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Ali O, Szabó A. Review of Eukaryote Cellular Membrane Lipid Composition, with Special Attention to the Fatty Acids. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:15693. [PMID: 37958678 PMCID: PMC10649022 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242115693] [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: 09/18/2023] [Revised: 10/24/2023] [Accepted: 10/25/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Biological membranes, primarily composed of lipids, envelop each living cell. The intricate composition and organization of membrane lipids, including the variety of fatty acids they encompass, serve a dynamic role in sustaining cellular structural integrity and functionality. Typically, modifications in lipid composition coincide with consequential alterations in universally significant signaling pathways. Exploring the various fatty acids, which serve as the foundational building blocks of membrane lipids, provides crucial insights into the underlying mechanisms governing a myriad of cellular processes, such as membrane fluidity, protein trafficking, signal transduction, intercellular communication, and the etiology of certain metabolic disorders. Furthermore, comprehending how alterations in the lipid composition, especially concerning the fatty acid profile, either contribute to or prevent the onset of pathological conditions stands as a compelling area of research. Hence, this review aims to meticulously introduce the intricacies of membrane lipids and their constituent fatty acids in a healthy organism, thereby illuminating their remarkable diversity and profound influence on cellular function. Furthermore, this review aspires to highlight some potential therapeutic targets for various pathological conditions that may be ameliorated through dietary fatty acid supplements. The initial section of this review expounds on the eukaryotic biomembranes and their complex lipids. Subsequent sections provide insights into the synthesis, membrane incorporation, and distribution of fatty acids across various fractions of membrane lipids. The last section highlights the functional significance of membrane-associated fatty acids and their innate capacity to shape the various cellular physiological responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Omeralfaroug Ali
- Agrobiotechnology and Precision Breeding for Food Security National Laboratory, Institute of Physiology and Animal Nutrition, Department of Animal Physiology and Health, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Guba Sándor Str. 40, 7400 Kaposvár, Hungary;
| | - András Szabó
- Agrobiotechnology and Precision Breeding for Food Security National Laboratory, Institute of Physiology and Animal Nutrition, Department of Animal Physiology and Health, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Guba Sándor Str. 40, 7400 Kaposvár, Hungary;
- HUN-REN-MATE Mycotoxins in the Food Chain Research Group, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Guba Sándor Str. 40, 7400 Kaposvár, Hungary
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2
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Vallés AS, Barrantes FJ. Interactions between the Nicotinic and Endocannabinoid Receptors at the Plasma Membrane. MEMBRANES 2022; 12:812. [PMID: 36005727 PMCID: PMC9414690 DOI: 10.3390/membranes12080812] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2022] [Revised: 08/08/2022] [Accepted: 08/18/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Compartmentalization, together with transbilayer and lateral asymmetries, provide the structural foundation for functional specializations at the cell surface, including the active role of the lipid microenvironment in the modulation of membrane-bound proteins. The chemical synapse, the site where neurotransmitter-coded signals are decoded by neurotransmitter receptors, adds another layer of complexity to the plasma membrane architectural intricacy, mainly due to the need to accommodate a sizeable number of molecules in a minute subcellular compartment with dimensions barely reaching the micrometer. In this review, we discuss how nature has developed suitable adjustments to accommodate different types of membrane-bound receptors and scaffolding proteins via membrane microdomains, and how this "effort-sharing" mechanism has evolved to optimize crosstalk, separation, or coupling, where/when appropriate. We focus on a fast ligand-gated neurotransmitter receptor, the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor, and a second-messenger G-protein coupled receptor, the cannabinoid receptor, as a paradigmatic example.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Sofía Vallés
- Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Bahía Blanca (UNS-CONICET), Bahía Blanca 8000, Argentina
| | - Francisco J. Barrantes
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurobiology, Institute of Biomedical Research (BIOMED), UCA-CONICET, Av. Alicia Moreau de Justo 1600, Buenos Aires C1107AFF, Argentina
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3
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Hanashima S, Fukuda N, Malabed R, Murata M, Kinoshita M, Greimel P, Hirabayashi Y. β-Glucosylation of cholesterol reduces sterol-sphingomyelin interactions. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-BIOMEMBRANES 2020; 1863:183496. [PMID: 33130096 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2020.183496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2020] [Revised: 10/10/2020] [Accepted: 10/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Cholesteryl-β-D-glucoside (ChoGlc) is a mammalian glycolipid that is expressed in brain tissue. The effects of glucosylation on the ordering and lipid interactions of cholesterol (Cho) were examined in membranes composed of N-stearoyl sphingomyelin (SSM), which is abundant in the brain, and to investigate the possible molecular mechanism involved in these interactions. Differential scanning calorimetry revealed that ChoGlc was miscible with SSM in a similar extent of Cho. Solid-state 2H NMR of deuterated SSM and fluorescent anisotropy using 1,6-diphenylhexatriene demonstrated that the glucosylation of Cho significantly reduced the effect of the sterol tetracyclic core on the ordering of SSM chains. The orientation of the sterol core was further examined by solid-state NMR analysis of deuterated and fluorinated ChoGlc analogues. ChoGlc had a smaller tilt angle between the long molecular axis (C3-C17) and the membrane normal than Cho in SSM bilayers, and the fluctuations in the tilt angle were largely unaffected by temperature-dependent mobility changes of SSM acyl chains. This orientation of the sterol core of ChoGlc leads to reduce sterol-SSM interactions. The MD simulation results suggested that the Glc moiety perturbs the SSM-sterol interactions, which reduces the umbrella effect of the phosphocholine headgroup because the hydrophilic glucose moiety resides at the same depth as an SSM amide group. These differences between ChoGlc and Cho also weaken the SSM-ChoGlc interactions. Thus, the distribution and localization of Cho and ChoGlc possibly control the stability of sphingomyelin-based domains that transiently occur at specific locations in biological membranes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shinya Hanashima
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Osaka University, Toyonaka, Osaka 560-0043, Japan.
| | - Nanami Fukuda
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Osaka University, Toyonaka, Osaka 560-0043, Japan
| | - Raymond Malabed
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Osaka University, Toyonaka, Osaka 560-0043, Japan
| | - Michio Murata
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Osaka University, Toyonaka, Osaka 560-0043, Japan.
| | - Msanao Kinoshita
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan
| | - Peter Greimel
- Laboratory for Cell Function Dynamics, Brain Science Institute, RIKEN Institute, Wako, Saitama 351-0198, Japan
| | - Yoshio Hirabayashi
- RIKEN Cluster for Pioneering Research, RIKEN, Wako, Saitama 351-0198, Japan; Institute for Environmental and Gender-Specific Medicine, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Urayasu, Chiba 279-0021, Japan
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4
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Al Sazzad MA, Möuts A, Palacios-Ortega J, Lin KL, Nyholm TKM, Slotte JP. Natural Ceramides and Lysophospholipids Cosegregate in Fluid Phosphatidylcholine Bilayers. Biophys J 2019; 116:1105-1114. [PMID: 30795873 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2019.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2018] [Revised: 01/24/2019] [Accepted: 02/05/2019] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
The mode of interactions between palmitoyl lysophosphatidylcholine (palmitoyl lyso-PC) or other lysophospholipids (lyso-PLs) and palmitoyl ceramide (PCer) or other ceramide analogs in dioleoylphosphatidylcholine (DOPC) bilayers has been examined. PCer is known to segregate laterally into a ceramide-rich phase at concentrations that depend on the nature of the ceramides and the co-phospholipids. In DOPC bilayers, PCer forms a ceramide-rich phase at concentrations above 10 mol%. In the presence of 20 mol% palmitoyl lyso-PC in the DOPC bilayer, the lateral segregation of PCer was markedly facilitated (segregation at lower PCer concentrations). The thermostability of the PCer-rich phase in the presence of palmitoyl lyso-PC was also increased compared to that in the absence of palmitoyl lyso-PC. Other saturated lyso-PLs (e.g., palmitoyl lyso-phosphatidylethanolamine and lyso-sphingomyelin) also facilitated the lateral segregation of PCer in a similar manner as palmitoyl lyso-PC. When examined in the DOPC bilayer, it appeared that the association between palmitoyl lyso-PC and PCer was equimolar in nature. It is proposed that the interaction of PCer with lyso-PLs was driven by the need of ceramide to obtain a large-headgroup co-lipid, and saturated lyso-PLs were preferred co-lipids over DOPC because of the nature of their acyl chain. Structural analogs of PCer (1- or 3-deoxy-PCer) were also associated with palmitoyl lyso-PC, similarly to PCer, suggesting that the ceramide/lyso-PL interaction was not sensitive to structural alterations in the ceramide molecule. Binary complexes containing palmitoyl lyso-PC and ceramide were prepared, and these had a bilayer structure as ascertained by transmission electron microscopy. It is concluded that ceramides and lyso-PLs associated with each other both in binary bilayers and in ternary systems based on the DOPC bilayers. This association may have biological relevance under conditions in which both sphingomyelinases and phospholipase A2 enzymes are activated, such as during inflammatory processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Md Abdullah Al Sazzad
- Biochemistry, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Åbo Akademi University, Turku, Finland
| | - Anna Möuts
- Biochemistry, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Åbo Akademi University, Turku, Finland
| | - Juan Palacios-Ortega
- Biochemistry, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Åbo Akademi University, Turku, Finland; Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain
| | - Kai-Lan Lin
- Biochemistry, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Åbo Akademi University, Turku, Finland
| | - Thomas K M Nyholm
- Biochemistry, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Åbo Akademi University, Turku, Finland
| | - J Peter Slotte
- Biochemistry, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Åbo Akademi University, Turku, Finland.
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Backman APE, Halin J, Kjellberg MA, Mattjus P. Indirect Lipid Transfer Protein Activity Measurements Using Quantification of Glycosphingolipid Production. Methods Mol Biol 2019; 1949:105-114. [PMID: 30790252 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-9136-5_9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Here we summarize how glycosphingolipid production can be followed using metabolic labeling with radiolabeled lipid precursors. No assays are available yet that directly would address the lipid transfer protein activity in vivo. Therefore, these approaches can serve as tools to indirectly study the lipid transfer protein activity in cells, by monitoring their impact on the glycosphingolipid homeostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anders P E Backman
- Faculty of Science and Engineering, Biochemistry, Åbo Akademi University, Turku, Finland
| | - Josefin Halin
- Faculty of Science and Engineering, Biochemistry, Åbo Akademi University, Turku, Finland
| | - Matti A Kjellberg
- Faculty of Science and Engineering, Biochemistry, Åbo Akademi University, Turku, Finland
| | - Peter Mattjus
- Faculty of Science and Engineering, Biochemistry, Åbo Akademi University, Turku, Finland.
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6
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Di Scala C, Fantini J, Yahi N, Barrantes FJ, Chahinian H. Anandamide Revisited: How Cholesterol and Ceramides Control Receptor-Dependent and Receptor-Independent Signal Transmission Pathways of a Lipid Neurotransmitter. Biomolecules 2018; 8:biom8020031. [PMID: 29789479 PMCID: PMC6022874 DOI: 10.3390/biom8020031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2018] [Revised: 05/02/2018] [Accepted: 05/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Anandamide is a lipid neurotransmitter derived from arachidonic acid, a polyunsaturated fatty acid. The chemical differences between anandamide and arachidonic acid result in a slightly enhanced solubility in water and absence of an ionisable group for the neurotransmitter compared with the fatty acid. In this review, we first analyze the conformational flexibility of anandamide in aqueous and membrane phases. We next study the interaction of the neurotransmitter with membrane lipids and discuss the molecular basis of the unexpected selectivity of anandamide for cholesterol and ceramide from among other membrane lipids. We show that cholesterol behaves as a binding partner for anandamide, and that following an initial interaction mediated by the establishment of a hydrogen bond, anandamide is attracted towards the membrane interior, where it forms a molecular complex with cholesterol after a functional conformation adaptation to the apolar membrane milieu. The complex is then directed to the anandamide cannabinoid receptor (CB1) which displays a high affinity binding pocket for anandamide. We propose that cholesterol may regulate the entry and exit of anandamide in and out of CB1 by interacting with low affinity cholesterol recognition sites (CARC and CRAC) located in transmembrane helices. The mirror topology of cholesterol binding sites in the seventh transmembrane domain is consistent with the delivery, extraction and flip-flop of anandamide through a coordinated cholesterol-dependent mechanism. The binding of anandamide to ceramide illustrates another key function of membrane lipids which may occur independently of protein receptors. Interestingly, ceramide forms a tight complex with anandamide which blocks the degradation pathway of both lipids and could be exploited for anti-cancer therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Coralie Di Scala
- INMED, INSERM U1249, Parc Scientifique de Luminy, 163 Avenue de Luminy, BP13 13273 Marseille CEDEX 09, France.
| | - Jacques Fantini
- INSERM UMR_S 1072, Aix-Marseille Université, 13015 Marseille, France.
| | - Nouara Yahi
- INSERM UMR_S 1072, Aix-Marseille Université, 13015 Marseille, France.
| | - Francisco J Barrantes
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurobiology, Biomedical Research Institute (BIOMED), UCA⁻CONICET, Av. Alicia Moreau de Justo 1600, C1107AFF Buenos Aires, Argentina.
| | - Henri Chahinian
- INSERM UMR_S 1072, Aix-Marseille Université, 13015 Marseille, France.
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7
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Slotte JP, Yasuda T, Engberg O, Al Sazzad MA, Hautala V, Nyholm TKM, Murata M. Bilayer Interactions among Unsaturated Phospholipids, Sterols, and Ceramide. Biophys J 2017; 112:1673-1681. [PMID: 28445758 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2017.03.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2016] [Revised: 03/08/2017] [Accepted: 03/21/2017] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Using differential scanning calorimetry and lifetime analysis of trans-parinaric acid fluorescence, we have examined how cholesterol and cholesteryl phosphocholine (CholPC) affect gel-phase properties of palmitoyl ceramide (PCer) in 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (POPC) and 1,2-dioleyol-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DOPC) bilayers. By 2H NMR, we also measured fluid-phase interactions among these lipids using deuterated analogs of POPC, PCer, and cholesterol. The PCer-rich gel phase in POPC bilayers (9:1 molar ratio of POPC to PCer) was partially and similarly dissolved (and thermostability decreased) by both cholesterol and CholPC (sterol was present equimolar to PCer, or in fourfold excess). In DOPC bilayers (4:1 DOPC/PCer molar ratio), CholPC was much more efficient in dissolving the PCer-rich gel phase when compared to cholesterol. This can be interpreted as indicating that PCer interaction with POPC was stronger than PCer interaction with DOPC. PCer-CholPC interactions were also more favored in DOPC bilayers compared to POPC bilayers. In the fluid POPC-rich phase, cholesterol increased the order of the acyl chain of d2-PCer much more than did CholPC. In DOPC-rich fluid bilayers, both cholesterol and CholPC increased d2-PCer acyl chain order, and the ordering induced by CholPC was more efficient in DOPC than in POPC bilayers. In fluid POPC bilayers, the ordering of 3-d1-cholesterol by PCer was weak. In summary, we found that in the gel phase, sterol effects on the PCer-rich gel phase were markedly influenced by the acyl chain composition of the fluid PC. The same was true for fluid-phase interactions involving the sterols. Our results further suggest that PCer did not display high affinity toward either of the sterols used. We conclude that the nature of unsaturated phospholipids (POPC versus DOPC) in bilayers has major effects on the properties of ceramide gel phases and on sterol-ceramide-phospholipid interactions in such complex bilayers.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Peter Slotte
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Åbo Akademi University, Turku, Finland.
| | - Tomokazu Yasuda
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Åbo Akademi University, Turku, Finland; Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Osaka University, Toyonaka, Osaka, Japan
| | - Oskar Engberg
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Åbo Akademi University, Turku, Finland
| | - Md Abdullah Al Sazzad
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Åbo Akademi University, Turku, Finland
| | - Victor Hautala
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Åbo Akademi University, Turku, Finland
| | - Thomas K M Nyholm
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Åbo Akademi University, Turku, Finland
| | - Michio Murata
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Osaka University, Toyonaka, Osaka, Japan; Japan Science and Technology Agency, ERATO, Lipid Active Structure Project, Toyonaka, Osaka, Japan
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8
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Kepczynski M, Róg T. Functionalized lipids and surfactants for specific applications. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-BIOMEMBRANES 2016; 1858:2362-2379. [PMID: 26946243 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2016.02.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2016] [Revised: 02/23/2016] [Accepted: 02/25/2016] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Synthetic lipids and surfactants that do not exist in biological systems have been used for the last few decades in both basic and applied science. The most notable applications for synthetic lipids and surfactants are drug delivery, gene transfection, as reporting molecules, and as support for structural lipid biology. In this review, we describe the potential of the synergistic combination of computational and experimental methodologies to study the behavior of synthetic lipids and surfactants embedded in lipid membranes and liposomes. We focused on select cases in which molecular dynamics simulations were used to complement experimental studies aiming to understand the structure and properties of new compounds at the atomistic level. We also describe cases in which molecular dynamics simulations were used to design new synthetic lipids and surfactants, as well as emerging fields for the application of these compounds. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Biosimulations edited by Ilpo Vattulainen and Tomasz Róg.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariusz Kepczynski
- Faculty of Chemistry, Jagiellonian University, Ingardena 3, 30-060 Kraków, Poland.
| | - Tomasz Róg
- Department of Physics, Tampere University of Technology, P.O. Box 692, FI-33101, Tampere, Finland; Department of Physics, Helsinki University, P.O. Box 64, FI 00014 Helsinki, Finland.
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9
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Metabolic Conversion of Ceramides in HeLa Cells - A Cholesteryl Phosphocholine Delivery Approach. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0143385. [PMID: 26599810 PMCID: PMC4658033 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0143385] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2015] [Accepted: 11/04/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Ceramides can be delivered to cultured cells without solvents in the form of complexes with cholesteryl phosphocholine. We have analysed the delivery of three different radiolabeled D-erythro-ceramides (C6-Cer, C10-Cer and C16-Cer) to HeLa cells, and followed their metabolism as well as the cell viability. We found that all three ceramides were successfully taken up by HeLa cells when complexed to CholPC in an equimolar ratio, and show that the ceramides show different rates of cellular uptake and metabolic fate. The C6-Cer had the highest incorporation rate, followed by C10-Cer and C16-Cer, respectively. The subsequent effect on cell viability strongly correlated with the rate of incorporation, where C6-Cer had the strongest apoptotic effects. Low-dose (1 μM) treatment with C6-Cer favoured conversion of the precursor to sphingomyelin, whereas higher concentrations (25–100 μM) yielded increased conversion to C6-glucosylceramide. Similar results were obtained for C10-Cer. In the lower-dose C16-Cer experiments, most of the precursor was degraded, whereas at high-dose concentrations the precursor remained un-metabolized. Using this method, we demonstrate that ceramides with different chain lengths clearly exhibit varying rates of cellular uptake. The cellular fate of the externally delivered ceramides are clearly connected to their rate of incorporation and their subsequent effects on cell viability may be in part determined by their chain length.
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Barriga HMG, Parsons ES, McCarthy NLC, Ces O, Seddon JM, Law RV, Brooks NJ. Pressure-temperature phase behavior of mixtures of natural sphingomyelin and ceramide extracts. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2015; 31:3678-3686. [PMID: 25742392 DOI: 10.1021/la504935c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Ceramides are a group of sphingolipids that act as highly important signaling molecules in a variety of cellular processes including differentiation and apoptosis. The predominant in vivo synthetic pathway for ceramide formation is via sphingomyelinase catalyzed hydrolysis of sphingomyelin. The biochemistry of this essential pathway has been studied in detail; however, there is currently a lack of information on the structural behavior of sphingomyelin- and ceramide-rich model membrane systems, which is essential for developing a bottom-up understanding of ceramide signaling and platform formation. We have studied the lyotropic phase behavior of sphingomyelin-ceramide mixtures in excess water as a function of temperature (30-70 °C) and pressure (1-200 MPa) by small- and wide-angle X-ray scattering. At low ceramide concentrations the mixtures form the ripple gel phase (P(β)') below the gel transition temperature for sphingomyelin, and this observation has been confirmed by atomic force microscopy. Formation of the ripple gel phase can also be induced at higher temperatures via the application of hydrostatic pressure. At high ceramide concentration an inverse hexagonal phase (HII) is formed coexisting with a cubic phase.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanna M G Barriga
- Department of Chemistry, Imperial College London, South Kensington, London, SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| | - Edward S Parsons
- Department of Chemistry, Imperial College London, South Kensington, London, SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| | - Nicola L C McCarthy
- Department of Chemistry, Imperial College London, South Kensington, London, SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| | - Oscar Ces
- Department of Chemistry, Imperial College London, South Kensington, London, SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| | - John M Seddon
- Department of Chemistry, Imperial College London, South Kensington, London, SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| | - Robert V Law
- Department of Chemistry, Imperial College London, South Kensington, London, SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| | - Nicholas J Brooks
- Department of Chemistry, Imperial College London, South Kensington, London, SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
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11
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Sims KH, Tytler EM, Tipton J, Hill KL, Burgess SW, Shaw WA. Avanti lipid tools: connecting lipids, technology, and cell biology. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Cell Biol Lipids 2014; 1841:1038-48. [PMID: 24954118 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbalip.2014.05.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2013] [Revised: 05/21/2014] [Accepted: 05/23/2014] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Lipid research is challenging owing to the complexity and diversity of the lipidome. Here we review a set of experimental tools developed for the seasoned lipid researcher, as well as, those who are new to the field of lipid research. Novel tools for probing protein-lipid interactions, applications for lipid binding antibodies, enhanced systems for the cellular delivery of lipids, improved visualization of lipid membranes using gold-labeled lipids, and advances in mass spectrometric analysis techniques will be discussed. Because lipid mediators are known to participate in a host of signal transduction and trafficking pathways within the cell, a comprehensive lipid toolbox that aids the science of lipidomics research is essential to better understand the molecular mechanisms of interactions between cellular components. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled Tools to study lipid functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kacee H Sims
- Avanti Polar Lipids, Inc., 700 Industrial Park Drive, Alabaster, Al 35007, USA.
| | - Ewan M Tytler
- Avanti Polar Lipids, Inc., 700 Industrial Park Drive, Alabaster, Al 35007, USA.
| | - John Tipton
- Avanti Polar Lipids, Inc., 700 Industrial Park Drive, Alabaster, Al 35007, USA.
| | - Kasey L Hill
- Avanti Polar Lipids, Inc., 700 Industrial Park Drive, Alabaster, Al 35007, USA.
| | - Stephen W Burgess
- Avanti Polar Lipids, Inc., 700 Industrial Park Drive, Alabaster, Al 35007, USA.
| | - Walter A Shaw
- Avanti Polar Lipids, Inc., 700 Industrial Park Drive, Alabaster, Al 35007, USA.
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12
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Castro BM, Prieto M, Silva LC. Ceramide: a simple sphingolipid with unique biophysical properties. Prog Lipid Res 2014; 54:53-67. [PMID: 24513486 DOI: 10.1016/j.plipres.2014.01.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 260] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2013] [Revised: 01/29/2014] [Accepted: 01/29/2014] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Ceramides are involved in a variety of cellular processes and in disease. Their biological functions are thought to depend on ceramides' unique biophysical properties, which promote strong alterations of cell membrane properties and consequent triggering of signaling events. Over the last decades, efforts were made to understand the impact of ceramide on membrane biophysical features. Several studies, performed in a multitude of membrane models, address ceramides' specific interactions, the effect of their acyl chain structure and the influence of membrane lipid composition and properties on ceramide biophysical outcome. In this review, a rationale for the multiple and complex changes promoted by ceramide is provided, highlighting, on a comprehensive and critical manner, the interactions between ceramides and specific lipids and/or lipid phases. Focus is also given to the interplay between ceramide and cholesterol, particularly in lipid raft-mimicking mixtures, an issue of intense debate due to the urgent need to understand the biophysical impact of ceramide formation in models resembling the cell membrane. The implications of ceramide-induced biophysical changes on lipid-protein interactions and cell signaling are also discussed, together with the emerging evidence for the existence of ceramide-gel like domains in cellular membranes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruno M Castro
- Centro de Química-Física Molecular and Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Complexo I, Av. Rovisco Pais, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Manuel Prieto
- Centro de Química-Física Molecular and Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Complexo I, Av. Rovisco Pais, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Liana C Silva
- iMed.UL - Research Institute for Medicines and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal.
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Sukumaran P, Lönnfors M, Långvik O, Pulli I, Törnquist K, Slotte JP. Complexation of c6-ceramide with cholesteryl phosphocholine - a potent solvent-free ceramide delivery formulation for cells in culture. PLoS One 2013; 8:e61290. [PMID: 23620740 PMCID: PMC3631171 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0061290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2012] [Accepted: 03/06/2013] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Ceramides are potent bioactive molecules in cells. However, they are very hydrophobic molecules, and difficult to deliver efficiently to cells. We have made fluid bilayers from a short-chain D-erythro-ceramide (C6-Cer) and cholesteryl phosphocholine (CholPC), and have used this as a formulation to deliver ceramide to cells. C6-Cer complexed with CholPC led to much larger biological effects in cultured cells (rat thyroid FRTL-5 and human HeLa cells in culture) compared to C6-Cer dissolved in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). Inhibition of cell proliferation and induction of apoptosis was significantly more efficient by C6-Cer/CholPC compared to C6-Cer dissolved in DMSO. C6-Cer/CholPC also permeated cell membranes and caused mitochondrial Ca2+ influx more efficiently than C6-Cer in DMSO. Even though CholPC was taken up by cells to some extent (from C6-Cer/CholPC bilayers), and was partially hydrolyzed to free cholesterol (about 9%), none of the antiproliferative effects were due to CholPC or excess cholesterol. The ceramide effect was not limited to D-erythro-C6-Cer, since L-erythro-C6-Cer and D-erythro-C6-dihydroCer also inhibited cell priolifereation and affected Ca2+ homeostasis. We conclude that C6-Cer complexed to CholPC increased the bioavailability of the short-chain ceramide for cells, and potentiated its effects in comparison to solvent-dissolved C6-Cer. This new ceramide formulation appears to be superior to previous solvent delivery approaches, and may even be useful with longer-chain ceramides.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Max Lönnfors
- Biochemistry, Department of Biosciences, Åbo Akademi University, Turku, Finland
| | - Otto Långvik
- Laboratory of Organic Chemistry, Department of Natural Sciences, Åbo Akademi University, Turku, Finland
| | - Ilari Pulli
- Cell Biology, Åbo Akademi University, Turku, Finland
| | - Kid Törnquist
- Cell Biology, Åbo Akademi University, Turku, Finland
- Minerva Foundation Institute of Medical Research, Biomedicum Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- * E-mail: (KT); (JPS)
| | - J. Peter Slotte
- Biochemistry, Department of Biosciences, Åbo Akademi University, Turku, Finland
- * E-mail: (KT); (JPS)
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