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Olea-Ozuna RJ, Poggio S, Bergström E, Osorio A, Elufisan TO, Padilla-Gómez J, Martínez-Aguilar L, López-Lara IM, Thomas-Oates J, Geiger O. Genes required for phosphosphingolipid formation in Caulobacter crescentus contribute to bacterial virulence. PLoS Pathog 2024; 20:e1012401. [PMID: 39093898 PMCID: PMC11324152 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1012401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2024] [Revised: 08/14/2024] [Accepted: 07/08/2024] [Indexed: 08/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Sphingolipids are ubiquitous in membranes of eukaryotes and are associated with important cellular functions. Although sphingolipids occur scarcely in bacteria, for some of them they are essential and, in other bacteria, they contribute to fitness and stability of the outer membrane, such as in the well-studied α-proteobacterium Caulobacter crescentus. We previously defined five structural genes for ceramide synthesis in C. crescentus, among them the gene for serine palmitoyltransferase, the enzyme that catalyzes the committed step of sphingolipid biosynthesis. Other mutants affected in genes of this same genomic region show cofitness with a mutant deficient in serine palmitoyltransferase. Here we show that at least two phosphosphingolipids are produced in C. crescentus and that at least another six gene products are needed for the decoration of ceramide upon phosphosphingolipid formation. All eleven genes participating in phosphosphingolipid formation are also required in C. crescentus for membrane stability and for displaying sensitivity towards the antibiotic polymyxin B. The genes for the formation of complex phosphosphingolipids are also required for C. crescentus virulence on Galleria mellonella insect larvae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Jhonatan Olea-Ozuna
- Centro de Ciencias Genómicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Avenida Universidad s/n, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
| | - Sebastian Poggio
- Departamento de Biología Molecular y Biotecnología, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Ed Bergström
- Centre of Excellence in Mass Spectrometry and Department of Chemistry, University of York, Heslington, York, United Kingdom
| | - Aurora Osorio
- Departamento de Biología Molecular y Biotecnología, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Temidayo Oluyomi Elufisan
- Centro de Ciencias Genómicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Avenida Universidad s/n, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
| | - Jonathan Padilla-Gómez
- Centro de Ciencias Genómicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Avenida Universidad s/n, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
| | - Lourdes Martínez-Aguilar
- Centro de Ciencias Genómicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Avenida Universidad s/n, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
| | - Isabel M. López-Lara
- Centro de Ciencias Genómicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Avenida Universidad s/n, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
| | - Jane Thomas-Oates
- Centre of Excellence in Mass Spectrometry and Department of Chemistry, University of York, Heslington, York, United Kingdom
| | - Otto Geiger
- Centro de Ciencias Genómicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Avenida Universidad s/n, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
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Biran A, Dingjan T, Futerman AH. How has the evolution of our understanding of the compartmentalization of sphingolipid biosynthesis over the past 30 years altered our view of the evolution of the pathway? CURRENT TOPICS IN MEMBRANES 2024:S1063-5823(24)00009-7. [PMID: 39078394 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ctm.2024.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/31/2024]
Abstract
Sphingolipids are unique among cellular lipids inasmuch as their biosynthesis is compartmentalized between the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and the Golgi apparatus. This compartmentalization was first recognized about thirty years ago, and the current review not only updates studies on the compartmentalization of sphingolipid biosynthesis, but also discusses the ramifications of this feature for our understanding of how the pathway could have evolved. Thus, we augment some of our recent studies by inclusion of two further molecular pathways that need to be considered when analyzing the evolutionary requirements for generation of sphingolipids, namely contact sites between the ER and the Golgi apparatus, and the mechanism(s) of vesicular transport between these two organelles. Along with evolution of the individual enzymes of the pathway, their subcellular localization, and the supply of essential metabolites via the anteome, it becomes apparent that current models to describe evolution of the sphingolipid biosynthetic pathway may need substantial refinement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Assaf Biran
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Tamir Dingjan
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Anthony H Futerman
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel.
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Biran A, Santos TCB, Dingjan T, Futerman AH. The Sphinx and the egg: Evolutionary enigmas of the (glyco)sphingolipid biosynthetic pathway. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Cell Biol Lipids 2024; 1869:159462. [PMID: 38307322 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbalip.2024.159462] [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: 06/26/2023] [Revised: 01/10/2024] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 02/04/2024]
Abstract
In eukaryotes, the de novo synthesis of sphingolipids (SLs) consists of multiple sequential steps which are compartmentalized between the endoplasmic reticulum and the Golgi apparatus. Studies over many decades have identified the enzymes in the pathway, their localization, topology and an array of regulatory mechanisms. However, little is known about the evolutionary forces that underly the generation of this complex pathway or of its anteome, i.e., the metabolic pathways that converge on the SL biosynthetic pathway and are essential for its activity. After briefly describing the pathway, we discuss the mechanisms by which the enzymes of the SL biosynthetic pathway are targeted to their different subcellular locations, how the pathway per se may have evolved, including its compartmentalization, and the relationship of the pathway to eukaryogenesis. We discuss the circular interdependence of the evolution of the SL pathway, and comment on whether current Darwinian evolutionary models are able to provide genuine mechanistic insight into how the pathway came into being.
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Affiliation(s)
- Assaf Biran
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
| | - Tania C B Santos
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
| | - Tamir Dingjan
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel.
| | - Anthony H Futerman
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
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Bai X, Ya R, Tang X, Cai M. Role and interaction of bacterial sphingolipids in human health. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1289819. [PMID: 37937219 PMCID: PMC10626005 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1289819] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Sphingolipids, present in both higher animals and prokaryotes, involving in cell differentiation, pathogenesis and apoptosis in human physiological health. With increasing attention on the gut microbiome and its impact on wellbeing, there is a renewed focus on exploring bacterial sphingolipids. This review aims to consolidate the current understanding of bacterial sphingolipids and their impact on host health. Compared to mammalian sphingolipids, bacterial sphingolipids are characterized by odd chain lengths due to the presence of branched alkyl chains. Additionally, intestinal microbial sphingolipids can migrate from the gut to various host organs, affecting the immune system and metabolism. Furthermore, the intricate interplay between dietary sphingolipids and the gut microbiota is explored, shedding light on their complex relationship. Despite limited knowledge in this area, this review aims to raise awareness about the importance of bacterial sphingolipids and further our understanding of more uncharacterized bacterial sphingolipids and their significant role in maintaining host health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoye Bai
- School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
- Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Institute of Chemical Biology, Shenzhen, China
| | - Ru Ya
- Inner Mongolia Academy of Science and Technology, Hohhot, China
| | - Xiaoyu Tang
- Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Institute of Chemical Biology, Shenzhen, China
| | - Mingwei Cai
- Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Institute of Chemical Biology, Shenzhen, China
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