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Gasparini C, Iori S, Pietropoli E, Bonato M, Giantin M, Barbarossa A, Bardhi A, Pilastro A, Dacasto M, Pauletto M. Sub-acute exposure of male guppies (Poecilia reticulata) to environmentally relevant concentrations of PFOA and GenX induces significant changes in the testis transcriptome and reproductive traits. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2024; 187:108703. [PMID: 38705092 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2024.108703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2024] [Revised: 04/23/2024] [Accepted: 04/24/2024] [Indexed: 05/07/2024]
Abstract
Poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are frequently detected in the environment and are linked to adverse reproductive health outcomes in humans. Although legacy PFAS have been phased out due to their toxicity, alternative PFAS are increasingly used despite the fact that information on their toxic effects on reproductive traits is particularly scarce. Here, we exposed male guppies (Poecilia reticulata) for a short period (21 days) to an environmentally realistic concentration (1 ppb) of PFOA, a legacy PFAS, and its replacement compound, GenX, to assess their impact on reproductive traits and gene expression. Exposure to PFAS did not impair survival but instead caused sublethal effects. Overall, PFAS exposure caused changes in male sexual behaviour and had detrimental effects on sperm motility. Sublethal variations were also seen at the transcriptional level, with the modulation of genes involved in immune regulation, spermatogenesis, and oxidative stress. We also observed bioaccumulation of PFAS, which was higher for PFOA than for GenX. Our results offer a comprehensive comparison of these two PFAS and shed light on the toxicity of a newly emerging alternative to legacy PFAS. It is therefore evident that even at low concentrations and with short exposure, PFAS can have subtle yet significant effects on behaviour, fertility, and immunity. These findings underscore the potential ramifications of pollution under natural conditions and their impact on fish populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Gasparini
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Via U. Bassi 58/B, I-35131, Padova, Italy; National Biodiversity Future Center, Piazza Marina 61, I-90133 Palermo, Italy
| | - S Iori
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padova, viale dell'Università 16, I-35020 Agripolis Legnaro (Padova), Italy
| | - E Pietropoli
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padova, viale dell'Università 16, I-35020 Agripolis Legnaro (Padova), Italy
| | - M Bonato
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Via U. Bassi 58/B, I-35131, Padova, Italy
| | - M Giantin
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padova, viale dell'Università 16, I-35020 Agripolis Legnaro (Padova), Italy
| | - A Barbarossa
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, via Tolara di Sopra 50, I-40064 Ozzano dell'Emilia (Bologna), Italy; Health Sciences and Technologies-Interdepartmental Centre for Industrial Research (CIRI-SDV), Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, I-40064 Ozzano dell'Emilia (Bologna), Italy
| | - A Bardhi
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, via Tolara di Sopra 50, I-40064 Ozzano dell'Emilia (Bologna), Italy
| | - A Pilastro
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Via U. Bassi 58/B, I-35131, Padova, Italy; National Biodiversity Future Center, Piazza Marina 61, I-90133 Palermo, Italy
| | - M Dacasto
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padova, viale dell'Università 16, I-35020 Agripolis Legnaro (Padova), Italy
| | - M Pauletto
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padova, viale dell'Università 16, I-35020 Agripolis Legnaro (Padova), Italy.
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Rogers JR, Geissler PL. Ceramide-1-phosphate transfer protein enhances lipid transport by disrupting hydrophobic lipid-membrane contacts. PLoS Comput Biol 2023; 19:e1010992. [PMID: 37036851 PMCID: PMC10085062 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1010992] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2022] [Accepted: 03/03/2023] [Indexed: 04/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Cellular distributions of the sphingolipid ceramide-1-phosphate (C1P) impact essential biological processes. C1P levels are spatiotemporally regulated by ceramide-1-phosphate transfer protein (CPTP), which efficiently shuttles C1P between organelle membranes. Yet, how CPTP rapidly extracts and inserts C1P into a membrane remains unknown. Here, we devise a multiscale simulation approach to elucidate biophysical details of CPTP-mediated C1P transport. We find that CPTP binds a membrane poised to extract and insert C1P and that membrane binding promotes conformational changes in CPTP that facilitate C1P uptake and release. By significantly disrupting a lipid's local hydrophobic environment in the membrane, CPTP lowers the activation free energy barrier for passive C1P desorption and enhances C1P extraction from the membrane. Upon uptake of C1P, further conformational changes may aid membrane unbinding in a manner reminiscent of the electrostatic switching mechanism used by other lipid transfer proteins. Insertion of C1P into an acceptor membrane, eased by a decrease in membrane order by CPTP, restarts the transfer cycle. Most notably, we provide molecular evidence for CPTP's ability to catalyze C1P extraction by breaking hydrophobic C1P-membrane contacts with compensatory hydrophobic lipid-protein contacts. Our work, thus, provides biophysical insights into how CPTP efficiently traffics C1P between membranes to maintain sphingolipid homeostasis and, additionally, presents a simulation method aptly suited for uncovering the catalytic mechanisms of other lipid transfer proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia R Rogers
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, California, United States of America
| | - Phillip L Geissler
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, California, United States of America
- Chemical Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California, United States of America
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Madni ZK, Kumar A, Kumar U, Jaiswal D, Salunke DM. Dynamics of lipid displacement inside the hydrophobic cavity of a nonspecific lipid transfer protein from Solanum melongena. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2022:1-11. [PMID: 35838149 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2022.2097956] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
Nonspecific lipid transfer proteins are multifunctional and multispecific seed proteins with a characteristic hydrophobic cavity that runs form N-terminal to the C-terminal end. They are capable of binding and transferring different lipid molecules by means of their hydrophobic cavity. Apart from the cavity, lipid molecules bind and interact at key positions on the nsLTP surface as well. The plasticity of the hydrophobic cavity is an unusual property, considered as the primary lipid binding site. Here, we report a crystal structure of nsLTP from Solanum melongena with two lauric acid molecules bound inside the cavity. It has been observed that the extent of the N-terminal entry point and plasticity of the cavity can be extended, upon binding of one or two lipid molecules inside the cavity. The MD simulation further revealed that the lipid molecule shows high mobility inside the cavity and interestingly, was able to change its orientation. An alternate lipid entry site adjacent to the N-terminal end was uncovered during simulation and Arg-84 was implicated to be a potential regulatory residue aside from Tyr-59. Collectively, this study helps to understand that changes in orientation of the lipid inside the cavity could occur intermittently besides entering the cavity via tail-in-mechanism.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zaid Kamal Madni
- Structural Biology Lab, Regional Centre for Biotechnology, NCR Biotech Science Cluster, Faridabad, India.,Structural Immunology Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, New Delhi, India
| | - Amit Kumar
- Structural Immunology Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, New Delhi, India
| | - Ujjwal Kumar
- Structural Immunology Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, New Delhi, India
| | - Deepika Jaiswal
- Structural Immunology Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, New Delhi, India
| | - Dinakar M Salunke
- Structural Immunology Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, New Delhi, India
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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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Zhang Y, Zhang X, Lu M, Zou X. Ceramide-1-phosphate and its transfer proteins in eukaryotes. Chem Phys Lipids 2021; 240:105135. [PMID: 34499882 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemphyslip.2021.105135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2021] [Revised: 07/31/2021] [Accepted: 09/02/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Ceramide-1-phosphate (C1P) is a bioactive phosphorylated sphingolipid (SL), produced through the direct phosphorylation of ceramide by ceramide kinase. It plays important roles in regulating cell survival, migration, apoptosis and autophagy and is involved in inflammasome assembly/activation, which can stimulate group IVA cytosolic phospholipase A2α and subsequently increase the levels of arachidonic acid and pro-inflammatory cytokines. Human C1P transfer protein (CPTP) can selectively transport C1P from the Golgi apparatus to specific cellular sites through a non-vesicular mechanism. Human CPTP also affects specific SL levels, thus regulating cell SL homeostasis. In addition, human CPTP plays a crucial role in the regulation of autophagy, inflammation and cell death; thus, human CPTP is closely associated with autophagy and inflammation-related diseases such as cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases, and cancers. Therefore, illustrating the functions and mechanisms of human CPTP is important for providing the research foundations for targeted therapy. The key human CPTP residues for C1P recognition and binding are highly conserved in eukaryotic orthologs, while the human CPTP homolog in Arabidopsis (accelerated cell death 11) also exhibits selective inter-membrane transfer of phyto-C1P. These results demonstrate that C1P transporters play fundamental roles in SL metabolism in cells. The present review summarized novel findings of C1P and its TPs in eukaryotes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanqun Zhang
- Department of Oncology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410008, PR China
| | - Xiangyu Zhang
- Affiliated Stomatology Hospital of Guilin Medical University, Guilin, 541004, PR China
| | - Mengyun Lu
- Affiliated Stomatology Hospital of Guilin Medical University, Guilin, 541004, PR China
| | - Xianqiong Zou
- Affiliated Stomatology Hospital of Guilin Medical University, Guilin, 541004, PR China; College of Biotechnology, Guilin Medical University, Guilin, 541100, PR China.
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Overduin M, Kervin TA. The phosphoinositide code is read by a plethora of protein domains. Expert Rev Proteomics 2021; 18:483-502. [PMID: 34351250 DOI: 10.1080/14789450.2021.1962302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The proteins that decipher nucleic acid- and protein-based information are well known, however, those that read membrane-encoded information remain understudied. Here we report 70 different human, microbial and viral protein folds that recognize phosphoinositides (PIs), comprising the readers of a vast membrane code. AREAS COVERED Membrane recognition is best understood for FYVE, PH and PX domains, which exemplify hundreds of PI code readers. Comparable lipid interaction mechanisms may be mediated by kinases, adjacent C1 and C2 domains, trafficking arrestin, GAT and VHS modules, membrane-perturbing annexin, BAR, CHMP, ENTH, HEAT, syntaxin and Tubby helical bundles, multipurpose FERM, EH, MATH, PHD, PDZ, PROPPIN, PTB and SH2 domains, as well as systems that regulate receptors, GTPases and actin filaments, transfer lipids and assembled bacterial and viral particles. EXPERT OPINION The elucidation of how membranes are recognized has extended the genetic code to the PI code. Novel discoveries include PIP-stop and MET-stop residues to which phosphates and metabolites are attached to block phosphatidylinositol phosphate (PIP) recognition, memteins as functional membrane protein apparatuses, and lipidons as lipid "codons" recognized by membrane readers. At least 5% of the human proteome senses such membrane signals and allows eukaryotic organelles and pathogens to operate and replicate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Overduin
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Troy A Kervin
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
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