1
|
Kuo A, Hla T. Regulation of cellular and systemic sphingolipid homeostasis. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol 2024:10.1038/s41580-024-00742-y. [PMID: 38890457 DOI: 10.1038/s41580-024-00742-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/30/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024]
Abstract
One hundred and fifty years ago, Johann Thudichum described sphingolipids as unusual "Sphinx-like" lipids from the brain. Today, we know that thousands of sphingolipid molecules mediate many essential functions in embryonic development and normal physiology. In addition, sphingolipid metabolism and signalling pathways are dysregulated in a wide range of pathologies, and therapeutic agents that target sphingolipids are now used to treat several human diseases. However, our understanding of sphingolipid regulation at cellular and organismal levels and their functions in developmental, physiological and pathological settings is rudimentary. In this Review, we discuss recent advances in sphingolipid pathways in different organelles, how secreted sphingolipid mediators modulate physiology and disease, progress in sphingolipid-targeted therapeutic and diagnostic research, and the trans-cellular sphingolipid metabolic networks between microbiota and mammals. Advances in sphingolipid biology have led to a deeper understanding of mammalian physiology and may lead to progress in the management of many diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Kuo
- Vascular Biology Program, Boston Children's Hospital, Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Timothy Hla
- Vascular Biology Program, Boston Children's Hospital, Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Xie T, Dong F, Han G, Wu X, Liu P, Zhang Z, Zhong J, Niranjanakumari S, Gable K, Gupta SD, Liu W, Harrison PJ, Campopiano DJ, Dunn TM, Gong X. Collaborative regulation of yeast SPT-Orm2 complex by phosphorylation and ceramide. Cell Rep 2024; 43:113717. [PMID: 38285738 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.113717] [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: 09/08/2023] [Revised: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 01/31/2024] Open
Abstract
The homeostatic regulation of serine palmitoyltransferase (SPT) activity in yeast involves N-terminal phosphorylation of Orm proteins, while higher eukaryotes lack these phosphorylation sites. Although recent studies have indicated a conserved ceramide-mediated feedback inhibition of the SPT-ORM/ORMDL complex in higher eukaryotes, its conservation and relationship with phosphorylation regulation in yeast remain unclear. Here, we determine the structure of the yeast SPT-Orm2 complex in a dephosphomimetic state and identify an evolutionarily conserved ceramide-sensing site. Ceramide stabilizes the dephosphomimetic Orm2 in an inhibitory conformation, facilitated by an intramolecular β-sheet between the N- and C-terminal segments of Orm2. Moreover, we find that a phosphomimetic mutant of Orm2, positioned adjacent to its intramolecular β-sheet, destabilizes the inhibitory conformation of Orm2. Taken together, our findings suggest that both Orm dephosphorylation and ceramide binding are crucial for suppressing SPT activity in yeast. This highlights a distinctive regulatory mechanism in yeast involving the collaborative actions of phosphorylation and ceramide.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tian Xie
- Department of Chemical Biology, School of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, China
| | - Feitong Dong
- Department of Chemical Biology, School of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, China
| | - Gongshe Han
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA
| | - Xinyue Wu
- Department of Chemical Biology, School of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, China
| | - Peng Liu
- Department of Chemical Biology, School of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, China
| | - Zike Zhang
- Department of Chemical Biology, School of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, China
| | - Jianlong Zhong
- Department of Chemical Biology, School of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, China
| | - Somashekarappa Niranjanakumari
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA
| | - Kenneth Gable
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA
| | - Sita D Gupta
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA
| | - Wenchen Liu
- Department of Chemical Biology, School of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, China
| | - Peter J Harrison
- School of Chemistry, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3FJ, UK
| | | | - Teresa M Dunn
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA.
| | - Xin Gong
- Department of Chemical Biology, School of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, China; Institute for Biological Electron Microscopy, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, China.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Wang Z, Su C, Zhang Y, Shangguan S, Wang R, Su J. Key enzymes involved in the utilization of fatty acids by Saccharomyces cerevisiae: a review. Front Microbiol 2024; 14:1294182. [PMID: 38274755 PMCID: PMC10808364 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1294182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/26/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a eukaryotic organism with a clear genetic background and mature gene operating system; in addition, it exhibits environmental tolerance. Therefore, S. cerevisiae is one of the most commonly used organisms for the synthesis of biological chemicals. The investigation of fatty acid catabolism in S. cerevisiae is crucial for the synthesis and accumulation of fatty acids and their derivatives, with β-oxidation being the predominant pathway responsible for fatty acid metabolism in this organism, occurring primarily within peroxisomes. The latest research has revealed distinct variations in β-oxidation among different fatty acids, primarily attributed to substrate preferences and disparities in the metabolic regulation of key enzymes involved in the S. cerevisiae fatty acid metabolic pathway. The synthesis of lipids, on the other hand, represents another crucial metabolic pathway for fatty acids. The present paper provides a comprehensive review of recent research on the key factors influencing the efficiency of fatty acid utilization, encompassing β-oxidation and lipid synthesis pathways. Additionally, we discuss various approaches for modifying β-oxidation to enhance the synthesis of fatty acids and their derivatives in S. cerevisiae, aiming to offer theoretical support and serve as a valuable reference for future studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhaoyun Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Biobased Material and Green Papermaking (LBMP), Qilu University of Technology, Jinan, Shandong, China
- Key Laboratory of Shandong Microbial Engineering, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Chunli Su
- State Key Laboratory of Biobased Material and Green Papermaking (LBMP), Qilu University of Technology, Jinan, Shandong, China
- Key Laboratory of Shandong Microbial Engineering, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Yisang Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Biobased Material and Green Papermaking (LBMP), Qilu University of Technology, Jinan, Shandong, China
- Key Laboratory of Shandong Microbial Engineering, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Sifan Shangguan
- State Key Laboratory of Biobased Material and Green Papermaking (LBMP), Qilu University of Technology, Jinan, Shandong, China
- Key Laboratory of Shandong Microbial Engineering, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Ruiming Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Biobased Material and Green Papermaking (LBMP), Qilu University of Technology, Jinan, Shandong, China
- Key Laboratory of Shandong Microbial Engineering, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Jing Su
- State Key Laboratory of Biobased Material and Green Papermaking (LBMP), Qilu University of Technology, Jinan, Shandong, China
- Key Laboratory of Shandong Microbial Engineering, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan, Shandong, China
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Mughram MHA, Kellogg GE, Wattenberg BW. Three kingdoms and one ceramide to rule them all. A comparison of the structural basis of ceramide-dependent regulation of sphingolipid biosynthesis in animals, plants, and fungi. Adv Biol Regul 2024; 91:101010. [PMID: 38135565 PMCID: PMC10922298 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbior.2023.101010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023]
Abstract
Sphingolipids are a diverse class of lipids with essential functions as determinants of membrane physical properties and as intra- and intercellular signaling agents. Disruption of the normal biochemical processes that establish the levels of individual sphingolipids is associated with a variety of human diseases including cancer, cardiovascular disease, metabolic disease, skin diseases, and lysosomal storage diseases. A unique aspect of this metabolic network is that there is a single enzymatic step that initiates the biosynthetic pathway for all sphingolipids. This step is catalyzed by the enzyme serine palmitoyltranserase (SPT). Under most circumstances SPT condenses serine and the 16-carbon acyl-CoA, palmitoyl-CoA to produce the precursor of all sphingolipids. SPT, a four-subunit protein complex, is subject to classic feedback regulation: when cellular sphingolipids are elevated, SPT activity is inhibited. Ceramide is the sphingolipid sensed by this system and it regulates SPT by directly binding to the complex. The ceramide binding site in the SPT complex, and how ceramide binding results in SPT inhibition, has now been determined in vertebrates, plants, and yeast using molecular modeling and cryo-electron microscopy. Here we discuss the similarities and differences revealed by these resolved structures and the surprising result that ceramide binds at almost identical positions in the SPT complex of these divergent organisms, but accomplishes SPT regulation in very different ways.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mohammed H Al Mughram
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Institute for Structural Biology, Drug Discovery and Development, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Pharmacy, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Glen E Kellogg
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Institute for Structural Biology, Drug Discovery and Development, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Pharmacy, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Binks W Wattenberg
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Esch BM, Walter S, Schmidt O, Fröhlich F. Identification of distinct active pools of yeast serine palmitoyltransferase in sub-compartments of the ER. J Cell Sci 2023; 136:jcs261353. [PMID: 37982431 DOI: 10.1242/jcs.261353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Sphingolipids (SPs) are one of the three major lipid classes in eukaryotic cells and serve as structural components of the plasma membrane. The rate-limiting step in SP biosynthesis is catalyzed by the serine palmitoyltransferase (SPT). In budding yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae), SPT is negatively regulated by the two proteins, Orm1 and Orm2. Regulating SPT activity enables cells to adapt SP metabolism to changing environmental conditions. Therefore, the Orm proteins are phosphorylated by two signaling pathways originating from either the plasma membrane or the lysosome (or vacuole in yeast). Moreover, uptake of exogenous serine is necessary for the regulation of SP biosynthesis, which suggests the existence of differentially regulated SPT pools based on their intracellular localization. However, measuring lipid metabolic enzyme activity in different cellular sub-compartments has been challenging. Combining a nanobody recruitment approach with SP flux analysis, we show that the nuclear endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-localized SPT and the peripheral ER localized SPT pools are differentially active. Thus, our data add another layer to the complex network of SPT regulation. Moreover, combining lipid metabolic enzyme re-localization with flux analysis serves as versatile tool to measure lipid metabolism with subcellular resolution.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bianca M Esch
- Osnabrück University, Department of Biology-Chemistry, Bioanalytical Chemistry Section, Barbarastrasse 13, 49076 Osnabrück, Germany
- Osnabrück University, Center for Cellular Nanoanalytic Osnabrück (CellNanOs), Barbarastrasse 11, 49076 Osnabrück, Germany
| | - Stefan Walter
- Osnabrück University, Center for Cellular Nanoanalytic Osnabrück (CellNanOs), Barbarastrasse 11, 49076 Osnabrück, Germany
| | - Oliver Schmidt
- Institute of Cell Biology, Biocenter Innsbruck, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innrain 80, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Florian Fröhlich
- Osnabrück University, Department of Biology-Chemistry, Bioanalytical Chemistry Section, Barbarastrasse 13, 49076 Osnabrück, Germany
- Osnabrück University, Center for Cellular Nanoanalytic Osnabrück (CellNanOs), Barbarastrasse 11, 49076 Osnabrück, Germany
| |
Collapse
|