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Michellod D, Bien T, Birgel D, Violette M, Kleiner M, Fearn S, Zeidler C, Gruber-Vodicka HR, Dubilier N, Liebeke M. De novo phytosterol synthesis in animals. Science 2023; 380:520-526. [PMID: 37141360 PMCID: PMC11139496 DOI: 10.1126/science.add7830] [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: 07/13/2022] [Accepted: 03/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Sterols are vital for nearly all eukaryotes. Their distribution differs in plants and animals, with phytosterols commonly found in plants whereas most animals are dominated by cholesterol. We show that sitosterol, a common sterol of plants, is the most abundant sterol in gutless marine annelids. Using multiomics, metabolite imaging, heterologous gene expression, and enzyme assays, we show that these animals synthesize sitosterol de novo using a noncanonical C-24 sterol methyltransferase (C24-SMT). This enzyme is essential for sitosterol synthesis in plants, but not known from most bilaterian animals. Our phylogenetic analyses revealed that C24-SMTs are present in representatives of at least five animal phyla, indicating that the synthesis of sterols common to plants is more widespread in animals than currently known.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dolma Michellod
- Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology, Celsiusstraße 1, 28359 Bremen, Germany
| | - Tanja Bien
- Institute of Hygiene, University of Münster, Robert-Koch-Str. 41, 48149, Münster, Germany
| | - Daniel Birgel
- Institute for Geology, Center for Earth System Research and Sustainability, University of Hamburg, Bundesstraße 55, 20146 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Marlene Violette
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology NC State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
| | - Manuel Kleiner
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology NC State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
| | - Sarah Fearn
- Department of Materials, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| | - Caroline Zeidler
- Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology, Celsiusstraße 1, 28359 Bremen, Germany
| | | | - Nicole Dubilier
- Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology, Celsiusstraße 1, 28359 Bremen, Germany
- MARUM, Center for Marine Environmental Sciences, University of Bremen, 28359 Bremen, Germany
| | - Manuel Liebeke
- Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology, Celsiusstraße 1, 28359 Bremen, Germany
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Shi H, Ruan L, Chen Z, Liao Y, Wu W, Liu L, Xu X. Sulfur, sterol and trehalose metabolism in the deep-sea hydrocarbon seep tubeworm Lamellibrachia luymesi. BMC Genomics 2023; 24:175. [PMID: 37020304 PMCID: PMC10077716 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-023-09267-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2022] [Accepted: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 04/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lamellibrachia luymesi dominates cold sulfide-hydrocarbon seeps and is known for its ability to consume bacteria for energy. The symbiotic relationship between tubeworms and bacteria with particular adaptations to chemosynthetic environments has received attention. However, metabolic studies have primarily focused on the mechanisms and pathways of the bacterial symbionts, while studies on the animal hosts are limited. RESULTS Here, we sequenced the transcriptome of L. luymesi and generated a transcriptomic database containing 79,464 transcript sequences. Based on GO and KEGG annotations, we identified transcripts related to sulfur metabolism, sterol biosynthesis, trehalose synthesis, and hydrolysis. Our in-depth analysis identified sulfation pathways in L. luymesi, and sulfate activation might be an important detoxification pathway for promoting sulfur cycling, reducing byproducts of sulfide metabolism, and converting sulfur compounds to sulfur-containing organics, which are essential for symbiotic survival. Moreover, sulfide can serve directly as a sulfur source for cysteine synthesis in L. luymesi. The existence of two pathways for cysteine synthesis might ensure its participation in the formation of proteins, heavy metal detoxification, and the sulfide-binding function of haemoglobin. Furthermore, our data suggested that cold-seep tubeworm is capable of de novo sterol biosynthesis, as well as incorporation and transformation of cycloartenol and lanosterol into unconventional sterols, and the critical enzyme involved in this process might have properties similar to those in the enzymes from plants or fungi. Finally, trehalose synthesis in L. luymesi occurs via the trehalose-6-phosphate synthase (TPS) and trehalose-6-phosphate phosphatase (TPP) pathways. The TPP gene has not been identified, whereas the TPS gene encodes a protein harbouring conserved TPS/OtsA and TPP/OtsB domains. The presence of multiple trehalases that catalyse trehalose hydrolysis could indicate the different roles of trehalase in cold-seep tubeworms. CONCLUSIONS We elucidated several molecular pathways of sulfate activation, cysteine and cholesterol synthesis, and trehalose metabolism. Contrary to the previous analysis, two pathways for cysteine synthesis and the cycloartenol-C-24-methyltransferase gene were identified in animals for the first time. The present study provides new insights into particular adaptations to chemosynthetic environments in L. luymesi and can serve as the basis for future molecular studies on host-symbiont interactions and biological evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong Shi
- State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Marine Genetic Resources, Key Laboratory of Marine Genetic Resources of Ministry of Natural Resources, Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Fujian Key Laboratory of Marine Genetic Resources, No. 178 Daxue Road, Xiamen, Fujian, 361005, People's Republic of China.
| | - Lingwei Ruan
- State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Marine Genetic Resources, Key Laboratory of Marine Genetic Resources of Ministry of Natural Resources, Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Fujian Key Laboratory of Marine Genetic Resources, No. 178 Daxue Road, Xiamen, Fujian, 361005, People's Republic of China.
- College of Marine Biology, Xiamen ocean vocational college, 361100, Xiamen, People's Republic of China.
- Co-Innovation Center of Jiangsu Marine Bio-Industry Technology, Jiangsu Ocean University, Lianyungang, 222005, People's Republic of China.
| | - Zimeng Chen
- State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Marine Genetic Resources, Key Laboratory of Marine Genetic Resources of Ministry of Natural Resources, Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Fujian Key Laboratory of Marine Genetic Resources, No. 178 Daxue Road, Xiamen, Fujian, 361005, People's Republic of China
| | - Yifei Liao
- State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Marine Genetic Resources, Key Laboratory of Marine Genetic Resources of Ministry of Natural Resources, Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Fujian Key Laboratory of Marine Genetic Resources, No. 178 Daxue Road, Xiamen, Fujian, 361005, People's Republic of China
- School of Advanced Manufacturing, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, 362200, People's Republic of China
| | - Wenhao Wu
- State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Marine Genetic Resources, Key Laboratory of Marine Genetic Resources of Ministry of Natural Resources, Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Fujian Key Laboratory of Marine Genetic Resources, No. 178 Daxue Road, Xiamen, Fujian, 361005, People's Republic of China
- Department of Biology and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Biotechnology, Shantou University, Shantou, 515063, People's Republic of China
| | - Linmin Liu
- State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Marine Genetic Resources, Key Laboratory of Marine Genetic Resources of Ministry of Natural Resources, Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Fujian Key Laboratory of Marine Genetic Resources, No. 178 Daxue Road, Xiamen, Fujian, 361005, People's Republic of China
| | - Xun Xu
- State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Marine Genetic Resources, Key Laboratory of Marine Genetic Resources of Ministry of Natural Resources, Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Fujian Key Laboratory of Marine Genetic Resources, No. 178 Daxue Road, Xiamen, Fujian, 361005, People's Republic of China
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Rahman MA, Dash R, Sohag AAM, Alam M, Rhim H, Ha H, Moon IS, Uddin MJ, Hannan MA. Prospects of Marine Sterols against Pathobiology of Alzheimer's Disease: Pharmacological Insights and Technological Advances. Mar Drugs 2021; 19:md19030167. [PMID: 33804766 PMCID: PMC8003995 DOI: 10.3390/md19030167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2021] [Revised: 03/18/2021] [Accepted: 03/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a degenerative brain disorder characterized by a progressive decline in memory and cognition, mostly affecting the elderly. Numerous functional bioactives have been reported in marine organisms, and anti-Alzheimer's agents derived from marine resources have gained attention as a promising approach to treat AD pathogenesis. Marine sterols have been investigated for several health benefits, including anti-cancer, anti-obesity, anti-diabetes, anti-aging, and anti-Alzheimer's activities, owing to their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Marine sterols interact with various proteins and enzymes participating via diverse cellular systems such as apoptosis, the antioxidant defense system, immune response, and cholesterol homeostasis. Here, we briefly overview the potential of marine sterols against the pathology of AD and provide an insight into their pharmacological mechanisms. We also highlight technological advances that may lead to the potential application of marine sterols in the prevention and therapy of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Md. Ataur Rahman
- ABEx Bio-Research Center, East Azampur, Dhaka 1230, Bangladesh;
- Center for Neuroscience, Brain Science Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul 02792, Korea;
| | - Raju Dash
- Department of Anatomy, Dongguk University College of Medicine, Gyeongju 38066, Korea; (R.D.); (I.S.M.)
| | - Abdullah Al Mamun Sohag
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh 2202, Bangladesh;
| | - Mahboob Alam
- Division of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Dongguk University, Gyeongju 780-714, Korea;
| | - Hyewhon Rhim
- Center for Neuroscience, Brain Science Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul 02792, Korea;
| | - Hunjoo Ha
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 03760, Korea;
| | - Il Soo Moon
- Department of Anatomy, Dongguk University College of Medicine, Gyeongju 38066, Korea; (R.D.); (I.S.M.)
| | - Md Jamal Uddin
- ABEx Bio-Research Center, East Azampur, Dhaka 1230, Bangladesh;
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 03760, Korea;
- Correspondence: (M.J.U.); (M.A.H.)
| | - Md. Abdul Hannan
- ABEx Bio-Research Center, East Azampur, Dhaka 1230, Bangladesh;
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh 2202, Bangladesh;
- Correspondence: (M.J.U.); (M.A.H.)
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