Regional distribution of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase activity and protein mass in the ocular lens

The ether lipid-deficient mouse: Tracking down plasmalogen functions

Chemical and physico-chemical properties as well as physiological functions of major mammalian ether-linked glycerolipids, including plasmalogens were reviewed. Their chemical structures were described and their effect on membrane fluidity and membrane fusion discussed. The recent generation of mouse models with ether lipid deficiency offered the possibility to study ether lipid and particularly plasmalogen functions in vivo. Ether lipid-deficient mice revealed severe phenotypic alterations, including arrest of spermatogenesis, development of cataract and defects in central nervous system myelination. In several cell culture systems lack of plasmalogens impaired intracellular cholesterol distribution affecting plasma membrane functions and structural changes of ER and Golgi cisternae. Based on these phenotypic anomalies that were accurately described conclusions were drawn on putative functions of plasmalogens. These functions were related to cell-cell or cell-extracellular matrix interactions, formation of lipid raft microdomains and intracellular cholesterol homeostasis. There are several human disorders, such as Zellweger syndrome, rhizomelic chondrodysplasia punctata, Alzheimer's disease, Down syndrome, and Niemann-Pick type C disease that are distinguished by altered tissue plasmalogen concentrations. The role plasmalogens might play in the pathology of these disorders is discussed.

Immunomagnetic capture of lens membrane fractions containing steroid binding protein

This study describes the use of magnetic Dynabeads to purify microsomes from a crude microsomal fraction. A 28 kDa membrane-associated protein is proposed to mediate the binding of progesterone and other steroid hormones to ocular lens membranes and the rapid-nongenomic actions of these steroids. The subcellular location of this membrane steroid binding protein (MSBP) was probed by capture of organelles containing MSBP by magnetic beads displaying an antibody to a cytoplasmic domain of the protein. The beads were exposed to a crude microsomal fraction from lens epithelia. Western blotting was used to identify captured organelles and confirm the presence of MSBP. Microsomes and trace fiber cell plasma membrane were captured. Microsomes contained the 28 kDa MSBP. Lens fiber cell membrane contained a 55 kDa immunoreactive protein. The role of this serendipitously recognized protein in binding of steroids is unknown.

Posttranscriptional regulation of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase in lens epithelial cells by mevalonate-derived nonsterols

The ocular lens must continuously synthesize the cholesterol required to support membrane formation for its life-long growth. The roles of transcriptional and posttranscriptional mechanisms in controlling 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase (HMGR) protein levels in cultured lens epithelial cells were examined by measuring the effect of restricting exogenous cholesterol, endogenous cholesterol synthesis and mevalonate derived nonsterols upon HMGR protein and mRNA levels and upon the synthesis and degradation of HMGR protein. Sterols were restricted by culturing in lipoprotein deficient media and blocking 2,3-oxidosqualene cyclase with U18666A. Mevalonate derived nonsterols were additionally restricted by inhibition of HMGR activity with lovastatin. A 4-fold increase in HMGR protein levels due to restricting sterols with U18666A could be explained by comparably increased mRNA levels and enzyme protein synthesis. The very rapid turnover of HMGR protein (T(1/2) approximately 45 min) was unaffected. The additional restriction of mevalonate derived nonsterols increased HMGR protein levels to about 400-fold. A 10-fold slowing in the rate of enzyme degradation coupled with at least a 5-fold increase in mRNA levels likely accounted for this accumulated protein mass. The capacity of the nonsterol regulators to promote enzyme degradation appeared independent of sterols, since mevalonate restored rapid degradation of HMGR protein when 2,3-oxidosqualene cyclase activity was simultaneously blocked. Thus, in cultured lens epithelial cells, sterols appear to exert a modest influence on HMGR protein levels solely by suppressing transcription; whereas, mevalonate derived nonsterols exert major influence mainly by accelerating enzyme protein degradation. We speculate that nonsterol isoprenes might be important for preventing overexpression of cholesterol biosynthesis in the intact lens.

Cholesterol and cataracts

Inherited defects in enzymes of cholesterol metabolism and use of drugs which inhibit lens cholesterol biosynthesis can be associated with cataracts in animals and man. The basis of this relationship apparently lies in the need of the lens to satisfy its sustained requirement for cholesterol by on-site synthesis, and impairing this synthesis can lead to alteration of lens membrane structure. Lens membrane contains the highest cholesterol content of any known membrane. The Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome, mevalonic aciduria, and cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis all involve mutations in enzymes of cholesterol metabolism, and affected patients can develop cataracts. Two established models of rodent cataracts are based on treatment with inhibitors of cholesterol biosynthesis. The long-term ocular safety of the very widely used vastatin class of hypocholesterolemic drugs is controversial. Some vastatins are potent inhibitors of cholesterol biosynthesis by animal lenses, can block cholesterol accumulation by these lenses and can produce cataracts in dogs. Whether these drugs inhibit cholesterol biosynthesis in human lenses at therapeutic doses is unknown. Results of clinical trials of 1-5 years duration in older patient populations indicate high ocular safety. However, considering the slow life-long growth of the lens and its continuing need for cholesterol, longterm safety of the vastatins should perhaps be viewed in units of 10 or 20 years, particularly with younger patients.