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Kuo A, Hla T. Regulation of cellular and systemic sphingolipid homeostasis. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol 2024; 25:802-821. [PMID: 38890457 DOI: 10.1038/s41580-024-00742-y] [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] [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.
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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.
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2
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Hempelmann P, Lolicato F, Graziadei A, Brown RDR, Spiegel S, Rappsilber J, Nickel W, Höglinger D, Jamecna D. The sterol transporter STARD3 transports sphingosine at ER-lysosome contact sites. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.09.18.557036. [PMID: 37790546 PMCID: PMC10542139 DOI: 10.1101/2023.09.18.557036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/05/2023]
Abstract
Sphingolipids are important structural components of membranes. Additionally, simple sphingolipids such as sphingosine are highly bioactive and participate in complex subcellular signaling. Sphingolipid deregulation is associated with many severe diseases including diabetes, Parkinson's and cancer. Here, we focus on how sphingosine, generated from sphingolipid catabolism in late endosomes/lysosomes, is reintegrated into the biosynthetic machinery at the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). We characterized the sterol transporter STARD3 as a sphingosine transporter acting at lysosome-ER contact sites. Experiments featuring crosslinkable sphingosine probes, supported by unbiased molecular dynamics simulations, exposed how sphingosine binds to the lipid-binding domain of STARD3. Following the metabolic fate of pre-localized lysosomal sphingosine showed the importance of STARD3 and its actions at contact sites for the integration of sphingosine into ceramide in a cellular context. Our findings provide the first example of interorganellar sphingosine transfer and pave the way for a better understanding of sphingolipid - sterol co-regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pia Hempelmann
- Heidelberg University Biochemistry Center, Im Neuenheimer Feld 328, 69120 Heidelberg
| | - Fabio Lolicato
- Heidelberg University Biochemistry Center, Im Neuenheimer Feld 328, 69120 Heidelberg
- Department of Physics, University of Helsinki, FI-00014 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Andrea Graziadei
- Institute for Biotechnology, Technical University Berlin, Gustav Mayer Allee 25, 13355 Berlin
| | - Ryan D R Brown
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA
| | - Sarah Spiegel
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA
| | - Juri Rappsilber
- Institute for Biotechnology, Technical University Berlin, Gustav Mayer Allee 25, 13355 Berlin
| | - Walter Nickel
- Heidelberg University Biochemistry Center, Im Neuenheimer Feld 328, 69120 Heidelberg
| | - Doris Höglinger
- Heidelberg University Biochemistry Center, Im Neuenheimer Feld 328, 69120 Heidelberg
| | - Denisa Jamecna
- Heidelberg University Biochemistry Center, Im Neuenheimer Feld 328, 69120 Heidelberg
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3
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Ikonen E, Olkkonen VM. Intracellular Cholesterol Trafficking. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Biol 2023; 15:a041404. [PMID: 37277190 PMCID: PMC10411867 DOI: 10.1101/cshperspect.a041404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Cholesterol is an essential lipid species of mammalian cells. Cells acquire it through synthesis in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and uptake from lipoprotein particles. Newly synthesized cholesterol is efficiently distributed from the ER to other organelles via lipid-binding/transfer proteins concentrated at membrane contact sites (MCSs) to reach the trans-Golgi network, endosomes, and plasma membrane. Lipoprotein-derived cholesterol is exported from the plasma membrane and endosomal compartments via a combination of vesicle/tubule-mediated membrane transport and transfer through MCSs. In this review, we provide an overview of intracellular cholesterol trafficking pathways, including cholesterol flux from the ER to other membranes, cholesterol uptake from lipoprotein donors and transport from the plasma membrane to the ER, cellular cholesterol efflux to lipoprotein acceptors, as well as lipoprotein cholesterol secretion from enterocytes, hepatocytes, and astrocytes. We also briefly discuss human diseases caused by defects in these processes and therapeutic strategies available in such conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elina Ikonen
- Department of Anatomy and Stem Cells and Metabolism Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, 00100 Helsinki, Finland
- Minerva Foundation Institute for Medical Research, 00290 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Vesa M Olkkonen
- Minerva Foundation Institute for Medical Research, 00290 Helsinki, Finland
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4
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Burtscher J, Pepe G, Maharjan N, Riguet N, Di Pardo A, Maglione V, Millet GP. Sphingolipids and impaired hypoxic stress responses in Huntington disease. Prog Lipid Res 2023; 90:101224. [PMID: 36898481 DOI: 10.1016/j.plipres.2023.101224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2022] [Revised: 02/20/2023] [Accepted: 03/05/2023] [Indexed: 03/11/2023]
Abstract
Huntington disease (HD) is a debilitating, currently incurable disease. Protein aggregation and metabolic deficits are pathological hallmarks but their link to neurodegeneration and symptoms remains debated. Here, we summarize alterations in the levels of different sphingolipids in an attempt to characterize sphingolipid patterns specific to HD, an additional molecular hallmark of the disease. Based on the crucial role of sphingolipids in maintaining cellular homeostasis, the dynamic regulation of sphingolipids upon insults and their involvement in cellular stress responses, we hypothesize that maladaptations or blunted adaptations, especially following cellular stress due to reduced oxygen supply (hypoxia) contribute to the development of pathology in HD. We review how sphingolipids shape cellular energy metabolism and control proteostasis and suggest how these functions may fail in HD and in combination with additional insults. Finally, we evaluate the potential of improving cellular resilience in HD by conditioning approaches (improving the efficiency of cellular stress responses) and the role of sphingolipids therein. Sphingolipid metabolism is crucial for cellular homeostasis and for adaptations following cellular stress, including hypoxia. Inadequate cellular management of hypoxic stress likely contributes to HD progression, and sphingolipids are potential mediators. Targeting sphingolipids and the hypoxic stress response are novel treatment strategies for HD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johannes Burtscher
- Institute of Sport Sciences, University of Lausanne, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland; Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Lausanne, 1005 Lausanne, Switzerland.
| | - Giuseppe Pepe
- IRCCS Neuromed, Via Dell'Elettronica, 86077 Pozzilli, Italy
| | - Niran Maharjan
- Department of Neurology, Center for Experimental Neurology, Inselspital University Hospital, 3010 Bern, Switzerland; Department for Biomedical Research (DBMR), University of Bern, 3010 Bern, Switzerland
| | | | - Alba Di Pardo
- IRCCS Neuromed, Via Dell'Elettronica, 86077 Pozzilli, Italy
| | | | - Grégoire P Millet
- Institute of Sport Sciences, University of Lausanne, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland; Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Lausanne, 1005 Lausanne, Switzerland
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5
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Lange Y, Tabei SMA, Steck TL. A basic model for the association of ligands with membrane cholesterol: application to cytolysin binding. J Lipid Res 2023; 64:100344. [PMID: 36791915 PMCID: PMC10119614 DOI: 10.1016/j.jlr.2023.100344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2022] [Revised: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Almost all the cholesterol in cellular membranes is associated with phospholipids in simple stoichiometric complexes. This limits the binding of sterol ligands such as filipin and Perfringolysin O (PFO) to a small fraction of the total. We offer a simple mathematical model that characterizes this complexity. It posits that the cholesterol accessible to ligands has two forms: active cholesterol, which is that not complexed with phospholipids; and extractable cholesterol, that which ligands can capture competitively from the phospholipid complexes. Simulations based on the model match published data for the association of PFO oligomers with liposomes, plasma membranes and the isolated endoplasmic reticulum. The model shows how the binding of a probe greatly underestimates cholesterol abundance when its affinity for the sterol is so weak that it competes poorly with the membrane phospholipids. Two examples are the under-staining of plasma membranes by filipin and the failure of domain D4 of PFO to label their cytoplasmic leaflets. Conversely, the exaggerated staining of endolysosomes suggests that their cholesterol, being uncomplexed, is readily available. The model is also applicable to the association of cholesterol with intrinsic membrane proteins. For example, it supports the hypothesis that the sharp threshold in the regulation of homeostatic ER proteins by cholesterol derives from the cooperativity of their binding to the sterol weakly held by the phospholipid. § Thus, the model explicates the complexity inherent in the binding of ligands like PFO and filipin to the small accessible fraction of membrane cholesterol.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yvonne Lange
- 1Department of Pathology, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Il 60612, USA.
| | - S M Ali Tabei
- Department of Physics, University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, Iowa 50614, USA
| | - Theodore L Steck
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Chicago, Chicago, Il 60637, USA
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Thattai M. Molecular and cellular constraints on vesicle traffic evolution. Curr Opin Cell Biol 2023; 80:102151. [PMID: 36610080 DOI: 10.1016/j.ceb.2022.102151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2022] [Revised: 11/30/2022] [Accepted: 12/08/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
In eukaryotic cells, the budding and fusion of intracellular transport vesicles is carefully orchestrated in space and time. Locally, a vesicle's source compartment, its cargo, and its destination compartment are controlled by dynamic multi-protein specificity modules. Globally, vesicle constituents must be recycled to ensure homeostasis of compartment compositions. The emergence of a novel vesicle pathway therefore requires new specificity modules as well as new recycling routes. Here, we review recent research on local (molecular) constraints on gene module duplication and global (cellular) constraints on intracellular recycling. By studying the evolution of vesicle traffic, we may discover general principles of how complex traits arise via multiple intermediate steps.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mukund Thattai
- Simons Centre for the Study of Living Machines, National Centre for Biological Sciences, TIFR, Bangalore, India.
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