Absolute quantitation of tissue phospholipids using 31P NMR spectroscopy

A convenient method for the relative and absolute quantification of lipid components in liposomes by 1H- and 31P NMR-spectroscopy

OBJECTIVE

Liposomes are promising delivery systems for pharmaceutical applications and have been used in medicine in the recent past. Preparation of liposomes requires reliable characterization and quantification of the phospholipid components for which the traditional cumbersome molybdate method is used frequently. The objective was to improve relative and absolute quantification of lipid components from liposomes.

METHODS

A reliable method for quantification of lipid composition in liposome formulations in the 1-10 μmol range with 1H- and 31P NMR spectroscopy at 600 MHz has been developed. The method is based on three crystalline small-molecule standards (Ph3PO4, (Tol)3PO4, and Ph3PO) in CDCl3.

RESULTS

Excellent calibration linearity and chemical stability of the standards was observed. The method was tested in blind fashion on liposomes containing POPC, PEG-ceramide and a pH-sensitive trans-aminocyclohexanol-based amphiphile (TACH).1 Relative quantification (percentage of components) as well as determination of absolute lipid amount was possible with excellent reproducibility with an average error of 5%. Quantification (triplicate) was accomplished in 15 min based on 1H NMR and in 1 h based on 31P NMR. Very little change in mixture composition was observed over multiple preparative steps.

CONCLUSION

Liposome preparations containing POPC, POPE, DOPC, DPPC, TACH, and PEG-ceramide can be reliably characterized and quantified by 1H NMR and 31P NMR spectroscopy at 600 MHz in the μmol range.

Investigating protein-membrane interactions using native reverse micelles constructed from naturally sourced lipids

Advancing the study of membrane associated proteins and their interactions is dependent on accurate membrane models. While a variety of membrane models for high-resolution membrane protein study exist, most do not reflect the diversity of lipids found within biological membranes. In this work, we have developed native reverse micelles (nRMs) formulated with lipids from multiple eukaryotic sources, which encapsulate proteins and enable them to interact as they would with a biological membrane. Diverse formulations of nRMs using soy lecithin, porcine brain lipids, or bovine heart lipids combined with n-dodecylphosphocholine were developed and characterized by dynamic light scattering and 31 P-NMR. To optimize protein encapsulation, ubiquitin was used as a standard and protein NMR verified minimal changes to its structure. Peripheral membrane proteins, which bind reversibly to membranes, were encapsulated and include glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPx4), phosphatidylethanolamine-binding protein 1 (PEBP1), and fatty acid binding protein 4 (FABP4). All three proteins showed anticipated interactions with the membrane-like inner surface of the nRMs as assessed by protein NMR. The nRM formulations developed here allow for efficient, high-resolution study of membrane interacting proteins up to and beyond ~21 kDa, in a more biologically relevant context compared to other non-native membrane models. The approach outlined here may be applied to a wide range of lipid extracts, allowing study of a variety of membrane associated proteins in their specific biological context.

Status and advances in technologies for phosphorus species detection and characterization in natural environment- A comprehensive review

Poor recovery of phosphorus (P) across natural environment (water, soil, sediment, and biological sources) is causing rapid depletion of phosphate rocks and continuous accumulation of P in natural waters, resulting in deteriorated water quality and aquatic lives. Accurate detection and characterization of various P species using suitable analytical methods provide a comprehensive understanding of the biogeochemical cycle of P and thus help its proper management in the environment. This paper aims to provide a comprehensive review of the analytical methods used for P speciation in natural environment by dividing them into five broad categories (i.e., chemical, biological, molecular, staining microscopy, and sensors) and highlighting the suitability (i.e., targeted species, sample matrix), detection limit, advantages-limitations, and reference studies of all methods under each category. This can be useful in designing studies involving P detection and characterization across environmental matrices by providing insights about a wide range of analytical methods based on the end user application needs of individual studies.

Relayed nuclear Overhauser enhancement sensitivity to membrane Cho phospholipids

PURPOSE

Phospholipids are key constituents of cell membranes and serve vital functions in the regulation of cellular processes; thus, a method for in vivo detection and characterization could be valuable for detecting changes in cell membranes that are consequences of either normal or pathological processes. Here, we describe a new method to map the distribution of partially restricted phospholipids in tissues.

METHODS

The phospholipids were measured by signal changes caused by relayed nuclear Overhauser enhancement-mediated CEST between the phospholipid Cho headgroup methyl protons and water at around -1.6 ppm from the water resonance. The biophysical basis of this effect was examined by controlled manipulation of head group, chain length, temperature, degree of saturation, and presence of cholesterol. Additional experiments were performed on animal tumor models to evaluate potential applications of this novel signal while correcting for confounding contributions.

RESULTS

Negative relayed nuclear Overhauser dips in Z-spectra were measured from reconstituted Cho phospholipids with cholesterol but not for other Cho-containing metabolites or proteins. Significant contrast was found between tumor and contralateral normal tissue signals in animals when comparing both the measured saturation transfer signal and a more specific imaging metric.

CONCLUSION

We demonstrated specific relayed nuclear Overhauser effects in partially restricted phospholipid phantoms and similar effects in solid brain tumors after correcting for confounding signal contributions, suggesting possible translational applications of this novel molecular imaging method, which we name restricted phospholipid transfer.

Omega-3 Docosahexaenoic Acid Is a Mediator of Fate-Decision of Adult Neural Stem Cells

The mammalian brain is enriched with lipids that serve as energy catalyzers or secondary messengers of essential signaling pathways. Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is an omega-3 fatty acid synthesized de novo at low levels in humans, an endogenous supply from its precursors, and is mainly incorporated from nutrition, an exogeneous supply. Decreased levels of DHA have been reported in the brains of patients with neurodegenerative diseases. Preventing this decrease or supplementing the brain with DHA has been considered as a therapy for the DHA brain deficiency that could be linked with neuronal death or neurodegeneration. The mammalian brain has, however, a mechanism of compensation for loss of neurons in the brain: neurogenesis, the birth of neurons from neural stem cells. In adulthood, neurogenesis is still present, although at a slower rate and with low efficiency, where most of the newly born neurons die. Neural stem/progenitor cells (NSPCs) have been shown to require lipids for proper metabolism for proliferation maintenance and neurogenesis induction. Recent studies have focused on the effects of these essential lipids on the neurobiology of NSPCs. This review aimed to introduce the possible use of DHA to impact NSPC fate-decision as a therapy for neurodegenerative diseases.

Plasmalogen loss caused by remodeling deficiency in mitochondria

Lipid homeostasis is crucial in human health. Barth syndrome (BTHS), a life-threatening disease typically diagnosed with cardiomyopathy and neutropenia, is caused by mutations in the mitochondrial transacylase tafazzin. By high-resolution 31P nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) with cryoprobe technology, recently we found a dramatic loss of choline plasmalogen in the tafazzin-knockdown (TAZ-KD) mouse heart, besides observing characteristic cardiolipin (CL) alterations in BTHS. In inner mitochondrial membrane where tafazzin locates, CL and diacyl phosphatidylethanolamine are known to be essential via lipid-protein interactions reflecting their cone shape for integrity of respiratory chain supercomplexes and cristae ultrastructure. Here, we investigate the TAZ-KD brain, liver, kidney, and lymphoblast from patients compared with controls. We identified common yet markedly cell type-dependent losses of ethanolamine plasmalogen as the dominant plasmalogen class therein. Tafazzin function thus critically relates to homeostasis of plasmalogen, which in the ethanolamine class has conceivably analogous and more potent molecular functions in mitochondria than diacyl phosphatidylethanolamine. The present discussion of a loss of plasmalogen-protein interaction applies to other diseases with mitochondrial plasmalogen loss and aberrant forms of this organelle, including Alzheimer's disease.

Substantial Decrease in Plasmalogen in the Heart Associated with Tafazzin Deficiency

Tafazzin is the mitochondrial enzyme that catalyzes transacylation between a phospholipid and a lysophospholipid in remodeling. Mutations in tafazzin cause Barth syndrome, a potentially life-threatening disease with the major symptom being cardiomyopathy. In the tafazzin-deficient heart, cardiolipin (CL) acyl chains become abnormally heterogeneous unlike those in the normal heart with a single dominant linoleoyl species, tetralinoleoyl CL. In addition, the amount of CL decreases and monolysocardiolipin (MLCL) accumulates. Here we determine using high-resolution 31P nuclear magnetic resonance with cryoprobe technology the fundamental phospholipid composition, including the major but oxidation-labile plasmalogens, in the tafazzin-knockdown (TAZ-KD) mouse heart as a model of Barth syndrome. In addition to confirming a lower level of CL (6.4 ± 0.1 → 2.0 ± 0.4 mol % of the total phospholipid) and accumulation of MLCL (not detected → 3.3 ± 0.5 mol %) in the TAZ-KD, we found a substantial reduction in the level of plasmenylcholine (30.8 ± 2.8 → 18.1 ± 3.1 mol %), the most abundant phospholipid in the control wild type. A quantitative Western blot revealed that while the level of peroxisomes, where early steps of plasmalogen synthesis take place, was normal in the TAZ-KD model, expression of Far1 as a rate-determining enzyme in plasmalogen synthesis was dramatically upregulated by 8.3 (±1.6)-fold to accelerate the synthesis in response to the reduced level of plasmalogen. We confirmed lyso-plasmenylcholine or plasmenylcholine is a substrate of purified tafazzin for transacylation with CL or MLCL, respectively. Our results suggest that plasmenylcholine, abundant in linoleoyl species, is important in remodeling CL in the heart. Tafazzin deficiency thus has a major impact on the cardiac plasmenylcholine level and thereby its functions.

Comprehensive study of rodent olfactory tissue lipid composition

The peripheral olfactory tissue (OT) plays a primordial role in the detection and transduction of olfactory information. Recent proteomic and transcriptomic studies have provided valuable insight into proteins and RNAs expressed in this tissue. Paradoxically, there is little information regarding the lipid composition of mammalian OT. To delve further into this issue, using a set of complementary state-of-the-art techniques, we carried out a comprehensive analysis of OT lipid composition in rats and mice fed with standard diets. The results showed that phospholipids are largely predominant, the major classes being phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine. Two types of plasmalogens, plasmenyl-choline and plasmenyl-ethanolamine, as well as gangliosides were also detected. With the exception of sphingomyelin, substantial levels of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, mainly docosahexaenoic acid (22:6n-3; DHA), were found in the different phospholipid classes. These findings demonstrate that the rodent OT shares several features in common with other neural tissues, such as the brain and retina.

Applications of nuclear magnetic resonance in lipid analyses: An emerging powerful tool for lipidomics studies

The role of lipids in cell, tissue, and organ physiology is crucial; as many diseases, including cancer, diabetes, neurodegenerative, and infectious diseases, are closely related to absorption and metabolism of lipids. Mass spectrometry (MS) based methods are the most developed powerful tools to study the synthetic pathways and metabolic networks of cellular lipids in biological systems; leading to the birth of an emerging subject lipidomics, which has been extensively reviewed. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), another powerful analytical tool, which allows the visualization of single atoms and molecules, is receiving increasing attention in lipidomics analyses. However, very little work focusing on lipidomic studies using NMR has been critically reviewed. This paper presents a first comprehensive summary of application of ¹H, ¹³C &³¹P NMR in lipids and lipidomics analyses. The scientific basis, principles and characteristic diagnostic peaks assigned to specific atoms/molecular structures of lipids are presented. Applications of 2D NMR in mapping and monitoring of the components and their changes in complex lipids systems, as well as alteration of lipid profiling over disease development are also reviewed. The applications of NMR lipidomics in diseases diagnosis and food adulteration are exemplified.

Alteration of phospholipids in the blood of patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD): in vitro, high resolution 31P NMR-based study

In vitro, high-resolution ³¹P NMR (Nuclear Magnetic Resonance) spectroscopy-based analysis of phospholipids in serum is well recognized in leukemia, lymphoma, non-hematological cancers and renal cell carcinoma. In context of these studies, phospholipids were analyzed in blood of thirty-two (n = 32) patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) (Age, Mean ± SD; 8.0 ± 1.6 years) and sixteen (n = 16) healthy subjects (Age, Mean ± SD; 8.6 ± 2.3 years). Quantity of phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), phosphatidylinositol (PI), phosphatidylserine (PS) and lyso-phosphatidylcholine (Lys-PC) was significantly higher (p < 0.05) in DMD patients as compared to healthy subjects. There were no significant differences (p > 0.05) observed for the quantity of phospholipids in blood of gene deletion positive cases of DMD as compared to negative gene deletion cases of DMD. Quantity of phospholipids in negative gene deletion cases of DMD patients as well as DMD cases with positive gene deletion was significantly higher (p < 0.05) as compared to normal individuals. The present study distinguishes the patients with DMD from the healthy subjects on the basis of the quantity of phospholipids in blood. These observations may be useful in future for the development of new diagnostic method of DMD.

Phosphatidylcholine contributes to in vivo (31)P MRS signal from the human liver

OBJECTIVES

To demonstrate the overlap of the hepatic and bile phosphorus ((31)P) magnetic resonance (MR) spectra and provide evidence of phosphatidylcholine (PtdC) contribution to the in vivo hepatic (31)P MRS phosphodiester (PDE) signal, suggested in previous reports to be phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP).

METHODS

Phantom measurements to assess the chemical shifts of PEP and PtdC signals were performed at 7 T. A retrospective analysis of hepatic 3D (31)P MR spectroscopic imaging (MRSI) data from 18 and five volunteers at 3 T and 7 T, respectively, was performed. Axial images were inspected for the presence of gallbladder, and PDE signals in representative spectra were quantified.

RESULTS

Phantom experiments demonstrated the strong pH-dependence of the PEP chemical shift and proved the overlap of PtdC and PEP (~2 ppm relative to phosphocreatine) at hepatic pH. Gallbladder was covered in seven of 23 in vivo 3D-MRSI datasets. The PDE(gall)/γ-ATP(liver) ratio was 4.8-fold higher (p = 0.001) in the gallbladder (PDE(gall)/γ-ATP(liver) = 3.61 ± 0.79) than in the liver (PDE(liver)/γ-ATP(liver) = 0.75 ± 0.15). In vivo 7 T (31)P MRSI allowed good separation of PDE components. The gallbladder is a strong source of contamination in adjacent (31)P MR hepatic spectra due to biliary phosphatidylcholine.

CONCLUSIONS

In vivo (31)P MR hepatic signal at 2.06 ppm may represent both phosphatidylcholine and phosphoenolpyruvate, with a higher phosphatidylcholine contribution due to its higher concentration.

KEY POINTS

• In vivo (31)P MRS from the gallbladder shows a dominant biliary phosphatidylcholine signal at 2.06 ppm. • Intrahepatic (31)P MRS signal at 2.06 ppm may represent both intrahepatic phosphatidylcholine and phosphoenolpyruvate. • In vivo (31)P MRS has the potential to monitor hepatic phosphatidylcholine.

Principles of multiparametric optimization for phospholipidomics by 31P NMR spectroscopy

Phospholipids have long been known to be the principal constituents of the bilayer matrix of cell membranes. While the main function of cell membranes is to provide physical separation between intracellular and extracellular compartments, further biological and biochemical functions for phospholipids have been identified more recently, notably in cell signaling, cell recognition and cell-cell interaction, but also in cell growth, electrical insulation of neurons and many other processes. Therefore, accurate and efficient determination of tissue phospholipid composition is essential for our understanding of biological tissue function. ³¹P NMR spectroscopy is a quantitative and fast method for analyzing phospholipid extracts from biological samples without prior separation. However, the number of phospholipid classes and subclasses that can be quantified separately and reliably in ³¹P NMR spectra of tissue extracts is critically dependent on a variety of experimental conditions. Until recently, little attention has been paid to the optimization of phospholipid ³¹P NMR spectra. This review surveys the basic physicochemical properties that determine the quality of phospholipid spectra, and describes an optimization strategy based on this assessment. Notably, the following experimental parameters need to be controlled for systematic optimization: (1) extract concentration, (2) concentration of chelating agent, (3) pH value of the aqueous component of the solvent system, and (4) temperature of the NMR measurement. We conclude that a multiparametric optimization approach is crucial to obtaining highly predictable and reproducible ³¹P NMR spectra of phospholipids.

Identification of biological tissues by rapid evaporative ionization mass spectrometry

The newly developed rapid evaporative ionization mass spectrometry (REIMS) provides the possibility of in vivo, in situ mass spectrometric tissue analysis. The experimental setup for REIMS is characterized in detail for the first time, and the description and testing of an equipment capable of in vivo analysis is presented. The spectra obtained by various standard surgical equipments were compared and found highly specific to the histological type of the tissues. The tissue analysis is based on their different phospholipid distribution; the identification algorithm uses a combination of principal component analysis (PCA) and linear discriminant analysis (LDA). The characterized method was proven to be sensitive for any perturbation such as age or diet in rats, but it was still perfectly suitable for tissue identification. Tissue identification accuracy higher than 97% was achieved with the PCA/LDA algorithm using a spectral database collected from various tissue species. In vivo, ex vivo, and post mortem REIMS studies were performed, and the method was found to be applicable for histological tissue analysis during surgical interventions, endoscopy, or after surgery in pathology.

Multiparametric optimization of (31)P NMR spectroscopic analysis of phospholipids in crude tissue extracts. 1. Chemical shift and signal separation

(31)P NMR spectroscopy is known to be a fast and accurate method for analyzing phospholipid extracts from biological samples without prior separation. However, the number of phospholipid classes and subclasses that can be quantitated separately in (31)P NMR spectra of tissue extracts is critically dependent on a variety of experimental conditions. For solvent systems resulting in the formation of two phases, the effects of varying water and methanol content on chemical shift and line width of phospholipid signals have been previously determined. However, little attention has been paid to the influence that other extract components may exert on signal separation. We present, for the first time, a systematic and comprehensive study of (31)P NMR chemical shift as a function of four experimental parameters: (i) extract concentration, (ii) concentration of chelating agent, (iii) pH value of the aqueous component of the solvent system, and (iv) temperature of the NMR measurement. This multiparametric study provides methodological guidelines for predictable and reproducible manipulation of (31)P NMR spectra of brain phospholipids. It also provides a database for rational and efficient optimization of phospholipid spectra from other body tissues, cultured cells, and phospholipid-containing biofluids.

Multiparametric optimization of (31)P NMR spectroscopic analysis of phospholipids in crude tissue extracts. 2. Line width and spectral resolution

The quality of NMR spectra in general and of spectra to be used for analysis of compound mixtures in particular is essentially defined by two basic parameters: signal-to-noise ratio and spectral resolution. The latter is determined by signal dispersion (chemical shift differences) and line widths. The present study focuses on multiparametric optimization of spectral resolution in (31)P NMR spectra of phospholipids from brain tissue extracts. This report presents, for the first time, a systematic and comprehensive study of phospholipid (31)P NMR line widths as a function of four experimental parameters: (i) extract concentration, (ii) concentration of a chelating agent, (iii) pH of the aqueous component of the solvent system, and (iv) temperature of the NMR measurement. Theoretical underpinnings of observed line width variations (transversal relaxation effects) are briefly discussed. In conjunction with an analogous, concurrently published report on chemical shift effects in the same tissue extract system, this multiparametric line width study provides a complete set of methodological guidelines for (i) generating well-defined tissue extracts, and (ii) choosing matched and optimized measurement conditions for highly reproducible and well-resolved (31)P NMR spectra of brain phospholipids. This study also offers a comprehensive database and a strategy for rational and efficient optimization of phospholipid spectra from other tissue extracts.

Semiconstant-time P,H-COSY NMR: analysis of complex mixtures of phospholipids originating from Helicobacter pylori

Lipids play a central role in numerous biological events, ranging from normal physiological processes to host-pathogen interactions. The proposed semiconstant-time (31)P,(1)H-COSY NMR experiment provides identification of known and structural characterization of unknown phospholipids in complex membrane extracts with high sensitivity, based on the combination of their (1)H and (31)P chemical shifts and coupling patterns. Furthermore, the spectra allow quantification of phospholipid composition. Analysis of the phospholipid composition of Helicobacter pylori, the causative agent of peptic ulcer disease, showed the presence of uncommon phospholipids. This novel NMR approach allows the study of changes in membrane composition in response to biological stimuli and opens up the possibility of identifying soluble phosphorus species in a number of research fields.

Isolation and biochemical characterisation of lipid rafts from Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) intestinal enterocytes

Lipid rafts are glycosphingolipid/cholesterol-enriched membrane microdomains that have been extensively studied during the past two decades. Our aim was to isolate and perform biochemical characterization of lipid rafts from the intestinal brush border membrane (BBM) of Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) to confirm their existence in a cold-water species and compare their characteristics with lipid rafts from other species in terms of lipid and protein content. To validate the isolation process, we assayed marker enzymes for subcellular organelles, including alkaline phosphatase (AP) and leucine aminopeptidase (LAP), both well-known marker enzymes for BBM and lipid rafts. All biochemical methods showed enrichment of AP in both the BBM and lipid raft fractions. Proteomic studies were performed by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry using trypsin digested SDS-PAGE samples. Various proteins were associated with the cod intestinal lipid raft preparation such as aminopeptidase-N, prohibitin, and beta-actin. Lipid analysis with (31)P NMR and thin layer chromatography on BBMs and lipid rafts samples gave higher content of sphingomyelin than previously reported in the BBM and lower content of phosphatidylcholine. Furthermore, sphingomyelin was highly dominant in the lipid rafts together with cholesterol. The existence of lipid rafts containing previously reported lipid raft characteristics from the cod intestine has, therefore, been confirmed in a ray-finned fish for the first time to the best of our knowledge.

Assessment of 31P-NMR analysis of phospholipid profiles for potential differential diagnosis of human cerebral tumors

We describe a novel protocol for the non-histological diagnosis of human brain tumors in vitro combining high-resolution (31)P magnetic resonance spectroscopy ((31)P-MRS) of their phospholipid profile and statistical multivariate analysis. Chloroform/methanol extracts from 40 biopsies of human intracranial tumors obtained during neurosurgical procedures were prepared and analyzed by high-resolution (31)P-MRS. The samples were grouped in the following seven major classes: normal brain (n = 3), low-grade astrocytomas (n = 4), high-grade astrocytomas (n = 7), meningiomas (n = 9), schwannomas (n = 3), pituitary adenomas (n = 4), and metastatic tumors (n = 4). The phospholipid profile of every biopsy was determined by (31)P-NMR analysis of its chloroform/methanol extract and characterized by 19 variables including 10 individual phospholipid contributions and 9 phospholipid ratios. Most tumors depicted a decrease in phosphatidylethanolamine (PtdEtn) and phosphatidylserine (PtdSer), the former mainly in neuroepithelial neoplasms and the latter in metastases. An increase in phosphatidylcholine (PtdCho) and phosphatidylinositol (PtdIns) appeared predominantly in primary non-neuroepithelial tumors. Linear discriminant analysis (LDA) revealed the optimal combination of variables that could classify each biopsy between every pair of classes. The resultant discriminant functions were used to calculate the probability of correct classifications for each individual biopsy within the seven classes considered. Multilateral analysis classified correctly 100% of the normal brain samples, 89% of the meningiomas, 75% of the metastases, and 57% of the high-grade astrocytomas. The use of phospholipid profiles may complement appropriately previously proposed methods of intelligent diagnosis of human cerebral tumors.

NMR spectroscopic identification of cholesterol esters, plasmalogen and phenolic glycolipids as fingerprint markers of human intracranial tuberculomas

Detailed (1)H and (13)C NMR spectroscopy of lipid extracts from 12 human intracranial tuberculomas and two control brain tissue samples was performed to assess the role of lipids in the disease process. One-dimensional and two-dimensional NMR techniques were used to resolve the mixture of lipid components and make resonance assignments. The lipid components that could be identified in tuberculoma lipid extracts and not in control samples were: cholesterol ester, plasmalogen and phenolic glycolipids. It is proposed that the combined occurrence of these lipid components can be used as 'fingerprint markers' for the differentiation of intracranial tuberculoma from healthy brain tissue. Furthermore, phenolic glycolipids present in intracranial tuberculomas may have diagnostic significance in differentiating them from other disease conditions of the central nervous system such as malignant tumors.

Flux analysis shows that hypoxia-inducible-factor-1-alpha minimally affects intracellular metabolism in tumor spheroids

Heterogeneous metabolic microenvironments in tumors affect local cell growth, survival, and overall therapeutic efficacy. Hypoxia-inducible-factor-1alpha (HIF-1alpha) is a transcription factor that responds to low-oxygen environments by upregulating genes for cell survival and metabolism. To date, the metabolic effects of HIF-1alpha in three-dimensional tissue have not been investigated. Preliminary experiments have shown that the effects of HIF-1alpha are dependent on glucose availability. Based on this observation, we hypothesized that HIF-1alpha would not affect cell survival and metabolism in the center of spheroids, where the concentrations of oxygen and glucose are low, similar to hypoxic regions found in tumors. To test this hypothesis we used fluorescence microscopy and the tumor cylindroid model to quantify cellular viability in three-dimensional tissue. Isotope labeling and metabolic flux analysis were also used to quantity the intracellular metabolism of wild-type and HIF-1alpha-null spheroids. As hypothesized, cell survival and intracellular metabolism were not different between wild-type and HIF-1alpha-null tissues. In addition, small spheroids, which contain less quiescent cells and are less nutritionally limited, were found to have increased carbon flux through the biosynthetic pentose phosphate and pyruvate carboxylase pathways. These results show how nutrient gradients affect cell growth and metabolism in spheroids and suggest that metabolic microenvironment should be taken into account when developing HIF-1alpha-based therapies.

Role of cardiolipin alterations in mitochondrial dysfunction and disease

Cardiolipin (CL) is a structurally unique dimeric phospholipid localized in the inner mitochondrial membrane where it is required for optimal mitochondrial function. In addition to its role in maintaining membrane potential and architecture, CL is known to provide essential structural and functional support to several proteins involved in mitochondrial bioenergetics. A loss of CL content, alterations in its acyl chain composition, and/or CL peroxidation have been associated with mitochondrial dysfunction in multiple tissues in a variety of pathological conditions, including ischemia, hypothyroidism, aging, and heart failure. Recently, aberrations in CL metabolism have been implicated as a primary causative factor in the cardioskeletal myopathy known as Barth syndrome, underscoring an important role of CL in human health and disease. The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of evidence that has linked changes in the CL profile to mitochondrial dysfunction in various pathological conditions. In addition, a brief overview of CL function and biosynthesis, and a discussion of methods used to examine CL in biological tissues are provided.

Estradiol stimulates the biosynthetic pathways of breast cancer cells: detection by metabolic flux analysis

Selective estrogen receptor (ER) modulators are highly successful breast cancer therapies, but they are not effective in patients with ER negative and selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM)-resistant tumors. Understanding the mechanisms of estrogen-stimulated proliferation may provide a route to design estrogen-independent therapies that would be effective in these patients. In this study, metabolic flux analysis was used to determine the intracellular fluxes that are significantly affected by estradiol stimulation in MCF-7 breast cancer cells. Intracellular fluxes were calculated from nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)-generated isotope enrichment data and extracellular metabolite fluxes, using a specific flux analysis algorithm. The metabolic pathway model used by the algorithm includes glycolysis, the tricarboxylic acid cycle (TCA cycle), the pentose phosphate pathway, glutamine catabolism, pyruvate carboxylase, and malic enzyme. The pathway model also incorporates mitochondrial compartmentalization and reversible trans-mitochondrial membrane reactions to more accurately describe the role of mitochondria in cancer cell proliferation. Flux results indicate that estradiol significantly increases carbon flow through the pentose phosphate pathway and increases glutamine consumption. In addition, intra-mitochondrial malic enzyme was found to be inactive and the malate-aspartate shuttle (MAS) was only minimally active. The inactivity of these enzymes indicates that glutamine is not oxidized within mitochondria, but is consumed primarily to provide biosynthetic precursors. The excretion of glutamine carbons from the mitochondria has the secondary effect of limiting nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) recycle, resulting in NADH buildup in the cytosol and the excretion of lactate. The observed dependence of breast cancer cells on pentose phosphate pathway activity and glutamine consumption for estradiol-stimulated biosynthesis suggests that these pathways may be targets for estrogen-independent breast cancer therapies.

Phospholipid identification and quantification of membrane vesicle subfractions by 31P-1H two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance

An approach to the direct quantification of phospholipids from two-dimensional 31P-1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy with isotropic proton mixing has been developed as a general method for phospholipid analysis of minor membrane vesicle subfractions. Membrane vesicles were subfractionated by sedimentation to density equilibrium in a sucrose gradient, and a modified Folch method was employed to extract their phospholipids. The coefficient for the NMR detection efficiency of each phospholipid and the relative mole percentage of the phospholipids present in the membrane vesicles were calculated. We demonstrate low detection limits such that relative concentrations of phospholipids in membrane subfractions may be determined even in the submicromolar range.

Regulation of phosphatidylcholine biosynthesis by mGluR1alpha expressed in human embryonic kidney 293 cells--A 31P-NMR study

A recent report has demonstrated that inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3)-induced Ca2+ release plays a crucial role in neurite growth. Here, using 31P-NMR, we examine whether activation of the metabotropic glutamate receptor 1 (mGluR1), which induces the production of IP3, could modulate phospholipid metabolism in human embryonic kidney 293 cells. mGluR1alpha- but not ionotropic glutamate receptor 1-expressing cells stimulated with glutamate exhibited a drastic reduction in the phosphorylcholine level, with corresponding increases in the level of phosphatidylcholine, a major phospholipid component. Quantitative analysis of cell growth revealed that mGluR1alpha-expressing cells cultured with 100microM glutamate were statistically significantly longer than the nontransfected cells. The effect was no longer observed following coincubation with a metabotropic glutamate receptor antagonist, (RS)-alpha-methyl-4-carboxyphenylglycine. These results suggest that mGluR1alpha activation triggers phosphatidylcholine biosynthesis and may contribute to neurite extension.

Quantitative determination of cardiolipin in mitochondrial electron transferring complexes by silicic acid high-performance liquid chromatography

Quantitative determination of cardiolipin from two mitochondrial electron-transferring complexes was achieved using a rapid and sensitive silicic acid HPLC method combined with digital analysis of the elution profile. Phospholipid samples containing as little as 0. 01 nmol of cardiolipin were accurately analyzed. Phospholipids from detergent-solubilized cytochrome bc1 (EC 1.10.2.2) and cytochrome c oxidase (EC 1.9.3.1) were extracted by an organic two-phase system and analyzed by isocratic normal-phase HPLC after dissolving the dried sample in the mobile phase (cyclohexane:2-propanol:5 mM phosphoric acid, 50:50:2.9, v/v/v). Analysis was performed by the method of standard addition in which increasing amounts of cardiolipin (0 to 5 nmol) are added to a constant amount of phospholipid extract containing an unknown amount of cardiolipin. By determining the slope and intercept of a plot of the HPLC elution peak area as a function of the amount of standard cardiolipin added, the amount of cardiolipin in the unknown is determined. By this analysis, purified, detergent-solubilized bovine heart cytochrome bc1 and cytochrome c oxidase contained 9.2 +/- 0.7 and 3.05 +/- 0.05 mol cardiolipin per mole of enzyme, respectively. The method was also used to prove that cardiolipin could be completely removed from each complex by digestion with Crotalus atrox phospholipase A2, i.e., each delipidated complex contained less than 0.05 mol cardiolipin per mole of complex. The rapidity and high sensitivity of this method make it very useful for analysis of cardiolipin in other biological samples.