Hydrolysis of dolichyl esters by rat liver lysosomes

Neuromelanin organelles are specialized autolysosomes that accumulate undegraded proteins and lipids in aging human brain and are likely involved in Parkinson's disease

During aging, neuronal organelles filled with neuromelanin (a dark-brown pigment) and lipid bodies accumulate in the brain, particularly in the substantia nigra, a region targeted in Parkinson's disease. We have investigated protein and lipid systems involved in the formation of these organelles and in the synthesis of the neuromelanin of human substantia nigra. Membrane and matrix proteins characteristic of lysosomes were found in neuromelanin-containing organelles at a lower number than in typical lysosomes, indicating a reduced enzymatic activity and likely impaired capacity for lysosomal and autophagosomal fusion. The presence of proteins involved in lipid transport may explain the accumulation of lipid bodies in the organelle and the lipid component in neuromelanin structure. The major lipids observed in lipid bodies of the organelle are dolichols with lower amounts of other lipids. Proteins of aggregation and degradation pathways were present, suggesting a role for accumulation by this organelle when the ubiquitin-proteasome system is inadequate. The presence of proteins associated with aging and storage diseases may reflect impaired autophagic degradation or impaired function of lysosomal enzymes. The identification of typical autophagy proteins and double membranes demonstrates the organelle's autophagic nature and indicates that it has engulfed neuromelanin precursors from the cytosol. Based on these data, it appears that the neuromelanin-containing organelle has a very slow turnover during the life of a neuron and represents an intracellular compartment of final destination for numerous molecules not degraded by other systems.

Influence of liver-X-receptor on tissue cholesterol, coenzyme Q and dolichol content

The organ content of the mevalonate pathway lipids was investigated in liver-X-receptor (LXR) α, β and double knock-out mice. An extensive or moderate increase of total cholesterol in the double KO mice was found in all organs elicited by the increase of the esterified form. In LXRα and double KO mice, coenzyme Q (CoQ) was decreased in liver and increased in spleen, thymus and lung, while dolichol was increased in all organs investigated. This effect was confirmed using LXR- agonist GW 3965. Analysis of CoQ distribution in organelles showed that the modifications are present in all cellular compartments and that the increase of the lipid in mitochondria was the result of a net increase of CoQ without changing the number of mitochondria. It appears that LXR influences not only cellular cholesterol homeostasis but also the metabolism of CoQ and dolichol, in an indirect manner.

Biosynthesis of dolichol and cholesterol in rat liver peroxisomes

Isolated rat liver peroxisomes contain the complete enzymatic machinery required for the synthesis of both cholesterol and dolichol from farnesyl pyrophosphate. Additionally, the whole or part of the initial portion of the mevalonate pathway between acetyl-CoA and farnesyl pyrophosphate is also present in peroxisomes. Cholesterol and dolichol biosynthesis in peroxisomes is more complete than in ER since peroxisomes contain high concentrations of sterol carrier protein-2, a protein that stimulates both dolichol and cholesterol biosynthesis. Approximately 50 and 20% of the total hepatic dolichol and cholesterol biosynthesis is associated with rat liver peroxisomes, respectively. Upon dietary and drug treatments the synthesis of these lipids displays different regulation in peroxisomes and ER.

Transfer of liposomes containing dolichol into isolated hepatocytes

Isolated rat hepatocytes were preincubated with egg lecithin liposomes containing [3H]dolichol and [3H]dolichyl ester, and the intracellular levels and distributions of these lipids were subsequently determined after incubation in a liposome-free medium. [3H]Dolichol was recovered initially mainly in microsomes, and no increase with time in the low level of this compound in the mitochondrial/lysosomal fraction could be observed. A small portion of the labeled dolichol was esterified in the endoplasmic reticulum and transferred to the lysosome-containing fraction. [3H]Dolichyl linoleate was initially localized in microsomes and supernatant, but later accumulated in the mitochondria/lysosomes. Dolichyl linoleate was found in the membrane of microsomes, in the membrane and lumen of lysosomes, and in the soluble cytoplasm. Exogenous dolichol recovered in microsomes was not phosphorylated to any significant extent. Liposomal phosphatidylcholine also showed preferential accumulation in microsomes after incubation with hepatocytes. These results indicate that exogenous or endogenously formed dolichyl esters are transferred from the endoplasmic reticulum to lysosomes, probably through the cytoplasm. It appears that fatty acids play a role in targeting these lipids to their intracellular locations.

Membrane biochemistry and chemical hepatocarcinogenesis

Biochemical membrane alterations appearing during the process of chemical carcinogenesis are described. Emphasis is put on membrane composition, structure, and biogenesis. In this presentation the knowledge gained from experimental studies of liver and skin in the process of cancer development is acknowledged. Important biochemical changes have been reported in lipid composition, fatty acid saturation, constitutional enzyme expression, receptor turnover and oligomerization. Functional consequences of the altered membrane structure is discussed within the concepts of regulation of cell proliferation, regulation of membrane receptor expression, redox control, signal transduction, drug metabolism, and multidrug resistance. Data from malignant tumours and normal tissue are addressed to evaluate the importance of the alterations for the process and for the eventual malignant transformation.

Characterization and distribution of cis-prenyl transferase participating in liver microsomal polyisoprenoid biosynthesis

The properties of rat liver cis-prenyl transferase, mediating the synthesis of polyisoprenoid pyrophosphate from trans,trans-farnesyl pyrophosphate and [3H]isopentenyl pyrophosphate were studied. The Km values for farnesyl pyrophosphate and isopentenyl pyrophosphate were found to be 25 microM and 4.4 microM, respectively. Appropriate conditions were established to measure the condensation reaction, which was linear during the first hour using 1 mg microsomal protein. Various detergents could solubilize the enzyme, but the presence of Triton X-100 was required during the incubation to obtain full activity. There was also an absolute requirement for Mg2+ and the pH maximum was 7.0. Inorganic phosphate, especially pyrophosphate, proved to be inhibitory. cis-Prenyl transferase is associated mainly with the cytoplasmic surface of rough microsomes and, to some extent, also with smooth I microsomes, but was almost absent from smooth II microsomes. At all localizations, the product is polyprenyl pyrophosphate and to some extent, also polyprenyl monophosphate. The isoprenoids formed contain 15-18 units in the presence of detergents and 16-20 units in the absence of detergents.

Effect of dietary fat on rat liver microsomal and mitochondrial/lysosomal dolichol, phospholipid and cholesterol

The influence of different fat diets on liver phospholipid, cholesterol and dolichol was studied. Rats were separated into four groups and fed standard laboratory chow (control), a diet containing linolenic acid, a coconut oil diet, or a corn oil-containing diet. After five weeks, microsomes and mitochondrial/lysosomal fractions were prepared from the liver, and lipid compositions were analyzed. No changes in phospholipid content were observed. In control animals, the fatty acid compositions of phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine in the two subfractions were similar. However, these two phospholipids showed different fatty acid patterns, which were altered independently upon dietary treatment. The dietary treatments resulted, in most cases, in decreased cholesterol and dolichol contents and, especially in microsomes, in a decreased level of esterification of both lipids. The fatty acid compositions of cholesteryl esters in the two subfractions showed significant differences and cholesterol was esterified to a large extent with linolenic acid when this fatty acid was supplied in the diet. The same dietary treatment exerted different effects on the cholesterol localized in the two different intracellular compartments. This difference was most pronounced in rats fed the corn oil-containing diet; microsomal cholesteryl esters exhibited increased saturation, whereas cholesteryl esters exhibited increased saturation, whereas cholesteryl esters in the mitochondrial/lysosomal fraction displayed decreased saturation. Dolichyl esters in the two cellular compartments had different fatty acyl compositions, with a considerably higher degree of saturation in microsomes. The various diets influenced the nature of the fatty acid moieties present in the isolated fractions and the effects on the two subfractions were opposite.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Uptake and metabolism of dolichol and cholesterol in perfused rat liver

The uptake of dolichol and cholesterol by perfused rat liver was studied. When these radioactive lipids were incorporated into egg phosphatidylcholine liposomes, both dolichol and cholesterol appeared initially in the supernatant and in the microsomal fraction and, later on, in the mitochondrial-lysosomal fraction. The lipids taken up were esterified to some extent, but no phosphorylation of dolichol occurred. Incorporation of dolichol and cholesterol into lipoproteins increased the efficiency of uptake, which was receptor-mediated in this case. Accumulation of these lipids occurred in lysosomes followed by a transport to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Both labeled dolichol and cholesterol appeared in the bile. In the case of dolichol, the majority of this radioactivity was not associated with the original substance itself, and probably represented lipid-soluble catabolites. In the case of cholesterol, most of the radioactivity was associated with bile acids. It appears that, in contrast to the receptor-mediated uptake of lipoproteins from the perfusate, the uptake of liposomal lipids involves a different mechanism. After association with the plasma membrane, the lipids enter into the cytoplasm and are transported to the ER and later to the lysosomes.

Discharge of newly-synthesized dolichol and ubiquinone with lipoproteins to rat liver perfusate and to the bile

An effective system for perfusing rat liver using complete tissue culture medium and washed calf erythrocytes as oxygen carriers was devised. Infusion of taurocholate and glucose proved necessary to maintain stable metabolic activity and bile secretion during a 6-hr period. Perfusate pO2, pCO2 and pH values were monitored continuously and found to be stable. Electron microscopic examination revealed the maintenance of normal hepatic structure, even after 6 hr. Normal rates of protein and urea synthesis, no leakage of cytoplasmic enzymes, and continuous bile acid production demonstrated the functional integrity of this system. Using [3H]mevalonic acid as precursor, dolichol, dolichyl phosphate, ubiquinone and cholesterol were found to be continuously synthesized in this perfused liver system. All these lipids appeared in the perfusate, indicating discharge through the ER-Golgi system. The lipoproteins of the perfusate were isolated by ultracentrifugation and characterized with respect to size distribution and lipid composition. Dolichol was found in VLDL, LDL and HDL fractions, with the highest concentration present in the latter. In rat and human blood plasma this lipid was mainly associated with HDL. The ubiquinone in the perfusate was primarily associated with the VLDL fraction, while in rat plasma it was found more evenly distributed among all the three lipoprotein fractions studied. Dolichol, ubiquinone and cholesterol were also discharged to the bile, whereas dolichyl phosphate was not. Thus, newly-synthesized dolichol and ubiquinone are transported out of the hepatocyte to the blood and to the bile.