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Gao YG, McDonald J, Malinina L, Patel DJ, Brown RE. Ceramide-1-phosphate transfer protein promotes sphingolipid reorientation needed for binding during membrane interaction. J Lipid Res 2021; 63:100151. [PMID: 34808193 PMCID: PMC8953657 DOI: 10.1016/j.jlr.2021.100151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2021] [Revised: 11/15/2021] [Accepted: 11/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Lipid transfer proteins acquire and release their lipid cargoes by interacting transiently with source and destination biomembranes. In the GlycoLipid Transfer Protein (GLTP) superfamily, the two-layer all-α-helical GLTP-fold defines proteins that specifically target sphingolipids (SLs) containing either sugar or phosphate headgroups via their conserved but evolutionarily-modified SL recognitions centers. Despite comprehensive structural insights provided by X-ray crystallography, the conformational dynamics associated with membrane interaction and SL uptake/release by GLTP superfamily members have remained unknown. Herein, we report insights gained from molecular dynamics (MD) simulations into the conformational dynamics that enable ceramide-1-phosphate transfer proteins (CPTPs) to acquire and deliver ceramide-1-phosphate (C1P) during interaction with 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl phosphatidylcholine bilayers. The focus on CPTP reflects this protein's involvement in regulating pro-inflammatory eicosanoid production and autophagy-dependent inflammasome assembly that drives interleukin (IL-1β and IL-18) production and release by surveillance cells. We found that membrane penetration by CPTP involved α-6 helix and the α-2 helix N-terminal region, was confined to one bilayer leaflet, and was relatively shallow. Large-scale dynamic conformational changes were minimal for CPTP during membrane interaction or C1P uptake except for the α-3/α-4 helices connecting loop, which is located near the membrane interface and interacts with certain phosphoinositide headgroups. Apart from functioning as a shallow membrane-docking element, α-6 helix was found to adeptly reorient membrane lipids to help guide C1P hydrocarbon chain insertion into the interior hydrophobic pocket of the SL binding site.These findings support a proposed 'hydrocarbon chain-first' mechanism for C1P uptake, in contrast to the 'lipid polar headgroup-first' uptake used by most lipid-transfer proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong-Guang Gao
- Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota, Austin, MN, USA.
| | | | - Lucy Malinina
- Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota, Austin, MN, USA
| | - Dinshaw J Patel
- Structural Biology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
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2
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Backman APE, Mattjus P. Who moves the sphinx? An overview of intracellular sphingolipid transport. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Cell Biol Lipids 2021; 1866:159021. [PMID: 34339859 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbalip.2021.159021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2021] [Revised: 06/24/2021] [Accepted: 06/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Lipid bilayers function as boundaries that enclose their content from the surrounding media, and the composition of different membrane types is accurately and dynamically tailored so that they can perform their function. To achieve this balance, lipid biosynthetic machinery and lipid trafficking events are intertwined into an elegant network. In this review, we focus on the intracellular movement of sphingolipids mediated by sphingolipid transfer proteins. Additionally, we will focus on the best characterized and understood mammalian sphingolipid transfer proteins and provide an overview of how they are hypothesized to function. Some are already well understood, while others remain enigmatic. A few are actual lipid transfer proteins, moving lipids from membrane to membrane, while others may have more of a sensor role, possibly reacting to changes in the concentrations of their ligands. Considering the substrates available for cytosolic sphingolipid transfer proteins, one open question that is discussed is whether galactosylceramide is a target. Another question is the exact mechanics by which sphingolipid transfer proteins are targeted to different organelles, such as how four phosphate adapter protein-2, FAPP2 is targeted to the endoplasmic reticulum. The aim of this review is to discuss what is known within the field today and to provide a basic understanding of how these proteins may work.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anders P E Backman
- Biochemistry, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Åbo Akademi University, Turku, Finland
| | - Peter Mattjus
- Biochemistry, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Åbo Akademi University, Turku, Finland.
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Functional evaluation of tryptophans in glycolipid binding and membrane interaction by HET-C2, a fungal glycolipid transfer protein. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-BIOMEMBRANES 2018; 1860:1069-1076. [PMID: 29305831 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2018.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2017] [Revised: 12/16/2017] [Accepted: 01/01/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
HET-C2 is a fungal glycolipid transfer protein (GLTP) that uses an evolutionarily-modified GLTP-fold to achieve more focused transfer specificity for simple neutral glycosphingolipids than mammalian GLTPs. Only one of HET-C2's two Trp residues is topologically identical to the three Trp residues of mammalian GLTP. Here, we provide the first assessment of the functional roles of HET-C2 Trp residues in glycolipid binding and membrane interaction. Point mutants HET-C2W208F, HET-C2W208A and HET-C2F149Y all retained >90% activity and 80-90% intrinsic Trp fluorescence intensity; whereas HET-C2F149A transfer activity decreased to ~55% but displayed ~120% intrinsic Trp emission intensity. Thus, neither W208 nor F149 is absolutely essential for activity and most Trp emission intensity (~85-90%) originates from Trp109. This conclusion was supported by HET-C2W109Y/F149Y which displayed ~8% intrinsic Trp intensity and was nearly inactive. Incubation of the HET-C2 mutants with 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-phosphatidylcholine vesicles containing different monoglycosylceramides or presented by lipid ethanol-injection decreased Trp fluorescence intensity and blue-shifted the Trp λmax by differing amounts compared to wtHET-C2. With HET-C2 mutants for Trp208, the emission intensity decreases (~30-40%) and λmax blue-shifts (~12nm) were more dramatic than for wtHET-C2 or F149 mutants and closely resembled human GLTP. When Trp109 was mutated, the glycolipid induced changes in HET-C2 emission intensity and λmax blue-shift were nearly nonexistent. Our findings indicate that the HET-C2 Trp λmax blue-shift is diagnostic for glycolipid binding; whereas the emission intensity decrease reflects higher environmental polarity encountered upon nonspecific interaction with phosphocholine headgroups comprising the membrane interface and specific interaction with the hydrated glycolipid sugar.
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Malinina L, Simanshu DK, Zhai X, Samygina VR, Kamlekar R, Kenoth R, Ochoa-Lizarralde B, Malakhova ML, Molotkovsky JG, Patel DJ, Brown RE. Sphingolipid transfer proteins defined by the GLTP-fold. Q Rev Biophys 2015; 48:281-322. [PMID: 25797198 PMCID: PMC4691851 DOI: 10.1017/s003358351400016x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Glycolipid transfer proteins (GLTPs) originally were identified as small (~24 kDa), soluble, amphitropic proteins that specifically accelerate the intermembrane transfer of glycolipids. GLTPs and related homologs now are known to adopt a unique, helically dominated, two-layer 'sandwich' architecture defined as the GLTP-fold that provides the structural underpinning for the eukaryotic GLTP superfamily. Recent advances now provide exquisite insights into structural features responsible for lipid headgroup selectivity as well as the adaptability of the hydrophobic compartment for accommodating hydrocarbon chains of differing length and unsaturation. A new understanding of the structural versatility and evolutionary premium placed on the GLTP motif has emerged. Human GLTP-motifs have evolved to function not only as glucosylceramide binding/transferring domains for phosphoinositol 4-phosphate adaptor protein-2 during glycosphingolipid biosynthesis but also as selective binding/transfer proteins for ceramide-1-phosphate. The latter, known as ceramide-1-phosphate transfer protein, recently has been shown to form GLTP-fold while critically regulating Group-IV cytoplasmic phospholipase A2 activity and pro-inflammatory eicosanoid production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucy Malinina
- The Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota, Austin, MN 55912, USA
- Structural Biology Unit, CICbioGUNE, Technology Park of Bizkaia, 48160 Derio-Bilbao, Spain
| | - Dhirendra K. Simanshu
- Structural Biology Program, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Xiuhong Zhai
- The Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota, Austin, MN 55912, USA
| | - Valeria R. Samygina
- Structural Biology Unit, CICbioGUNE, Technology Park of Bizkaia, 48160 Derio-Bilbao, Spain
| | | | - Roopa Kenoth
- The Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota, Austin, MN 55912, USA
| | - Borja Ochoa-Lizarralde
- Structural Biology Unit, CICbioGUNE, Technology Park of Bizkaia, 48160 Derio-Bilbao, Spain
| | | | - Julian G. Molotkovsky
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Dinshaw J. Patel
- Structural Biology Program, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
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5
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Tuuf J, Mattjus P. Membranes and mammalian glycolipid transferring proteins. Chem Phys Lipids 2013; 178:27-37. [PMID: 24220498 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemphyslip.2013.10.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2013] [Revised: 10/29/2013] [Accepted: 10/30/2013] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Glycolipids are synthesized in and on various organelles throughout the cell. Their trafficking inside the cell is complex and involves both vesicular and protein-mediated machineries. Most important for the bulk lipid transport is the vesicular system, however, lipids moved by transfer proteins are also becoming more characterized. Here we review the latest advances in the glycolipid transfer protein (GLTP) and the phosphoinositol 4-phosphate adaptor protein-2 (FAPP2) field, from a membrane point of view.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Tuuf
- Biochemistry, Department of Biosciences, Åbo Akademi University, Turku, Finland
| | - Peter Mattjus
- Biochemistry, Department of Biosciences, Åbo Akademi University, Turku, Finland.
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6
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The glycolipid transfer protein (GLTP) domain of phosphoinositol 4-phosphate adaptor protein-2 (FAPP2): structure drives preference for simple neutral glycosphingolipids. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Cell Biol Lipids 2012; 1831:417-27. [PMID: 23159414 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbalip.2012.10.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2012] [Revised: 10/23/2012] [Accepted: 10/29/2012] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Phosphoinositol 4-phosphate adaptor protein-2 (FAPP2) plays a key role in glycosphingolipid (GSL) production using its C-terminal domain to transport newly synthesized glucosylceramide away from the cytosol-facing glucosylceramide synthase in the cis-Golgi for further anabolic processing. Structural homology modeling against human glycolipid transfer protein (GLTP) predicts a GLTP-fold for FAPP2 C-terminal domain, but no experimental support exists to warrant inclusion in the GLTP superfamily. Here, the biophysical properties and glycolipid transfer specificity of FAPP2-C-terminal domain have been characterized and compared with other established GLTP-folds. Experimental evidence for a GLTP-fold includes: i) far-UV circular dichroism (CD) showing secondary structure with high alpha-helix content and a low thermally-induced unfolding transition (~41°C); ii) near-UV-CD indicating only subtle tertiary conformational change before/after interaction with membranes containing/lacking glycolipid; iii) Red-shifted tryptophan (Trp) emission wavelength maximum (λ(max)~352nm) for apo-FAPP2-C-terminal domain consistent with surface exposed intrinsic Trp residues; iv) 'signature' GLTP-fold Trp fluorescence response, i.e., intensity decrease (~30%) accompanied by strongly blue-shifted λ(max) (~14nm) upon interaction with membranes containing glycolipid, supporting direct involvement of Trp in glycolipid binding and enabling estimation of partitioning affinities. A structurally-based preference for other simple uncharged GSLs, in addition to glucosylceramide, makes human FAPP2-GLTP more similar to fungal HET-C2 than to plant AtGLTP1 (glucosylceramide-specific) or to broadly GSL-selective human GLTP. These findings along with the distinct mRNA exon/intron organizations originating from single-copy genes on separate human chromosomes suggest adaptive evolutionary divergence by these two GLTP-folds.
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van der Poel S, Wolthoorn J, van den Heuvel D, Egmond M, Groux-Degroote S, Neumann S, Gerritsen H, van Meer G, Sprong H. Hyperacidification of Trans-Golgi Network and Endo/Lysosomes in Melanocytes by Glucosylceramide-Dependent V-ATPase Activity. Traffic 2011; 12:1634-47. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0854.2011.01263.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
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8
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Monitoring glycolipid transfer protein activity and membrane interaction with the surface plasmon resonance technique. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-BIOMEMBRANES 2011; 1808:47-54. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2010.08.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2010] [Revised: 08/17/2010] [Accepted: 08/24/2010] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
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Carton I, Lucy Malinina, Richter RP. Dynamic modulation of the glycosphingolipid content in supported lipid bilayers by glycolipid transfer protein. Biophys J 2010; 99:2947-56. [PMID: 21044592 PMCID: PMC2966009 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2010.09.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2010] [Revised: 09/05/2010] [Accepted: 09/08/2010] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Supported lipid bilayers (SLBs) are popular models of cell membranes. Owing to the importance of glycosphingolipids (GSLs) in modulating structure and function of membranes and membrane proteins, methods to tune the GSL content in SLBs would be desirable. Glycolipid transfer protein (GLTP) can selectively transfer GSLs between membrane compartments. Using the ganglioside GM1 as a model GSL, and two mass-sensitive and label-free characterization techniques-quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring and ellipsometry-we demonstrate that GLTP is an efficient and robust biochemical tool to dynamically modulate the GSL content of SLBs up to 10 mol % GM1, and to quantitatively control the GSL content in the bulk-facing SLB leaflet. By exploiting what we believe to be a novel tool, we provide evidence that GM1 distributes highly asymmetrically in silica-supported lipid bilayers, with ∼85% of the ganglioside being present in the bulk-facing membrane leaflet. We report also that the pentameric B-subunit of cholera toxin binds with close-to-maximal stoichiometry to GM1 in SLBs over a large range of GM1 concentrations. Furthermore, we quantify the liganding affinity of GLTP for GM1 in an SLB context to be 1.5 μM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ixaskun Carton
- Biosurfaces Unit, Cooperative Research Center in Biomaterials (CIC biomaGUNE), San Sebastian, Spain
| | - Lucy Malinina
- Structural Biology Unit, Cooperative Research Center in Biosciences (CIC bioGUNE), Derio, Spain
| | - Ralf P. Richter
- Biosurfaces Unit, Cooperative Research Center in Biomaterials (CIC biomaGUNE), San Sebastian, Spain
- Max-Planck-Institute for Metals Research, Stuttgart, Germany
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10
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Kamlekar RK, Gao Y, Kenoth R, Molotkovsky JG, Prendergast FG, Malinina L, Patel DJ, Wessels WS, Venyaminov SY, Brown RE. Human GLTP: Three distinct functions for the three tryptophans in a novel peripheral amphitropic fold. Biophys J 2010; 99:2626-35. [PMID: 20959104 PMCID: PMC2955354 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2010.08.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2010] [Revised: 07/27/2010] [Accepted: 08/10/2010] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Human glycolipid transfer protein (GLTP) serves as the GLTP-fold prototype, a novel, to our knowledge, peripheral amphitropic fold and structurally unique lipid binding motif that defines the GLTP superfamily. Despite conservation of all three intrinsic Trps in vertebrate GLTPs, the Trp functional role(s) remains unclear. Herein, the issue is addressed using circular dichroism and fluorescence spectroscopy along with an atypical Trp point mutation strategy. Far-ultraviolet and near-ultraviolet circular dichroism spectroscopic analyses showed that W96F-W142Y-GLTP and W96Y-GLTP retain their native conformation and stability, whereas W85Y-W96F-GLTP is slightly altered, in agreement with relative glycolipid transfer activities of >90%, ∼85%, and ∼45%, respectively. In silico three-dimensional modeling and acrylamide quenching of Trp fluorescence supported a nativelike folding conformation. With the Trp⁹⁶-less mutants, changes in emission intensity, wavelength maximum, lifetime, and time-resolved anisotropy decay induced by phosphoglyceride membranes lacking or containing glycolipid and by excitation at different wavelengths along the absorption-spectrum red edge indicated differing functions for W142 and W85. The data suggest that W142 acts as a shallow-penetration anchor during docking with membrane interfaces, whereas the buried W85 indole helps maintain proper folding and possibly regulates membrane-induced transitioning to a glycolipid-acquiring conformation. The findings illustrate remarkable versatility for Trp, providing three distinct intramolecular functions in the novel amphitropic GLTP fold.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Yongguang Gao
- The Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota, Austin, Minnesota
| | - Roopa Kenoth
- The Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota, Austin, Minnesota
| | - Julian G. Molotkovsky
- Shemyakin and Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | | | - Lucy Malinina
- Structural Biology, Centro de Investigación Cooperativa BioGUNE, Derio, Spain
| | - Dinshaw J. Patel
- Structural Biology Program, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
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Kenoth R, Simanshu DK, Kamlekar RK, Pike HM, Molotkovsky JG, Benson LM, Bergen HR, Prendergast FG, Malinina L, Venyaminov SY, Patel DJ, Brown RE. Structural determination and tryptophan fluorescence of heterokaryon incompatibility C2 protein (HET-C2), a fungal glycolipid transfer protein (GLTP), provide novel insights into glycolipid specificity and membrane interaction by the GLTP fold. J Biol Chem 2010; 285:13066-78. [PMID: 20164530 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m109.093203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
HET-C2 is a fungal protein that transfers glycosphingolipids between membranes and has limited sequence homology with human glycolipid transfer protein (GLTP). The human GLTP fold is unique among lipid binding/transfer proteins, defining the GLTP superfamily. Herein, GLTP fold formation by HET-C2, its glycolipid transfer specificity, and the functional role(s) of its two Trp residues have been investigated. X-ray diffraction (1.9 A) revealed a GLTP fold with all key sugar headgroup recognition residues (Asp(66), Asn(70), Lys(73), Trp(109), and His(147)) conserved and properly oriented for glycolipid binding. Far-UV CD showed secondary structure dominated by alpha-helices and a cooperative thermal unfolding transition of 49 degrees C, features consistent with a GLTP fold. Environmentally induced optical activity of Trp/Tyr/Phe (2:4:12) detected by near-UV CD was unaffected by membranes containing glycolipid but was slightly altered by membranes lacking glycolipid. Trp fluorescence was maximal at approximately 355 nm and accessible to aqueous quenchers, indicating free exposure to the aqueous milieu and consistent with surface localization of the two Trps. Interaction with membranes lacking glycolipid triggered significant decreases in Trp emission intensity but lesser than decreases induced by membranes containing glycolipid. Binding of glycolipid (confirmed by electrospray injection mass spectrometry) resulted in a blue-shifted emission wavelength maximum (approximately 6 nm) permitting determination of binding affinities. The unique positioning of Trp(208) at the HET-C2 C terminus revealed membrane-induced conformational changes that precede glycolipid uptake, whereas key differences in residues of the sugar headgroup recognition center accounted for altered glycolipid specificity and suggested evolutionary adaptation for the simpler glycosphingolipid compositions of filamentous fungi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roopa Kenoth
- Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota, Austin, Minnesota 55912, USA
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12
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Crystal structures of the CERT START domain with inhibitors provide insights into the mechanism of ceramide transfer. J Mol Biol 2009; 396:245-51. [PMID: 20036255 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2009.12.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2009] [Revised: 12/10/2009] [Accepted: 12/16/2009] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
The cytosolic protein CERT transfers ceramide from the endoplasmic reticulum to the Golgi apparatus where ceramide is converted to SM. The C-terminal START (steroidogenic acute regulatory protein-related lipid transfer) domain of CERT binds one ceramide molecule in its central amphiphilic cavity. (1R,3R)-N-(3-Hydroxy-1-hydroxymethyl-3-phenylpropyl)alkanamide (HPA), a synthesized analogue of ceramide, inhibits ceramide transfer by CERT. Here we report crystal structures of the CERT START domain in complex with HPAs of varying acyl chain lengths. In these structures, one HPA molecule is buried in the amphiphilic cavity where the amide and hydroxyl groups of HPA form a hydrogen-bond network with specific amino acid residues. The Omega1 loop, which has been suggested to function as a gate of the cavity, adopts a different conformation when bound to HPA than when bound to ceramide. In the Omega1 loop region, Trp473 shows the largest difference between these two structures. This residue exists inside of the cavity in HPA-bound structures, while it is exposed to the outside of the protein in the apo-form and ceramide-bound complex structures. Surface plasmon resonance experiments confirmed that Trp473 is important for interaction with membranes. These results provide insights into not only the molecular mechanism of inhibition by HPAs but also possible mechanisms by which CERT interacts with ceramide.
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Abstract
Abstract
The various membranes in eukaryotic cells have unique lipid compositions. Despite important discoveries in lipid research over recent decades, the basic principles by which cells define their membrane compositions are essentially unknown. Cells must sense the concentration of each lipid, integrate such signals and regulate the activity of their metabolic enzymes and transport routes to dynamically meet their needs in terms of membrane composition. Sphingolipids constitute a lipid category that is essential for eukaryotic life and appears to be key to differences in lipid composition. Here we discuss recent findings that assign an important role to lipid transfer proteins in the regulation of sphingolipid metabolism, organization and function.
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Mattjus P. Glycolipid transfer proteins and membrane interaction. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-BIOMEMBRANES 2008; 1788:267-72. [PMID: 19007748 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2008.10.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2008] [Revised: 10/07/2008] [Accepted: 10/07/2008] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
The glycolipid transfer protein is found from animals and fungi to plants and red micro-alga. Some eukaryotes that do not encode the glucosylceramide synthase like the yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe and Saccharomyces cerevisiae do neither produce glycolipid transfer like proteins. On the other hand yeast like Eremothecium gossypii that do synthesize glucosylceramide also express glycolipid transfer protein. Based on this novel genetic relationship it is not far fetched to assume that there must be a strong correlation between the synthesis of the glycolipid precursor and the glycolipid transfer protein. Because the glycolipid transfer protein is localized in the cytosol it is unlikely that it would participate in events associated with lipid rafts or caveolar structures, since they are found on the outer leaflet of the plasma membrane. Rather, GLTP is likely to be involved in events at the cytosolic side of the plasma membrane or the endoplasmic reticulum, maybe function as a reporter or sensor of glycolipid levels. A similar function has been proposed for other proteins with affinity for lipids like the oxysterol binding proteins and phosphatidylinositol transfer proteins that are thought to be able act as lipid sensors. Recent discoveries in the glycolipid transfer protein field are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Mattjus
- Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacy, Abo Akademi University, Turku, Finland.
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