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Albani S, Eswaran VSB, Piergentili A, de Souza PCT, Lampert A, Rossetti G. Depletion of membrane cholesterol modifies structure, dynamic and activation of Na v1.7. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 278:134219. [PMID: 39097041 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.134219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2024] [Revised: 07/25/2024] [Accepted: 07/25/2024] [Indexed: 08/05/2024]
Abstract
Cholesterol is a major component of plasma membranes and plays a significant role in actively regulating the functioning of several membrane proteins in humans. In this study, we focus on the role of cholesterol depletion on the voltage-gated sodium channel Nav1.7, which is primarily expressed in the peripheral sensory neurons and linked to various chronic inherited pain syndromes. Coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations revealed key dynamic changes of Nav1.7 upon membrane cholesterol depletion: A loss of rigidity in the structural motifs linked to activation and fast-inactivation is observed, suggesting an easier transition of the channel between different gating states. In-vitro whole-cell patch clamp experiments on HEK293t cells expressing Nav1.7 validated these predictions at the functional level: Hyperpolarizing shifts in the voltage-dependence of activation and fast-inactivation were observed along with an acceleration of the time to peak and onset kinetics of fast inactivation. These results underline the critical role of membrane composition, and of cholesterol in particular, in influencing Nav1.7 gating characteristics. Furthermore, our results also point to cholesterol-driven changes of the geometry of drug-binding regions, hinting to a key role of the membrane environment in the regulation of drug effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone Albani
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-9)/Institute for Advanced Simulation (IAS-5), Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, Wilhelm-Johnen-Straße, 52425 Jülich, Germany; Faculty of Biology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | | | - Alessia Piergentili
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-9)/Institute for Advanced Simulation (IAS-5), Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, Wilhelm-Johnen-Straße, 52425 Jülich, Germany; Faculty of Biology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany; Department of Neurology, University Hospital Aachen, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstraße 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Paulo Cesar Telles de Souza
- Laboratoire de Biologie et Modélisation de la Cellule, CNRS, UMR 5239, Inserm, U1293, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, 46 Allée d'Italie, 69364 Lyon, France; Centre Blaise Pascal de Simulation et de Modélisation Numérique, Ecole Normale, Supérieure de Lyon, 46 All'ee d'Italie, 69364 Lyon, France
| | - Angelika Lampert
- Institute of Neurophysiology, Uniklinik RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany.
| | - Giulia Rossetti
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-9)/Institute for Advanced Simulation (IAS-5), Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, Wilhelm-Johnen-Straße, 52425 Jülich, Germany; Jülich Supercomputing Centre (JSC), Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, Wilhelm-Johnen-Straße, 52425 Jülich, Germany; Department of Neurology, University Hospital Aachen, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstraße 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany.
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Xu Y, Sun J, Yang L, Zhao S, Liu X, Su Y, Zhang J, Zhao M. Gangliosides play important roles in the nervous system by regulating ion concentrations. Neurochem Res 2022; 47:1791-1798. [PMID: 35426597 DOI: 10.1007/s11064-022-03576-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2021] [Revised: 03/07/2022] [Accepted: 03/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Gangliosides are important components of the neuronal cell membrane and play a vital role in the development of neurons and the brain. They participate in neurotransmission and are considered as the structural basis of learning and memory. Gangliosides participate in several and important physiological processes, such as cell differentiation, cell signaling, neuroprotection, nerve regeneration and apoptosis. The stability of ion concentration in excitable cells is particularly important in the maintenance of a steady state of cells and in the regulation of physiological functions. Ion concentration has been found to be related to the ganglioside's regulation in many neurological diseases, and several studies have found that they can stabilize intracellular ion concentration by regulating ion channels, which highlights their important regulatory role in neuronal excitability and synaptic transmission. Gangliosides can influence some forms of ion transport, by directly binding to ion transporters or through indirect binding and activation of transport proteins via appropriate signaling pathways. Therefore, the important and special role of gangliosides in the homeostasis of ion concentration is becoming a hot topic in the field and a theoretical basis in promoting help gangliosides use as key drugs for the treatment of nervous system diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yijia Xu
- School of Life Sciences and Biopharmaceutical Science, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, 110016, Shenyang, Liaoning, PR China
| | - Jianfang Sun
- School of Life Sciences and Biopharmaceutical Science, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, 110016, Shenyang, Liaoning, PR China
| | - Liying Yang
- School of Life Sciences and Biopharmaceutical Science, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, 110016, Shenyang, Liaoning, PR China
| | - Shangfeng Zhao
- School of Life Sciences and Biopharmaceutical Science, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, 110016, Shenyang, Liaoning, PR China
| | - Xin Liu
- School of Life Sciences and Biopharmaceutical Science, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, 110016, Shenyang, Liaoning, PR China
| | - Yang Su
- Department of General Surgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, 110004, Shenyang, PR China
| | - Jinghai Zhang
- School of Medical Devices, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, 110016, Shenyang, PR China
| | - Mingyi Zhao
- School of Life Sciences and Biopharmaceutical Science, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, 110016, Shenyang, Liaoning, PR China.
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Kolter T. Ganglioside biochemistry. ISRN BIOCHEMISTRY 2012; 2012:506160. [PMID: 25969757 PMCID: PMC4393008 DOI: 10.5402/2012/506160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 109] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2012] [Accepted: 10/09/2012] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Gangliosides are sialic acid-containing glycosphingolipids. They occur especially on the cellular surfaces of neuronal cells, where they form a complex pattern, but are also found in many other cell types. The paper provides a general overview on their structures, occurrence, and metabolism. Key functional, biochemical, and pathobiochemical aspects are summarized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Kolter
- Program Unit Membrane Biology & Lipid Biochemistry, LiMES, University of Bonn, Gerhard-Domagk Straße 1, 53121 Bonn, Germany
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Janas T, Janas T. Membrane oligo- and polysialic acids. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-BIOMEMBRANES 2011; 1808:2923-32. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2011.08.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2011] [Revised: 08/29/2011] [Accepted: 08/31/2011] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
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Granell AEVB, Palter KB, Akan I, Aich U, Yarema KJ, Betenbaugh MJ, Thornhill WB, Recio-Pinto E. DmSAS is required for sialic acid biosynthesis in cultured Drosophila third instar larvae CNS neurons. ACS Chem Biol 2011; 6:1287-95. [PMID: 21919466 DOI: 10.1021/cb200238k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Sialylation is an important carbohydrate modification of glycoconjugates that has been shown to modulate many cellular/molecular interactions in vertebrates. In Drosophila melanogaster (Dm), using sequence homology, several enzymes of the sialylation pathway have been cloned and their function tested in expression systems. Here we investigated whether sialic acid incorporation in cultured Dm central nervous system (CNS) neurons required endogenously expressed Dm sialic acid synthase (DmSAS). We compared neurons derived from wild type Dm larvae with those containing a DmSAS mutation (148 bp deletion). The ability of these cells to produce Sia5NAz (sialic acid form) from Ac(4)ManNAz (azide-derivatized N-acetylmannosamine) and incorporate it into their glycoconjugates was measured by tagging the azide group of Sia5NAz with fluorescent agents via Click-iT chemistry. We found that most of the wild type Dm CNS neurons incorporated Sia5NAz into their glycoconjugates. Sialic acid incorporation was higher at the soma than at the neurite and could also be detected at perinuclear regions and the plasma membrane. In contrast, neurons from the DmSAS mutant did not incorporate Sia5NAz unless DmSAS was reintroduced (rescue mutant). Most of the neurons expressed α2,6-sialyltransferase. These results confirm that the mutation was a null mutation and that no redundant sialic acid biosynthetic activity exists in Dm cells, i.e., there is only one DmSAS. They also provide the strongest proof to date that DmSAS is a key enzyme in the biosynthesis of sialic acids in Dm CNS neurons, and the observed subcellular distribution of the newly synthesized sialic acids offers insights into their biological function.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Karen B. Palter
- Department of Biology, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19122, United States
| | - Ihan Akan
- Department of Biology, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19122, United States
| | | | | | | | - William B. Thornhill
- Department of Biological Sciences, Fordham University, Bronx, New York 10458, United States
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Plomp JJ, Willison HJ. Pathophysiological actions of neuropathy-related anti-ganglioside antibodies at the neuromuscular junction. J Physiol 2009; 587:3979-99. [PMID: 19564393 PMCID: PMC2756433 DOI: 10.1113/jphysiol.2009.171702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2009] [Accepted: 06/24/2009] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The outer leaflet of neuronal membranes is highly enriched in gangliosides. Therefore, specific neuronal roles have been attributed to this family of sialylated glycosphingolipids, e.g. in modulation of ion channels and transporters, neuronal interaction and recognition, temperature adaptation, Ca(2+) homeostasis, axonal growth, (para)node of Ranvier stability and synaptic transmission. Recent developmental, ageing and injury studies on transgenic mice lacking subsets of gangliosides indicate that gangliosides are involved in maintenance rather than development of the nervous system and that ganglioside family members are able to act in a mutually compensatory manner. Besides having physiological functions, gangliosides are the likely antigenic targets of autoantibodies present in Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), a group of neuropathies with clinical symptoms of motor- and/or sensory peripheral nerve dysfunction. Antibody binding to peripheral nerves is thought to either interfere with ganglioside function or activate complement, causing axonal damage and thereby disturbed action potential conduction. The presynaptic motor nerve terminal at the neuromuscular junction (NMJ) may be a prominent target because it is highly enriched in gangliosides and lies outside the blood-nerve barrier, allowing antibody access. The ensuing neuromuscular synaptopathy might contribute to the muscle weakness in GBS patients. Several groups, including our own, have studied the effects of anti-ganglioside antibodies in ex vivo and in vivo experimental settings at mouse NMJs. Here, after providing a background overview on ganglioside synthesis, localization and physiology, we will review those studies, which clearly show that anti-ganglioside antibodies are capable of binding to NMJs and thereby can exert a variety of pathophysiological effects. Furthermore, we will discuss the human clinical electrophysiological and histological evidence produced so far of the existence of a neuromuscular synaptopathy contributing to muscle weakness in GBS patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaap J Plomp
- Glasgow Biomedical Research Centre, Room B330, 120 University Place, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8TA, UK
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Zitman FMP, Todorov B, Verschuuren JJ, Jacobs BC, Furukawa K, Furukawa K, Willison HJ, Plomp JJ. Neuromuscular synaptic transmission in aged ganglioside-deficient mice. Neurobiol Aging 2009; 32:157-67. [PMID: 19233512 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2009.01.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2008] [Revised: 12/08/2008] [Accepted: 01/15/2009] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Gangliosides are sialylated glycosphingolipids that are present in high density on neuronal membranes, especially at synapses, where they are assumed to play functional or modulating roles. Mice lacking GM2/GD2-synthase express only the simple gangliosides GD3 and GM3 and develop progressive motor behaviour deficits upon ageing, apparently due to failing complex ganglioside-dependent maintenance and/or repair processes or, alternatively, toxic GM3/GD3 accumulation. We investigated the function of neuromuscular junctions (NMJs) of aged (>9 month-old) GM2/GD2-synthase null-mutant mice, because synaptic dysfunction might develop with age and could potentially contribute to the late-onset motor phenotype. In addition, we studied NMJs of old mice lacking GD3-synthase (expressing only O- and a-series gangliosides), which do not show an overt neurological phenotype but may develop subclinical synaptic deficits. Detailed electrophysiological analyses showed subtle changes in presynaptic neurotransmitter release. Acetylcholine release at 40 Hz nerve stimulation at aged GM2/GD2-synthase null-mutant NMJs ran down slightly more pronounced than at wild-type NMJs, and spontaneous acetylcholine release rate at GD3-synthase null-mutant NMJs was somewhat higher than at wild-type, selectively at 25 °C bath temperature. Interestingly, we observed faster kinetics of postsynaptic electrophysiological responses at aged GD3-synthase null-mutant NMJs, not previously seen by us at NMJs of young GD3-synthase null-mutants or other types of (aged or young) ganglioside-deficient mice. These kinetic changes might reflect a change in postsynaptic acetylcholine receptor behaviour. Our data indicate that it is highly unlikely that transmission failure at NMJs contributes to the progressive motor defects of aged GM2/GD2-synthase null-mutants and that, despite some kinetic changes of synaptic signals, neuromuscular transmission remains successful in aged GD3-synthase null-mutant mice. Apparently, mutual redundancy of the different gangliosides in supporting presynaptic function, as observed previously by us in young mice, remains adequate upon ageing or, alternatively, gangliosides have only relatively little direct impact on neuromuscular synaptic function, even in aged mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Femke M P Zitman
- Department of Neurology, Leiden University Medical Centre, PO Box 9600, NL-2300 RC Leiden, The Netherlands
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