Fluorescent phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate derivatives with modified 6-hydroxy group as novel substrates for phospholipase C

Development of isotope-enriched phosphatidylinositol-4- and 5-phosphate cellular mass spectrometry probes

Synthetic phosphatidylinositol phosphate (PtdInsP_n) derivatives play a pivotal role in broadening our understanding of PtdInsP_n metabolism. However, the development of such tools is reliant on efficient enantioselective and regioselective synthetic strategies. Here we report the development of a divergent synthetic route applicable to the synthesis of deuterated PtdIns4P and PtdIns5P derivatives. The synthetic strategy developed involves a key enzymatic desymmetrisation step using Lipozyme TL-IM®. In addition, we optimised the large-scale synthesis of deuterated myo-inositol, allowing for the preparation of a series of saturated and unsaturated deuterated PtdIns4P and PtdIns5P derivatives. Experiments in MCF7 cells demonstrated that these deuterated probes enable quantification of the corresponding endogenous phospholipids in a cellular setting. Overall, these deuterated probes will be powerful tools to help improve our understanding of the role played by PtdInsP_n in physiology and disease.

We report the synthesis of deuterium-labelled derivatives of phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate and phosphatidylinositol 5-phosphate, and demonstrate their use in quantifying levels of endogenous phospholipids in cells.

Phospholipase C families: Common themes and versatility in physiology and pathology

Phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase Cs (PLCs) are expressed in all mammalian cells and play critical roles in signal transduction. To obtain a comprehensive understanding of these enzymes in physiology and pathology, a detailed structural, biochemical, cell biological and genetic information is required. In this review, we cover all these aspects to summarize current knowledge of the entire superfamily. The families of PLCs have expanded from 13 enzymes to 16 with the identification of the atypical PLCs in the human genome. Recent structural insights highlight the common themes that cover not only the substrate catalysis but also the mechanisms of activation. This involves the release of autoinhibitory interactions that, in the absence of stimulation, maintain classical PLC enzymes in their inactive forms. Studies of individual PLCs provide a rich repertoire of PLC function in different physiologies. Furthermore, the genetic studies discovered numerous mutated and rare variants of PLC enzymes and their link to human disease development, greatly expanding our understanding of their roles in diverse pathologies. Notably, substantial evidence now supports involvement of different PLC isoforms in the development of specific cancer types, immune disorders and neurodegeneration. These advances will stimulate the generation of new drugs that target PLC enzymes, and will therefore open new possibilities for treatment of a number of diseases where current therapies remain ineffective.

A membrane-associated, fluorogenic reporter for mammalian phospholipase C isozymes

A diverse group of cell-surface receptors, including many G protein-coupled receptors and receptor tyrosine kinases, activate phospholipase C (PLC) isozymes to hydrolyze phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate into the second messengers diacylglycerol and 1,4,5-inositol trisphosphate. Consequently, PLCs control various cellular processes, and their aberrant regulation contributes to many diseases, including cancer, atherosclerosis, and rheumatoid arthritis. Despite the widespread importance of PLCs in human biology and disease, it has been impossible to directly monitor the real-time activation of these enzymes at membranes. To overcome this limitation, here we describe XY-69, a fluorogenic reporter that preferentially partitions into membranes and provides a selective tool for measuring the real-time activity of PLCs as either purified enzymes or in cellular lysates. Indeed, XY-69 faithfully reported the membrane-dependent activation of PLC-β3 by Gα_q Therefore, XY-69 can replace radioactive phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate used in conventional PLC assays and will enable high-throughput screens to identify both orthosteric and allosteric PLC inhibitors. In the future, cell-permeable variants of XY-69 represent promising candidates for reporting the activation of PLCs in live cells with high spatiotemporal resolution.

Dysfunction of phospholipase Cγ in immune disorders and cancer

The surge in genetic and genomic investigations over the past 5 years has resulted in many discoveries of causative variants relevant to disease pathophysiology. Although phospholipase C (PLC) enzymes have long been recognized as important components in intracellular signal transmission, it is only recently that this approach highlighted their role in disease development through gain-of-function mutations. In this review we describe the new findings that link the PLCγ family to immune disorders and cancer, and illustrate further efforts to elucidate the molecular mechanisms that underpin their dysfunction.

Fluorous enzymatic synthesis of phosphatidylinositides

A fluorous tagging strategy coupled with enzymatic synthesis is introduced to efficiently synthesize multiple phosphatidylinositides, which are then directly immobilized on a fluorous polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) membrane to probe protein-lipid interactions.

Structural insights into phospholipase C-β function

Phospholipase C (PLC) enzymes convert phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate into the second messengers diacylglycerol and inositol-1,4,5-triphosphate. The production of these molecules promotes the release of intracellular calcium and activation of protein kinase C, which results in profound cellular changes. The PLCβ subfamily is of particular interest given its prominent role in cardiovascular and neuronal signaling and its regulation by G protein-coupled receptors, as PLCβ is the canonical downstream target of the heterotrimeric G protein Gαq. However, this is not the only mechanism regulating PLCβ activity. Extensive structural and biochemical evidence has revealed regulatory roles for autoinhibitory elements within PLCβ, Gβγ, small molecular weight G proteins, and the lipid membrane itself. Such complex regulation highlights the central role that this enzyme plays in cell signaling. A better understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the control of its activity will greatly facilitate the search for selective small molecule modulators of PLCβ.