Import of phosphatidylserine to and export of phosphatidylethanolamine molecular species from mitochondria

Quantification of Phosphatidylserine Molecules on the Surface of Individual Cells Using Single-Molecule Force Spectroscopy

Identification of the phosphatidylserine (PS) discrepancies occurring on the cellular membrane during apoptotic processes is of the utmost importance. However, monitoring the quantity of PS molecules in real-time at a single-cell level currently remains a challenging task. Here, we demonstrate this objective by leveraging the specific binding and reversible interaction exhibited by the zinc(II) dipyridinamine complex (ZnDPA) with PS. Lipoic acid-functionalized ZnDPA (LP-ZnDPA) was subsequently immobilized onto the surface of an atomic force microscopy cantilever to form a force probe, ALP-ZnDPA, enabling a PS-specific dynamic imaging and detection mode. By utilizing this technique, we can not only create a heat map of the expression level of PS with submicron resolution but also quantify the number of molecules present on a single cell's surface with a detection limit of 1.86 × 104 molecules. The feasibility of the proposed method is demonstrated through the analysis of PS expression levels in different cancer cell lines and at various stages of paclitaxel-induced apoptosis. This study represents the first application of a force probe to quantify PS molecules on the surface of individual cells, providing insight into dynamic changes in PS content during apoptosis at the molecular level and introducing a novel dimension to current detection methodologies.

An organelle-specific photoactivation and dual-isotope labeling strategy reveals phosphatidylethanolamine metabolic flux

Phosphatidylethanolamine metabolism plays essential roles in eukaryotic cells but has not been completely investigated due to its complexity. This is because lipid species, unlike proteins or nucleic acids, cannot be easily manipulated at the single molecule level or controlled with subcellular resolution, two of the key factors toward understanding their functions. Here, we use the organelle-targeting photoactivation method to study PE metabolism in living cells with a high spatiotemporal resolution. Containing predefined PE structures, probes which can be selectively introduced into the ER or mitochondria were designed to compare their metabolic products according to their subcellular localization. We combined photo-uncaging with dual stable isotopic labeling to track PE metabolism in living cells by mass spectrometry analysis. Our results reveal that both mitochondria- and ER-released PE participate in phospholipid remodeling, and that PE methylation can be detected only under particular conditions. Thus, our method provides a framework to study phospholipid metabolism at subcellular resolution.

Phosphatidylethanolamine homeostasis under conditions of impaired CDP-ethanolamine pathway or phosphatidylserine decarboxylation

Phosphatidylethanolamine is the major inner-membrane lipid in the plasma and mitochondrial membranes. It is synthesized in the endoplasmic reticulum from ethanolamine and diacylglycerol (DAG) by the CDP-ethanolamine pathway and from phosphatidylserine by decarboxylation in the mitochondria. Recently, multiple genetic disorders that impact these pathways have been identified, including hereditary spastic paraplegia 81 and 82, Liberfarb syndrome, and a new type of childhood-onset neurodegeneration-CONATOC. Individuals with these diseases suffer from multisystem disorders mainly affecting neuronal function. This indicates the importance of maintaining proper phospholipid homeostasis when major biosynthetic pathways are impaired. This study summarizes the current knowledge of phosphatidylethanolamine metabolism in order to identify areas of future research that might lead to the development of treatment options.

Phosphatidylserine in Diabetes Research

Phospholipids are lipids that constitute the basic structure of cell membranes. In-depth research has shown that in addition to supporting cell structures, phospholipids participate in multiple cellular processes, including promoting cell signal transduction, guiding protein translocation, activating enzymatic activity, and eliminating dysfunctional/redundant organelles/cells. Diabetes is a chronic metabolic disease with a complicated etiology and pathology. Studies have shown that the level of certain phospholipids, for example, the ratio of phosphatidylcholine (PC) to phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) in liver tissue, is negatively associated with insulin sensitivity. In addition, PS is a phospholipid exhibiting extensive cellular functions in diabetes. For this review, we analyzed many PS studies focusing on diabetes and insulin sensitivity in recent years and found that PS participates in controlling insulin secretion, regulating insulin signaling transduction, and participating in the progression of diabetic complications by mediating coagulation disorders in the microvasculature or targeting mitochondria. Moreover, PS supplements in food and PS-containing liposomes have been shown to protect against type 1 and type 2 diabetes (T1D and T2D, respectively) in animal studies. Therefore, by summarizing the regulatory roles played by PS in diabetes and the potential of successfully using PS or PS-containing liposomes for diabetic therapy, we hope to provide new ideas for further research into the mechanisms of diabetes and for drug development for treating diabetes and its complications.

Molecular species selectivity of lipid transport creates a mitochondrial sink for di-unsaturated phospholipids

Mitochondria depend on the import of phospholipid precursors for the biosynthesis of phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) and cardiolipin, yet the mechanism of their transport remains elusive. A dynamic lipidomics approach revealed that mitochondria preferentially import di-unsaturated phosphatidylserine (PS) for subsequent conversion to PE by the mitochondrial PS decarboxylase Psd1p. Several protein complexes tethering mitochondria to the endomembrane system have been implicated in lipid transport in yeast, including the endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-mitochondrial encounter structure (ERMES), ER-membrane complex (EMC), and the vacuole and mitochondria patch (vCLAMP). By limiting the availability of unsaturated phospholipids, we created conditions to investigate the mechanism of lipid transfer and the contributions of the tethering complexes in vivo. Under these conditions, inactivation of ERMES components or of the vCLAMP component Vps39p exacerbated accumulation of saturated lipid acyl chains, indicating that ERMES and Vps39p contribute to the mitochondrial sink for unsaturated acyl chains by mediating transfer of di-unsaturated phospholipids. These results support the concept that intermembrane lipid flow is rate-limited by molecular species-dependent lipid efflux from the donor membrane and driven by the lipid species' concentration gradient between donor and acceptor membrane.

Phosphatidylserine biosynthesis pathways in lipid homeostasis: Toward resolution of the pending central issue for decades

Enzymatic control of lipid homeostasis in the cell is a vital element in the complex organization of life. Phosphatidylserine (PS) is an essential anionic phospholipid of cell membranes, and conducts numerous roles for their structural and functional integrity. In mammalian cells, two distinct enzymes phosphatidylserine synthases-1 (PSS1) and -2 (PSS2) in the mitochondria-associated membrane (MAM) in the ER perform de novo synthesis of PS. It is based on base-exchange reactions of the preexisting dominant phospholipids phosphatidylcholine (PC) and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE). While PSS2 specifically catalyzes the reaction "PE → PS," whether or not PSS1 is responsible for the same reaction along with the reaction "PC → PS" remains unsettled despite its fundamental impact on the major stoichiometry. We propose here that a key but the only report that appeared to have put scientists on hold for decades in answering to this issue may be viewed consistently with other available research reports; PSS1 utilizes the two dominant phospholipid classes at a similar intrinsic rate. In this review, we discuss the issue in view of the current information for the enzyme machineries, membrane structure and dynamics, intracellular network of lipid transport, and PS synthesis in health and disease. Resolution of the pending issue is thus critical in advancing our understanding of roles of the essential anionic lipid in biology, health, and disease.

PE homeostasis rebalanced through mitochondria-ER lipid exchange prevents retinal degeneration in Drosophila

The major glycerophospholipid phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) in the nervous system is essential for neural development and function. There are two major PE synthesis pathways, the CDP-ethanolamine pathway in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and the phosphatidylserine decarboxylase (PSD) pathway in mitochondria. However, the role played by mitochondrial PE synthesis in maintaining cellular PE homeostasis is unknown. Here, we show that Drosophila pect (phosphoethanolamine cytidylyltransferase) mutants lacking the CDP-ethanolamine pathway, exhibited alterations in phospholipid composition, defective phototransduction, and retinal degeneration. Induction of the PSD pathway fully restored levels and composition of cellular PE, thus rescued the retinal degeneration and defective visual responses in pect mutants. Disrupting lipid exchange between mitochondria and ER blocked the ability of PSD to rescue pect mutant phenotypes. These findings provide direct evidence that the synthesis of PE in mitochondria contributes to cellular PE homeostasis, and suggest the induction of mitochondrial PE synthesis as a promising therapeutic approach for disorders associated with PE deficiency.

Mitochondrial Metabolism, Contact Sites and Cellular Calcium Signaling: Implications for Tumorigenesis

Mitochondria are organelles that are mainly involved in the generation of ATP by cellular respiration. In addition, they modulate several intracellular functions, ranging from cell proliferation and differentiation to cell death. Importantly, mitochondria are social and can interact with other organelles, such as the Endoplasmic Reticulum, lysosomes and peroxisomes. This symbiotic relationship gives advantages to both partners in regulating some of their functions related to several aspects of cell survival, metabolism, sensitivity to cell death and metastasis, which can all finally contribute to tumorigenesis. Moreover, growing evidence indicates that modulation of the length and/or numbers of these contacts, as well as of the distance between the two engaged organelles, impacts both on their function as well as on cellular signaling. In this review, we discuss recent advances in the field of contacts and communication between mitochondria and other intracellular organelles, focusing on how the tuning of mitochondrial function might impact on both the interaction with other organelles as well as on intracellular signaling in cancer development and progression, with a special focus on calcium signaling.

Targeting phosphatidylserine for Cancer therapy: prospects and challenges

Cancer is a leading cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide. Despite major improvements in current therapeutic methods, ideal therapeutic strategies for improved tumor elimination are still lacking. Recently, immunotherapy has attracted much attention, and many immune-active agents have been approved for clinical use alone or in combination with other cancer drugs. However, some patients have a poor response to these agents. New agents and strategies are needed to overcome such deficiencies. Phosphatidylserine (PS) is an essential component of bilayer cell membranes and is normally present in the inner leaflet. In the physiological state, PS exposure on the external leaflet not only acts as an engulfment signal for phagocytosis in apoptotic cells but also participates in blood coagulation, myoblast fusion and immune regulation in nonapoptotic cells. In the tumor microenvironment, PS exposure is significantly increased on the surface of tumor cells or tumor cell-derived microvesicles, which have innate immunosuppressive properties and facilitate tumor growth and metastasis. To date, agents targeting PS have been developed, some of which are under investigation in clinical trials as combination drugs for various cancers. However, controversial results are emerging in laboratory research as well as in clinical trials, and the efficiency of PS-targeting agents remains uncertain. In this review, we summarize recent progress in our understanding of the physiological and pathological roles of PS, with a focus on immune suppressive features. In addition, we discuss current drug developments that are based on PS-targeting strategies in both experimental and clinical studies. We hope to provide a future research direction for the development of new agents for cancer therapy.

Effects of dietary arachidonic acid in European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) distal intestine lipid classes and gut health

The use of low fishmeal/fish oil in marine fish diets affects dietary essential fatty acids (EFAs) composition and concentration and, subsequently, may produce a marginal deficiency of those fatty acids with a direct impact on the fish intestinal physiology. Supplementation of essential fatty acids is necessary to cover the requirements of the different EFAs, including the ones belonging to the n-6 series, such as arachidonic acid (ARA). ARA, besides its structural role in the configuration of the lipid classes of the intestine, plays an important role in the functionality of the gut-associated immune tissue (GALT). The present study aimed to test five levels of dietary ARA (ARA0.5 (0.5%), ARA1 (1%), ARA2 (2%), ARA4 (4%), and ARA6 (6%)) for European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) juveniles in order to determine (a) its effect in selected distal intestine (DI) lipid classes composition and (b) how these changes affected gut bacterial translocation rates and selected GALT-related gene expression pre and post challenge. No differences were found between distal intestines of fish fed with the graded ARA levels in total neutral lipids and total polar lipids. However, DI of fish fed with the ARA6 diet presented a higher (P < 0.05) level of phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) and sphingomyelin (SM) than those DI of fish fed with the ARA0.5 diet. In general terms, fatty acid profiles of DI lipid classes mirrored those of the diet dietary. Nevertheless, selective retention of ARA could be observed in glycerophospholipids when dietary levels are low (diet ARA0.5), as reflected in the higher glycerophospholipids-ARA/dietary-ARA ratio for those animals. Increased ARA dietary supplementation was inversely correlated with eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) content in lipid classes, when data from fish fed with the diets with the same basal composition (diets ARA1 to ARA6). ARA supplementation did not affect intestinal morphometry, goblet cell number, or fish survival, in terms of gut bacterial translocation, along the challenge test. However, after the experimental infection with Vibrio anguillarum, the relative expression of cox-2 and il-1β were upregulated (P < 0.05) in DI of fish fed with the diets ARA0.5 and ARA2 compared with fish fed with the rest of the experimental diets. Although dietary ARA did not affect fish survival, it altered the fatty acid composition of glycerophospholipids and the expression of pro-inflammatory genes after infection when included at the lowest concentration, which could be compromising the physical and the immune functionality of the DI, denoting the importance of ARA supplementation when low FO diets are used for marine fish.

Parkinson's disease-associated iPLA2-VIA/PLA2G6 regulates neuronal functions and α-synuclein stability through membrane remodeling

The mechanisms of α-synuclein aggregation and subsequent Lewy body formation are a key pathogenesis of Parkinson’s disease (PD). PARK14-linked PD, which is caused by mutations of the iPLA2-VIA/PLA2G6 gene, exhibits a marked Lewy body pathology. iPLA2-VIA, which belongs to the phospholipase A₂ family, is another causative gene of neurodegeneration with brain iron accumulation (NBIA). Here, we demonstrate that iPLA2-VIA loss results in acyl-chain shortening in phospholipids, which affects ER homeostasis and neurotransmission and promotes α-synuclein aggregation. The administration of linoleic acid or the overexpression of C19orf12, one of the NBIA-causative genes, also suppresses the acyl-chain shortening by iPLA2-VIA loss. The rescue of iPLA2-VIA phenotypes by C19orf12 provides significant molecular insight into the underlying common pathogenesis of PD and NBIA.

Mutations in the iPLA2-VIA/PLA2G6 gene are responsible for PARK14-linked Parkinson’s disease (PD) with α-synucleinopathy. However, it is unclear how iPLA2-VIA mutations lead to α-synuclein (α-Syn) aggregation and dopaminergic (DA) neurodegeneration. Here, we report that iPLA2-VIA–deficient Drosophila exhibits defects in neurotransmission during early developmental stages and progressive cell loss throughout the brain, including degeneration of the DA neurons. Lipid analysis of brain tissues reveals that the acyl-chain length of phospholipids is shortened by iPLA2-VIA loss, which causes endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress through membrane lipid disequilibrium. The introduction of wild-type human iPLA2-VIA or the mitochondria–ER contact site-resident protein C19orf12 in iPLA2-VIA–deficient flies rescues the phenotypes associated with altered lipid composition, ER stress, and DA neurodegeneration, whereas the introduction of a disease-associated missense mutant, iPLA2-VIA A80T, fails to suppress these phenotypes. The acceleration of α-Syn aggregation by iPLA2-VIA loss is suppressed by the administration of linoleic acid, correcting the brain lipid composition. Our findings suggest that membrane remodeling by iPLA2-VIA is required for the survival of DA neurons and α-Syn stability.

The Liberfarb syndrome, a multisystem disorder affecting eye, ear, bone, and brain development, is caused by a founder pathogenic variant in thePISD gene

Purpose

We observed four individuals in two unrelated but consanguineous families from Portugal and Brazil affected by early-onset retinal degeneration, sensorineural hearing loss, microcephaly, intellectual disability, and skeletal dysplasia with scoliosis and short stature. The phenotype precisely matched that of an individual of Azorean descent published in 1986 by Liberfarb and coworkers.

Methods

Patients underwent specialized clinical examinations (including ophthalmological, audiological, orthopedic, radiological, and developmental assessment). Exome and targeted sequencing was performed on selected individuals. Minigene constructs were assessed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and Sanger sequencing.

Results

Affected individuals shared a 3.36-Mb region of autozygosity on chromosome 22q12.2, including a 10-bp deletion (NM_014338.3:c.904-12_904-3delCTATCACCAC), immediately upstream of the last exon of the PISD (phosphatidylserine decarboxylase) gene. Sequencing of PISD from paraffin-embedded tissue from the 1986 case revealed the identical homozygous variant. In HEK293T cells, this variant led to aberrant splicing of PISD transcripts.

Conclusion

We have identified the genetic etiology of the Liberfarb syndrome, affecting brain, eye, ear, bone, and connective tissue. Our work documents the migration of a rare Portuguese founder variant to two continents and highlights the link between phospholipid metabolism and bone formation, sensory defects, and cerebral development, while raising the possibility of therapeutic phospholipid replacement.

Lipid synthesis and transport are coupled to regulate membrane lipid dynamics in the endoplasmic reticulum

Structural lipids are mostly synthesized in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), from which they are actively transported to the membranes of other organelles. Lipids can leave the ER through vesicular trafficking or non-vesicular lipid transfer and, curiously, both processes can be regulated either by the transported lipid cargos themselves or by different secondary lipid species. For most structural lipids, transport out of the ER membrane is a key regulatory component controlling their synthesis. Distribution of the lipids between the two leaflets of the ER bilayer or between the ER and other membranes is also critical for maintaining the unique membrane properties of each cellular organelle. How cells integrate these processes within the ER depends on fine spatial segregation of the molecular components and intricate metabolic channeling, both of which we are only beginning to understand. This review will summarize some of these complex processes and attempt to identify the organizing principles that start to emerge. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled Endoplasmic reticulum platforms for lipid dynamics edited by Shamshad Cockcroft and Christopher Stefan.

Strangers in strange lands: mitochondrial proteins found at extra-mitochondrial locations

The mitochondrial proteome is estimated to contain ∼1100 proteins, the vast majority of which are nuclear-encoded, with only 13 proteins encoded by the mitochondrial genome. The import of these nuclear-encoded proteins into mitochondria was widely believed to be unidirectional, but recent discoveries have revealed that many these ‘mitochondrial’ proteins are exported, and have extra-mitochondrial activities divergent from their mitochondrial function. Surprisingly, three of the exported proteins discovered thus far are mitochondrially encoded and have significantly different extra-mitochondrial roles than those performed within the mitochondrion. In this review, we will detail the wide variety of proteins once thought to only reside within mitochondria, but now known to ‘emigrate’ from mitochondria in order to attain ‘dual citizenship’, present both within mitochondria and elsewhere.

Lipid Homeostasis Is Maintained by Dual Targeting of the Mitochondrial PE Biosynthesis Enzyme to the ER

Spatial organization of phospholipid synthesis in eukaryotes is critical for cellular homeostasis. The synthesis of phosphatidylcholine (PC), the most abundant cellular phospholipid, occurs redundantly via the ER-localized Kennedy pathway and a pathway that traverses the ER and mitochondria via membrane contact sites. The basis of the ER-mitochondrial PC synthesis pathway is the exclusive mitochondrial localization of a key pathway enzyme, phosphatidylserine decarboxylase Psd1, which generates phosphatidylethanolamine (PE). We find that Psd1 is localized to both mitochondria and the ER. Our data indicate that Psd1-dependent PE made at mitochondria and the ER has separable cellular functions. In addition, the relative organellar localization of Psd1 is dynamically modulated based on metabolic needs. These data reveal a critical role for ER-localized Psd1 in cellular phospholipid homeostasis, question the significance of an ER-mitochondrial PC synthesis pathway to cellular phospholipid homeostasis, and establish the importance of fine spatial regulation of lipid biosynthesis for cellular functions.

Mass-spectrometry-based lipidomics

Lipids, which have a core function in energy storage, signalling and biofilm structures, play important roles in a variety of cellular processes because of the great diversity of their structural and physiochemical properties. Lipidomics is the large-scale profiling and quantification of biogenic lipid molecules, the comprehensive study of their pathways and the interpretation of their physiological significance based on analytical chemistry and statistical analysis. Lipidomics will not only provide insight into the physiological functions of lipid molecules but will also provide an approach to discovering important biomarkers for diagnosis or treatment of human diseases. Mass-spectrometry-based analytical techniques are currently the most widely used and most effective tools for lipid profiling and quantification. In this review, the field of mass-spectrometry-based lipidomics was discussed. Recent progress in all essential steps in lipidomics was carefully discussed in this review, including lipid extraction strategies, separation techniques and mass-spectrometry-based analytical and quantitative methods in lipidomics. We also focused on novel resolution strategies for difficult problems in determining C=C bond positions in lipidomics. Finally, new technologies that were developed in recent years including single-cell lipidomics, flux-based lipidomics and multiomics technologies were also reviewed.

Interaction of Mitochondria with the Endoplasmic Reticulum and Plasma Membrane in Calcium Homeostasis, Lipid Trafficking and Mitochondrial Structure

Studying organelles in isolation has been proven to be indispensable for deciphering the underlying mechanisms of molecular cell biology. However, observing organelles in intact cells with the use of microscopic techniques reveals a new set of different junctions and contact sites between them that contribute to the control and regulation of various cellular processes, such as calcium and lipid exchange or structural reorganization of the mitochondrial network. In recent years, many studies focused their attention on the structure and function of contacts between mitochondria and other organelles. From these studies, findings emerged showing that these contacts are involved in various processes, such as lipid synthesis and trafficking, modulation of mitochondrial morphology, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, apoptosis, autophagy, inflammation and Ca2+ handling. In this review, we focused on the physical interactions of mitochondria with the endoplasmic reticulum and plasma membrane and summarized present knowledge regarding the role of mitochondria-associated membranes in calcium homeostasis and lipid metabolism.

Metabolic Heavy Isotope Labeling to Study Glycerophospholipid Homeostasis of Cultured Cells

Glycerophospholipids consist of a glycerophosphate backbone to which are esterified two acyl chains and a polar head group. The head group (e.g., choline, ethanolamine, serine or inositol) defines the glycerophospholipid class, while the acyl chains together with the head group define the glycerophospholipid molecular species. Stable heavy isotope (e.g., deuterium)-labeled head group precursors added to the culture medium incorporate efficiently into glycerophospholipids of mammalian cells, which allows one to determine the rates of synthesis, acyl chain remodeling or turnover of the individual glycerophospholipids using mass spectrometry. This protocol describes how to study the metabolism of the major mammalian glycerophospholipids i.e., phosphatidylcholines, phosphatidylethanolamines, phosphatidylserines and phosphatidylinositols with this approach.

Simple and rapid biochemical method to synthesize labeled or unlabeled phosphatidylinositol species

Phosphatidylinositol (PI) is the precursor of many important signaling molecules in eukaryotic cells and, most probably, PI also has important functions in cellular membranes. However, these functions are poorly understood, which is largely due to that i) only few PI species with specific acyl chains are available commercially and ii) there are no simple methods to synthesize such species. Here, we present a simple biochemical protocol to synthesize a variety of labeled or unlabeled PI species from corresponding commercially available phosphatidylcholines. The protocol can be carried out in a single vial in a two-step process which employs three enzymatic reactions mediated by i) commercial phospholipase D from Streptomyces chromofuscus, ii) CDP-diacylglycerol synthase overexpressed in E. coli and iii) PI synthase of Arabidopsis thaliana ectopically expressed in E. coli The PI product is readily purified from the reaction mixture by liquid chromatography since E. coli does not contain endogenous PI or other coeluting lipids. The method allows one to synthesize and purify labeled or unlabeled PI species in 1 or 2 days.Typically, 40-60% of (unsaturated) PC was converted to PI albeit the final yield of PI was less (25-35%) due to losses upon purification.

The critical role of phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine metabolism in health and disease

Phosphatidylcholine (PC) and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) are the most abundant phospholipids in all mammalian cell membranes. In the 1950s, Eugene Kennedy and co-workers performed groundbreaking research that established the general outline of many of the pathways of phospholipid biosynthesis. In recent years, the importance of phospholipid metabolism in regulating lipid, lipoprotein and whole-body energy metabolism has been demonstrated in numerous dietary studies and knockout animal models. The purpose of this review is to highlight the unappreciated impact of phospholipid metabolism on health and disease. Abnormally high, and abnormally low, cellular PC/PE molar ratios in various tissues can influence energy metabolism and have been linked to disease progression. For example, inhibition of hepatic PC synthesis impairs very low density lipoprotein secretion and changes in hepatic phospholipid composition have been linked to fatty liver disease and impaired liver regeneration after surgery. The relative abundance of PC and PE regulates the size and dynamics of lipid droplets. In mitochondria, changes in the PC/PE molar ratio affect energy production. We highlight data showing that changes in the PC and/or PE content of various tissues are implicated in metabolic disorders such as atherosclerosis, insulin resistance and obesity. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Membrane Lipid Therapy: Drugs Targeting Biomembranes edited by Pablo V. Escribá.

Iron and ferroptosis: A still ill-defined liaison

Ferroptosis is a recently described form of regulated necrotic cell death, which appears to contribute to a number of diseases, such as tissue ischemia/reperfusion injury, acute renal failure, and neurodegeneration. A hallmark of ferroptosis is iron-dependent lipid peroxidation, which can be inhibited by the key ferroptosis regulator glutathione peroxidase 4(Gpx4), radical trapping antioxidants and ferroptosis-specific inhibitors, such as ferrostatins and liproxstatins, as well as iron chelation. Although great strides have been made towards a better understanding of the proximate signals of distinctive lipid peroxides in ferroptosis, still little is known about the mechanistic implication of iron in the ferroptotic process. Hence, this review aims at summarizing recent advances in our understanding to what is known about enzymatic and nonenzymatic routes of lipid peroxidation, the involvement of iron in this process and the identification of novel players in ferroptotic cell death. Additionally, we review early works carried out long time before the term "ferroptosis" was actually introduced but which were instrumental in a better understanding of the role of ferroptosis in physiological and pathophysiological contexts. © 2017 IUBMB Life, 69(6):423-434, 2017.

Chemical Compensation of Mitochondrial Phospholipid Depletion in Yeast and Animal Models of Parkinson's Disease

We have been investigating the role that phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) and phosphatidylcholine (PC) content plays in modulating the solubility of the Parkinson’s disease protein alpha-synuclein (α-syn) using Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Caenorhabditis elegans. One enzyme that synthesizes PE is the conserved enzyme phosphatidylserine decarboxylase (Psd1/yeast; PSD-1/worms), which is lodged in the inner mitochondrial membrane. We previously found that decreasing the level of PE due to knockdown of Psd1/psd-1 affects the homeostasis of α-syn in vivo. In S. cerevisiae, the co-occurrence of low PE and α-syn in psd1Δ cells triggers mitochondrial defects, stress in the endoplasmic reticulum, misprocessing of glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored proteins, and a 3-fold increase in the level of α-syn. The goal of this study was to identify drugs that rescue this phenotype. We screened the Prestwick library of 1121 Food and Drug Administration-approved drugs using psd1Δ + α-syn cells and identified cyclosporin A, meclofenoxate hydrochloride, and sulfaphenazole as putative protective compounds. The protective activity of these drugs was corroborated using C. elegans in which α-syn is expressed specifically in the dopaminergic neurons, with psd-1 depleted by RNAi. Worm populations were examined for dopaminergic neuron survival following psd-1 knockdown. Exposure to cyclosporine, meclofenoxate, and sulfaphenazole significantly enhanced survival at day 7 in α-syn-expressing worm populations whereby 50–55% of the populations displayed normal neurons, compared to only 10–15% of untreated animals. We also found that all three drugs rescued worms expressing α-syn in dopaminergic neurons that were deficient in the phospholipid cardiolipin following cardiolipin synthase (crls-1) depletion by RNAi. We discuss how these drugs might block α-syn pathology in dopaminergic neurons.

Cell biology, physiology and enzymology of phosphatidylserine decarboxylase

Phosphatidylethanolamine is one of the most abundant phospholipids whose major amounts are formed by phosphatidylserine decarboxylases (PSD). Here we provide a comprehensive description of different types of PSDs in the different kingdoms of life. In eukaryotes, type I PSDs are mitochondrial enzymes, whereas other PSDs are localized to other cellular compartments. We describe the role of mitochondrial Psd1 proteins, their function, enzymology, biogenesis, assembly into mitochondria and their contribution to phospholipid homeostasis in much detail. We also discuss briefly the cellular physiology and the enzymology of Psd2. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Lipids of Mitochondria edited by Guenther Daum.

Endoplasmic reticulum-mitochondrial interaction mediated by mitofusin-1 or mitofusin-2 is not required for lipid droplet formation or adipocyte differentiation

Organelles in cells physically interact with each other. Specifically, the interaction of ER and mitochondria has been shown to be important for transporting lipids between these two organelles. Lipid droplets are also closely associated with both the ER and mitochondria suggesting the interaction of ER and mitochondria may be important for triacylglycerol storage in lipid droplets. We tested the hypothesis that the efficient synthesis and storage of triacylglycerol in lipid droplets is dependent on the interaction of the ER and mitochondria using mouse embryonic fibroblasts lacking mitofusin-2 (Mfn2). Mfn2 is a GTPase that is present in mitochondrial-associated membranes (MAM) and is also present in the outer mitochondrial membrane. Mfn2 in MAM and mitochondria interact forming an interorganellar bridge. Cells lacking Mfn2 have loose ER-mitochondria contact. We found that mouse embryonic fibroblasts lacking Mfn2 have altered lipid droplet morphology. However, triacylglycerol biosynthesis was not dependent on ER-mitochondrial tethering mediated by mitofusins. Lastly, Mfn2 does not have a role in adipocyte differentiation.

Is Spontaneous Translocation of Polar Lipids Between Cellular Organelles Negligible?

In most reviews addressing intracellular lipid trafficking, spontaneous diffusion of lipid monomers between the cellular organelles is considered biologically irrelevant because it is thought to be far too slow to significantly contribute to organelle biogenesis. This view is based on intervesicle transfer experiments carried out in vitro with few lipids as well as on the view that lipids are highly hydrophobic and thus cannot undergo spontaneous intermembrane diffusion at a significant rate. However, besides that single-chain lipids can translocate between vesicles in seconds, it has been demonstrated that the rate of spontaneous transfer of two-chain polar lipids can vary even 1000-fold, depending on the number of carbons and double bonds in the acyl chains. In addition, the rate of spontaneous lipid transfer can strongly depend on the experimental conditions such as vesicle composition and concentration. This review examines the studies suggesting that spontaneous lipid transfer is probably more relevant to intracellular trafficking of amphipathic lipids than commonly thought.

Phosphatidylethanolamine Metabolism in Health and Disease

Phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) is the second most abundant glycerophospholipid in eukaryotic cells. The existence of four only partially redundant biochemical pathways that produce PE, highlights the importance of this essential phospholipid. The CDP-ethanolamine and phosphatidylserine decarboxylase pathways occur in different subcellular compartments and are the main sources of PE in cells. Mammalian development fails upon ablation of either pathway. Once made, PE has diverse cellular functions that include serving as a precursor for phosphatidylcholine and a substrate for important posttranslational modifications, influencing membrane topology, and promoting cell and organelle membrane fusion, oxidative phosphorylation, mitochondrial biogenesis, and autophagy. The importance of PE metabolism in mammalian health has recently emerged following its association with Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, nonalcoholic liver disease, and the virulence of certain pathogenic organisms.

ER-to-mitochondria miscommunication and metabolic diseases

Eukaryotic cells contain a variety of subcellular organelles, each of which performs unique tasks. Thus follows that in order to coordinate these different intracellular functions, a highly dynamic system of communication must exist between the various compartments. Direct endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-mitochondria communication is facilitated by the physical interaction of their membranes in dedicated structural domains known as mitochondria-associated membranes (MAMs), which facilitate calcium (Ca(2+)) and lipid transfer between organelles and also act as platforms for signaling. Numerous studies have demonstrated the importance of MAM in ensuring correct function of both organelles, and recently MAMs have been implicated in the genesis of various human diseases. Here, we review the salient structural features of interorganellar communication via MAM and discuss the most common experimental techniques employed to assess functionality of these domains. Finally, we will highlight the contribution of MAM to a variety of cellular functions and consider the potential role of MAM in the genesis of metabolic diseases. In doing so, the importance for cell functions of maintaining appropriate communication between ER and mitochondria will be emphasized.

Lipid disequilibrium in biological membranes, a possible pathway to neurodegeneration

We recently reported that knocking down the enzyme phosphatidylserine decarboxylase, which synthesizes the phospholipid phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) in mitochondria, perturbs the homeostasis of the human Parkinson disease (PD) protein α-synuclein (expressed in yeast or worms). In yeast, low PE in the psd1Δ deletion mutant induces α-synuclein to enter cytoplasmic foci, the level of this protein increases 3-fold compared to wild-type cells, and the mutant cells are severely sick. The metabolite ethanolamine protects both yeast and worms from the deleterious synergistic effects of low mitochondrial PE and α-synuclein. Here we highlight a Drosophila mutant called easily shocked-thought to be a model of epilepsy-that cannot use ethanolamine to synthesize PE. We also highlight recently identified mutated genes associated with defective lipid metabolism in PD and epilepsy patients. We propose that disruptions in lipid homeostasis (synthesis and degradation) may be responsible for some cases of PD and epilepsy.

Phosphatidylethanolamine deficiency disrupts α-synuclein homeostasis in yeast and worm models of Parkinson disease

Phosphatidylserine decarboxylase, which is embedded in the inner mitochondrial membrane, synthesizes phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) and, in some cells, synthesizes the majority of this important phospholipid. Normal levels of PE can decline with age in the brain. Here we used yeast and worms to test the hypothesis that low levels of PE alter the homeostasis of the Parkinson disease-associated protein α-synuclein (α-syn). In yeast, low levels of PE in the phosphatidylserine decarboxylase deletion mutant (psd1Δ) cause decreased respiration, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, a defect in the trafficking of the uracil permease, α-syn accumulation and foci, and a slow growth phenotype. Supplemental ethanolamine (ETA), which can be converted to PE via the Kennedy pathway enzymes in the ER, had no effect on respiration, whereas, in contrast, this metabolite partially eliminated ER stress, decreased α-syn foci formation, and restored growth close to that of wild-type cells. In Caenorhabditis elegans, RNAi depletion of phosphatidylserine decarboxylase in dopaminergic neurons expressing α-syn accelerates neurodegeneration, which supplemental ETA rescues. ETA fails to rescue this degeneration in worms that undergo double RNAi depletion of phosphatidylserine decarboxylase (psd-1) and choline/ETA phosphotransferase (cept-1), which encodes the last enzyme in the CDP-ETA Kennedy pathway. This finding suggests that ETA exerts its protective effect by boosting PE through the Kennedy pathway. Overall, a low level of PE causes ER stress, disrupts vesicle trafficking, and causes α-syn to accumulate; such cells likely die from a combination of ER stress and excessive accumulation of α-syn.

At the right distance: ER-mitochondria juxtaposition in cell life and death

The interface between mitochondria and the endoplasmic reticulum is emerging as a crucial hub for calcium signalling, apoptosis, autophagy and lipid biosynthesis, with far reaching implications in cell life and death and in the regulation of mitochondrial and endoplasmic reticulum function. Here we review our current knowledge on the structural and functional aspects of this interorganellar juxtaposition. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Calcium Signaling In Health and Disease. Guest Editors: Geert Bultynck, Jacques Haiech, Claus W. Heizmann, Joachim Krebs, and Marc Moreau.

Formation and regulation of mitochondrial membranes

Mitochondrial membrane phospholipids are essential for the mitochondrial architecture, the activity of respiratory proteins, and the transport of proteins into the mitochondria. The accumulation of phospholipids within mitochondria depends on a coordinate synthesis, degradation, and trafficking of phospholipids between the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and mitochondria as well as intramitochondrial lipid trafficking. Several studies highlight the contribution of dietary fatty acids to the remodeling of phospholipids and mitochondrial membrane homeostasis. Understanding the role of phospholipids in the mitochondrial membrane and their metabolism will shed light on the molecular mechanisms involved in the regulation of mitochondrial function and in the mitochondrial-related diseases.

MAM (mitochondria-associated membranes) in mammalian cells: lipids and beyond

One mechanism by which communication between the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and mitochondria is achieved is by close juxtaposition between these organelles via mitochondria-associated membranes (MAM). The MAM consist of a region of the ER that is enriched in several lipid biosynthetic enzyme activities and becomes reversibly tethered to mitochondria. Specific proteins are localized, sometimes transiently, in the MAM. Several of these proteins have been implicated in tethering the MAM to mitochondria. In mammalian cells, formation of these contact sites between MAM and mitochondria appears to be required for key cellular events including the transport of calcium from the ER to mitochondria, the import of phosphatidylserine into mitochondria from the ER for decarboxylation to phosphatidylethanolamine, the formation of autophagosomes, regulation of the morphology, dynamics and functions of mitochondria, and cell survival. This review focuses on the functions proposed for MAM in mediating these events in mammalian cells. In light of the apparent involvement of MAM in multiple fundamental cellular processes, recent studies indicate that impaired contact between MAM and mitochondria might underlie the pathology of several human neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease. Moreover, MAM has been implicated in modulating glucose homeostasis and insulin resistance, as well as in some viral infections.

Phosphatidylethanolamine deficiency in Mammalian mitochondria impairs oxidative phosphorylation and alters mitochondrial morphology

Mitochondrial dysfunction is implicated in neurodegenerative, cardiovascular, and metabolic disorders, but the role of phospholipids, particularly the nonbilayer-forming lipid phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), in mitochondrial function is poorly understood. Elimination of mitochondrial PE (mtPE) synthesis via phosphatidylserine decarboxylase in mice profoundly alters mitochondrial morphology and is embryonic lethal (Steenbergen, R., Nanowski, T. S., Beigneux, A., Kulinski, A., Young, S. G., and Vance, J. E. (2005) J. Biol. Chem. 280, 40032-40040). We now report that moderate <30% depletion of mtPE alters mitochondrial morphology and function and impairs cell growth. Acute reduction of mtPE by RNAi silencing of phosphatidylserine decarboxylase and chronic reduction of mtPE in PSB-2 cells that have only 5% of normal phosphatidylserine synthesis decreased respiratory capacity, ATP production, and activities of electron transport chain complexes (C) I and CIV but not CV. Blue native-PAGE analysis revealed defects in the organization of CI and CIV into supercomplexes in PE-deficient mitochondria, correlated with reduced amounts of CI and CIV proteins. Thus, mtPE deficiency impairs formation and/or membrane integration of respiratory supercomplexes. Despite normal or increased levels of mitochondrial fusion proteins in mtPE-deficient cells, and no reduction in mitochondrial membrane potential, mitochondria were extensively fragmented, and mitochondrial ultrastructure was grossly aberrant. In general, chronic reduction of mtPE caused more pronounced mitochondrial defects than did acute mtPE depletion. The functional and morphological changes in PSB-2 cells were largely reversed by normalization of mtPE content by supplementation with lyso-PE, a mtPE precursor. These studies demonstrate that even a modest reduction of mtPE in mammalian cells profoundly alters mitochondrial functions.