microsomal and myelin membranes was analyzed after HPLC. Distribution of amounts and incorporation of radioactivity were also determined in individual molecular species of these lipids. The results showed that HFA-ceramides and long-chain NFA-ceramides have small pool sizes and rapid turnover rates in the microsomal membranes and are preferentially utilized for the synthesis of long-chain (greater than or equal to 20:0) HFA- and NFA-galactocerebrosides of both microsomal and myelin membranes. Glucocerebrosides are not expressed in myelin and their synthesis in microsomal membranes is predominant before the onset of myelination. With development, synthesis and accumulation of HFA-cerebrosides increase over NFA-cerebrosides in both microsomal and myelin membranes. In myelin, incorporation of radioactivity into HFA-cerebrosides is even higher than that expected by transport alone from microsomal membranes and it is possible that part of the HFA-cerebrosides in myelin could be due to de novo synthesis by myelin itself. The amount of NFA- and HFA-sulfatides is about equal, both in myelin and microsomal membranes, and this relative proportion does not change with development. Similar relative rates of incorporation of radioactivity into sulfatides of microsomal and myelin membranes are consistent with the notion that both NFA and HFA sulfatides are synthesized in the microsomal (Golgi) membranes and are transported to myelin.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Determination of gangliosides as 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazides by high-performance liquid chromatography

A specific, sensitive and easily performed method for the determination of gangliosides in tissue was developed. After removal of water-soluble compounds, total lipids were extracted from tissue and then treated with 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine hydrochloride and dicyclohexylcarbodi-imide in dimethylformamide at 0 degrees C to form ganglioside hydrazides. After removal of excess reagents by column chromatography on silicic acid, the ganglioside 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazides were eluted from the column and analysed by h.p.l.c. with the use of a silica-gel normal-phase column eluted with an isocratic chloroform/methanol/water/acetic acid system. The addition of CaCl2 improved the separation of GM3 ganglioside containing N-acetylneuraminic acid from that containing N-glycollylneuraminic acid. 2,4-Dinitrophenylhydrazide peaks were measured by the absorbance at 342 nm. Quantification of GM3, GM2, GM1, GD1a, GD1b, GT1b and LM1 gangliosides was linear in a range 0.02-1.6 nmol. GM4, GD3, GT1a and GQ1b gangliosides also yielded distinct peaks, although the range of linearity was not examined. This method was applied to the analysis of the total lipids of rat brain and hepatocytes.