Static in vitro digestion model adapted to the general older adult population: an INFOGEST international consensus

Understanding the mechanisms of food digestion is of paramount importance to determine the effect foods have on human health. Significant knowledge on the fate of food during digestion has been generated in healthy adults due to the development of physiologically-relevant in vitro digestion models. However, it appears that the performance of the oro-gastrointestinal tract is affected by ageing and that a model simulating the digestive conditions found in a younger adult (<65 years) is not relevant for an older adult (>65 years). The objectives of the present paper were: (1) to conduct an exhaustive literature search to find data on the physiological parameters of the older adult oro-gastrointestinal tract, (2) to define the parameters of an in vitro digestion model adapted to the older adult. International experts have discussed all the parameters during a dedicated workshop organized within the INFOGEST network. Data on food bolus properties collected in the older adult were gathered, including food particle size found in older adult boluses. In the stomach and small intestine, data suggest that significant physiological changes are observed between younger and older adults. In the latter, the rate of gastric emptying is slowed down, the pH of the stomach content is higher, the amount of secretions and thus the hydrolytic activities of gastric and intestinal digestive enzymes are reduced and the concentration of bile salts lower. The consensus in vitro digestion model of the older adult proposed here will allow significant progress to be made in understanding the fate of food in this specific population, facilitating the development of foods adapted to their nutritional needs. Nevertheless, better foundational data when available and further refinement of the parameters will be needed to implement the proposed model in the future.

Studying Gastric Lipase Adsorption Onto Phospholipid Monolayers by Surface Tensiometry, Ellipsometry, and Atomic Force Microscopy

The access to kinetic parameters of lipolytic enzyme adsorption onto lipids is essential for a better understanding of the overall catalytic process carried out by these interfacial enzymes. Gastric lipase, for instance, shows an apparent optimum activity on triglycerides (TAG) at acidic pH, which is controlled by its pH-dependent adsorption at lipid-water interfaces. Since gastric lipase acts on TAG droplets covered by phospholipids, but does not hydrolyze these lipids, phospholipid monolayers spread at the air-water interfaces can be used as biomimetic interfaces to study lipase adsorption and penetration through the phospholipid layer, independently from the catalytic activity. The adsorption of recombinant dog gastric lipase (rDGL) onto 1,2-dilauroyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DLPC) monolayers can be monitored by surface tensiometry at various enzyme concentrations, pHs, and surface pressures (Π). These experimental data and the use of Langmuir adsorption isotherm and Verger-de Haas' lipase kinetics models further allow estimating various parameters including the adsorption equilibrium constant (K_Ads), the interfacial concentration [Formula: see text] , the molar fraction [Formula: see text] (Φ_E*(%), mol%), and the molecular area [Formula: see text] of rDGL adsorbed onto the DLPC monolayer under various conditions. Additional insight into rDGL adsorption/insertion on phospholipid monolayers can be obtained by combining ellipsometry, Langmuir-Blodgett film transfer, and atomic force microscopy. When using multicomponent phospholipid monolayers with phase separation, these techniques allow to visualizing how rDGL preferentially partitions toward liquid expanded phase and at phase boundaries, gets adsorbed at various levels of insertion and impacts on the lateral organization of lipids.

Impact of various emulsifiers on ALA bioavailability and chylomicron synthesis through changes in gastrointestinal lipolysis

Formulating healthy food rich in omega 3 fatty acids requires prior knowledge of the parameters influencing their bioavailability and their metabolic fate. In this context, we studied the effects of various emulsifiers widely used in the food industry, on the gastrointestinal lipolysis of flaxseed oil emulsions in an in vitro model and on the intestinal absorption and lymphatic secretion of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) in rats. In vitro data showed that the emulsification of flaxseed oil with soya lecithin improved the gastric lipolysis of the oil (+30%), while the presence of Tween 80 or of sodium caseinate decreased it (-80% and -40%, respectively). The in vivo data demonstrated that the intestinal absorption and the lymphatic secretion of ALA were improved with soya lecithin (Cmax = 24 mg mL(-1)) and reduced in the presence of sodium caseinate (Cmax = 7 mg mL(-1)) compared to unemulsified flaxseed oil (Cmax = 16 mg mL(-1)); Tween 80 had no effect. In addition, the synthesized chylomicrons were notably larger and more numerous with soya lecithin whereas they were smaller in the presence of sodium caseinate (p < 0.05). This study shows that the intestinal bioavailability of ALA was increased by the emulsification of flaxseed oil with soya lecithin via an improved lipolysis, favouring the intestinal absorption of ALA and the secretion of many large chylomicrons in lymph.

A standardised static in vitro digestion method suitable for food - an international consensus

Simulated gastro-intestinal digestion is widely employed in many fields of food and nutritional sciences, as conducting human trials are often costly, resource intensive, and ethically disputable. As a consequence, in vitro alternatives that determine endpoints such as the bioaccessibility of nutrients and non-nutrients or the digestibility of macronutrients (e.g. lipids, proteins and carbohydrates) are used for screening and building new hypotheses. Various digestion models have been proposed, often impeding the possibility to compare results across research teams. For example, a large variety of enzymes from different sources such as of porcine, rabbit or human origin have been used, differing in their activity and characterization. Differences in pH, mineral type, ionic strength and digestion time, which alter enzyme activity and other phenomena, may also considerably alter results. Other parameters such as the presence of phospholipids, individual enzymes such as gastric lipase and digestive emulsifiers vs. their mixtures (e.g. pancreatin and bile salts), and the ratio of food bolus to digestive fluids, have also been discussed at length. In the present consensus paper, within the COST Infogest network, we propose a general standardised and practical static digestion method based on physiologically relevant conditions that can be applied for various endpoints, which may be amended to accommodate further specific requirements. A frameset of parameters including the oral, gastric and small intestinal digestion are outlined and their relevance discussed in relation to available in vivo data and enzymes. This consensus paper will give a detailed protocol and a line-by-line, guidance, recommendations and justifications but also limitation of the proposed model. This harmonised static, in vitro digestion method for food should aid the production of more comparable data in the future.

Comparative genomics analysis of Lactobacillus species associated with weight gain or weight protection

BACKGROUND:

Some Lactobacillus species are associated with obesity and weight gain while others are associated with weight loss. Lactobacillus spp. and bifidobacteria represent a major bacterial population of the small intestine where lipids and simple carbohydrates are absorbed, particularly in the duodenum and jejunum. The objective of this study was to identify Lactobacillus spp. proteins involved in carbohydrate and lipid metabolism associated with weight modifications.

METHODS:

We examined a total of 13 complete genomes belonging to seven different Lactobacillus spp. previously associated with weight gain or weight protection. We combined the data obtained from the Rapid Annotation using Subsystem Technology, Batch CD-Search and Gene Ontology to classify gene function in each genome.

RESULTS:

We observed major differences between the two groups of genomes. Weight gain-associated Lactobacillus spp. appear to lack enzymes involved in the catabolism of fructose, defense against oxidative stress and the synthesis of dextrin, L-rhamnose and acetate. Weight protection-associated Lactobacillus spp. encoded a significant gene amount of glucose permease. Regarding lipid metabolism, thiolases were only encoded in the genome of weight gain-associated Lactobacillus spp. In addition, we identified 18 different types of bacteriocins in the studied genomes, and weight gain-associated Lactobacillus spp. encoded more bacteriocins than weight protection-associated Lactobacillus spp.

CONCLUSIONS:

The results of this study revealed that weight protection-associated Lactobacillus spp. have developed defense mechanisms for enhanced glycolysis and defense against oxidative stress. Weight gain-associated Lactobacillus spp. possess a limited ability to breakdown fructose or glucose and might reduce ileal brake effects.

Evidence for the cytotoxic effects of Mycobacterium tuberculosis phospholipase C towards macrophages

Phospholipase Cs (PLCs) contribute importantly to the virulence and pathogenicity of several bacteria. It has been reported in previous studies that mutations in the four predicted plc genes of Mycobacterium tuberculosis inhibit the growth of these bacteria during the late phase of infection in mice. These enzymes have not yet been fully characterised, mainly because they are not easy to produce in large quantities. With a view to elucidating the role of all Mycobacterium tuberculosis phospholipase Cs (PLC-A, PLC-B, PLC-C and PLC-D), a large amount of active, soluble recombinant PLCs, were expressed and purified using Mycobacterium smegmatis as expression system. These enzymes showed different pH activity profiles. PLC-C was found to be the most active of the four recombinant PLCs under acidic conditions. All the enzymes tested induced cytotoxic effects on mouse macrophage RAW 264.7 cell lines, via direct or indirect enzymatic hydrolysis of cell membrane phospholipids. These results open new prospects for characterising biochemical and structural features of Mycobacterium tuberculosis PLCs, which might lead to the identification of novel anti-tuberculosis drug targets. All mycobacterial phospholipase Cs can now be studied in order to determine their role in the virulence and pathogenicity of bacteria of this kind.

In vitro comparative study of three pancreatic enzyme preparations: dissolution profiles, active enzyme release and acid stability

BACKGROUND

Various pancreatic enzyme preparations are used for the treatment of pancreatic insufficiency but their bioequivalence is often unknown.

AIM

To determine in vitro the pH-dependent release and acid resistance of enzymes from three commercially available pancreatin capsules, two containing enteric-coated (Creon 25000; Eurobiol 25000) and one uncoated (Eurobiol 12500) microspheres.

METHODS

Dissolution experiments were performed at pH values ranging from 4.0 to 5.8. Lipase, chymotrypsin and amylase activities were measured in the solution as a function of time.

RESULTS

Eurobiol 25000 started to release its enzymes significantly at pH 5.0 (t(1/2) = 71 min), whereas the enzymes from Creon 25000 were only released at higher pH value (5.4; t(1/2) = 49.2 min). Unlike chymotrypsin, lipase and amylase were highly sensitive to acidic conditions at the lowest pH values tested. Both enzymes were also found to be sensitive to proteolytic inactivation at the highest pH values tested. Overall, Eurobiol 25000 released higher amounts of active amylase and lipase than Creon 25000 at the pH values usually found in duodenal contents. The uncoated Eurobiol 12500 preparation was, however, the only one that could immediately release rather high levels of active chymotrypsin and lipase at low pH (4.5).

CONCLUSION

These findings suggest that pH-sensitive enteric-coated pancreatin products containing similar amounts of enzymes might not be bioequivalent depending on the pH of duodenal contents.

Assaying lipase activity from oil palm fruit (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) mesocarp

The mesocarp of mature oil palm fruit undergoes intensive triglycerides hydrolysis upon abscission and bruising. This generates such a high amount of free fatty acids that the oil might become unfit for human consumption without appropriate refining. The lipase (EC 3.1.1.3) involved in the breakdown of the oil is not stable after homogenization of the tissue in aqueous buffers. In this study, we have devised a solvent-based procedure that allowed us to obtain fractions with stable lipase activity. Using these fractions, we have determined the optimal conditions for assaying mesocarp lipase activity. The activity was highest at a temperature of 35 degrees C and a pH of 9. The lipase was found to be strictly calcium dependent. The specific activity of the lipase measured in optimal conditions was found to be 33 mumol fatty acids released min(-1) mg(-1) protein using olive oil as substrate. The mesocarp contains about 190 U of lipase g(-1) fresh weight. This activity was found to be inhibited by the lipase inhibitor tetrahydrolipstatin (THL), suggesting that the lipase is a serine hydrolase.

In vitro lipolysis by human pancreatic lipase is specifically abolished by its inactive forms

In human adults, the enzymatic hydrolysis of dietary fat along the digestive tract is sequentially catalyzed by two main enzymes, human gastric lipase (HGL) and human pancreatic lipase (HPL). Both a chemically inhibited form of HPL as well as an inactive HPL mutant with a glycine residue substituted for its catalytic serine were found to be strong inactivators of HPL activity. In the presence of bile salts, this inhibition was clearly due to competition for colipase. We established that the chemically inhibited HPL, probably in its open conformation, had a much greater affinity for colipase than the closed native form of HPL. These inhibitory effects are quite substantial, because a 0.2-M excess of the chemically inhibited HPL form relative to HPL reduced the catalytic lipolytic activity by 50% in the presence of an equimolar amount of colipase.

Advantage of expressing the variations in some digestive parameters as a function of gastric emptying instead of time

BACKGROUND/AIM

Gastric emptying is a major cause of variability when studying gastrointestinal parameters as a function of time. Here, we investigate whether the parametric variability could be reduced by running experiments on a gastric emptying basis rather than on a time basis.

METHODS

Healthy volunteers were intubated with gastric and duodenal tubes and were given a liquid meal containing polyethylene glycol to monitor gastric emptying. Gastric pH and human gastric lipase (HGL) concentrations were measured. Their variations were plotted as a function of either time or gastric emptying (%). In both cases, mean curves of variation were established by polynomial regression.

RESULTS

When time was the variable used, the overall deviation of the experimental values from the values given by the best-fitting curve was high (chi2 = 33 for gastric pH; chi2 = 1,744 for HGL), and the individual deviations increased with time. When gastric emptying was the variable used, the overall deviation of the experimental values from the values given by the best-fitting curve was much lower (chi2 = 10 for gastric pH; chi2 = 642 for HGL).

CONCLUSIONS

Expressing gastric pH or HGL concentration as a function of gastric emptying instead of time makes it possible to reduce the individual variability. This new type of data analysis may be of a general interest to observe specific variations of gastrointestinal parameters induced by drugs, hormones, and meals, and that might be masked by the large intrinsic variability induced by gastric emptying.

Effects of lansoprazole on human gastric lipase secretion and intragastric lipolysis in healthy human volunteers

BACKGROUND

Lansoprazole is a potent proton-pump inhibitor (PPI) of parietal cells, which reduces the secretion of gastric acid. Although human gastric lipase (HGL) is produced only by the chief cells of the stomach, the possibility that interactions may occur between lansoprazole and HGL has never been addressed so far in humans. The aim of this study was therefore to quantify the effects of lansoprazole on HGL secretion and intragastric lipolysis during the ingestion of test meals by healthy human volunteers.

METHODS

Six healthy volunteers were intubated twice with a gastric and a duodenal tube, before ingesting a standard liquid test meal alone (-PPI experiments) and after 7 days of lansoprazole treatment (+PPI experiments). The HGL concentration was assessed in gastric and duodenal samples by measuring the lipase activity using a pH-stat, and the lipolysis products were quantified by performing thin layer chromatography. The level of intragastric lipolysis was defined as the percentage acyl chains released from the meal triglycerides. The pyloric outputs of HGL and lipolysis products were calculated, based on the use of a non-absorbable marker added to the meal.

RESULTS

The pH of the gastric contents was significantly higher in the +PPI experiments than in the -PPI experiments (p < 0.05), since mean values of 4.3 +/- 2.5 and 2.2 +/- 1.6, respectively, were recorded at the end of the gastric emptying of the meal. The HGL concentrations recorded during the meal were found to be higher in the experiments with lansoprazole (p < 0.05) than in those without lansopra- zole, but the HGL secretion levels (-PPI: 15.4 +/- 8.0 mg; +PPI: 19.0 +/- 7.4 mg) and the intragastric lipolysis (-PPI: 24.0 +/- 8.0%; +PPI: 23.6 +/- 6.8%) were not significantly affected by lansoprazole (p > 0.05 in both cases).

CONCLUSION

Lansoprazole affected neither the HGL secretion nor the intragastric lipolysis levels, although an increase was observed in the intragastric pH at the end of the gastric emptying of the meal. The HGL concentration increased, however, due to the decrease in the acid secretion process, resulting in less diluted gastric contents.

Inhibition of gastrointestinal lipolysis by Orlistat during digestion of test meals in healthy volunteers

The inhibition of digestive lipases by the antiobesity drug Orlistat along with lipolysis levels and fecal fat excretion were measured in healthy humans. Orlistat was found to be a powerful gastric lipase inhibitor, achieving 46.6--91.4% enzyme inhibition and thus greatly reducing gastric lipolysis of solid and liquid meals (11--33% of respective controls). Gastric lipase inhibition by Orlistat was extremely fast (half-inhibition time < 1 min). Duodenal lipolysis was reduced significantly by Orlistat given with the solid meal (32.6--37.6% of controls) but was only slightly reduced by Orlistat given with the liquid meal (74.5--100% of controls). Human pancreatic lipase (HPL) inhibition was found to be high (51.2--82.6%), however, regardless of the meal. These paradoxical results were explained when in vitro lipolysis experiments were performed. The rates of HPL inhibition by Orlistat were found to be similar with both types of meals (half-inhibition time 5--6 min), but the preemulsified triglycerides of the liquid meal were rapidly hydrolyzed by HPL before the enzyme was significantly inhibited by Orlistat. With the solid meal, the rate of hydrolysis of the meal triglycerides by HPL was slower than the rate of HPL inhibition by Orlistat. As predicted from the previous results, the effects of Orlistat on fat excretion levels were found to be much greater with the solid (40.5--57.4% of ingested fat) than with the liquid (4.2--18.8%) test meal.

Effects of gum arabic on lipase interfacial binding and activity

We investigated the surface behavior of gum Arabic (GA) as well as its effects on the lipolytic activity of human pancreatic lipase (HPL) and Humicola lanuginosa lipase (HLL), using emulsions of triacylglycerols (TAG) with various chain lengths. The effects of GA on the interfacial binding of HPL were also investigated. In the presence of 4 mM sodium taurodeoxycholate (NaTDC), GA (3% w/v, final concentration) had no effect on the HPL activity measured in the presence of colipase, whatever the type of TAG used. However, in the absence of bile salts or at low bile salt concentrations, GA inhibited the HPL activity when trioctanoin (TC8) and purified soybean oil (PSO) were used as substrates. At 3% (w/v, final concentration), GA strongly desorbed pure HPL from the TC8 interface and the classical anchoring effect of colipase was clearly observed. Both crude and dialyzed GA solutions were found to be highly tensioactive at the air-water as well as the oil-water interface using the drop technique. In conclusion, GA, or a putative contaminant present in GA, was found to be surface active and to have similar effects to those of bile salts on the interfacial binding and activity of HPL.

Functional expression in insect cells, one-step purification and characterization of a recombinant phospholipase D from cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp)

Phospholipase D (PLD) is an important enzyme involved in signal transduction, vesicle trafficking and membrane metabolism. In this study, large amounts of a recombinant plant PLD alpha were secreted into the culture medium of baculovirus-infected insect cells and purified to homogeneity in the form of a fully active enzyme. The transient production of recombinant PLD alpha yielded a protein (rPLD alpha a, 88 kDa) together with a shorter form (rPLD alpha b, 87 kDa), which accumulated in the medium. N-Terminal amino acid sequencing of the rPLD alpha a and rPLD alpha b showed that rPLD alpha b resulted from proteolytic cleavage at Gly8-Ile9. Immunoblotting showed that both rPLD alpha a and rPLD alpha b are recognized by a polyclonal antibody previously raised against native soybean PLD alpha. One-step calcium-dependent octyl-Sepharose chromatography was used to obtain the two highly purified forms of rPLD alpha, as attested by gel electrophoresis, N-terminal amino acid sequence and mass spectrometry. The N-terminal region of PLD alpha is homologous with the C2 domains which are present in a number of enzymes known to be involved in signal transduction and/or phospholipid metabolism. The truncated rPLD alpha b lacks the first acidic amino acid in its N-terminus, which is probably involved in the calcium binding site. The rPLD alpha b was thus easily eluted from the octyl-Sepharose column by decreasing the calcium concentration of the buffer from 50 to 30 mM, whereas, the rPLD alpha a was eluted after chelating calcium ions with EDTA. The purified rPLD alpha yield reached a level of 10 mg per liter of serum-free culture medium. The availability of baculovirus-derived rPLD alpha constitutes a valuable source of enzyme for future crystallographic studies to determine its three-dimensional structure.

Digestive lipases: from three-dimensional structure to physiology

Human gastric lipase (HGL) is a lipolytic enzyme that is secreted by the chief cells located in the fundic part of the stomach. HGL plays an important role in lipid digestion, since it promotes the subsequent hydrolytic action of pancreatic lipase in duodenal lumen. Physiological studies have shown that HGL is able of acting not only in the highly acid stomach environment but also in the duodenum in synergy with human pancreatic lipase (HPL). Recombinant HGL (r-HGL) was expressed in the baculovirus/insect cell system in the form of an active protein with a molecular mass of 45 kDa. The specific activities of r-HGL were found to be similar to that of the native enzyme when tested on various triacylglycerol (TG) substrates. The 3-D structure of r-HGL was the first solved within the mammalian acid lipase family. This globular enzyme (379 residues) shows a new feature, different from the other known lipases structures, which consists of a core domain having the alpha/beta hydrolase fold and a cap domain including a putative 'lid' of 30 residues covering the active site of the lipase (closed conformation). HPL is the major lipolytic enzyme involved in the digestion of dietary TG. HPL is a 50 kDa glycoprotein which is directly secreted as an active enzyme. HPL was the first mammalian lipase to be solved structurally, and it revealed the presence of two structural domains: a large N-terminal domain (residues 1-336) and a smaller C-terminal domain (residues 337-449). The large N-terminal domain belongs to the alpha/beta hydrolase fold and contains the active site. A surface loop called the lid domain (C237-C261) covers the active site in the closed conformation of the lipase. The 3-D structure of the lipase-procolipase complex illustrates how the procolipase might anchor the lipase at the interface in the presence of bile salts: procolipase binds to the C-terminal domain of HPL and exposes the hydrophobic tips of its fingers at the opposite site of its lipase-binding domain. These hydrophobic tips help to bring N-terminal domain into close conformation with the interface where the opening of the lid domain probably occurs. As a result of all these conformational changes, the open lid and the extremities of the procolipase form an impressive continuous hydrophobic plateau, extending over more than 50 A. This surface might able to interact strongly with a lipid-water interface. The biochemical, histochemical and clinical studies as well as the 3-D structures obtained will be a great help for a better understanding of the structure-function relationships of digestive lipases.

The specific activities of human digestive lipases measured from the in vivo and in vitro lipolysis of test meals

BACKGROUND & AIMS

The lipolytic potential of digestive lipases in vivo has always been deduced so far from their in vitro activities under nonphysiologic conditions. In the present study, the specific activities of human gastric lipase (HGL) and pancreatic lipase (HPL) were measured on dietary triglycerides (TGs) during test meal lipolysis.

METHODS

Healthy human volunteers ingested a liquid or solid meal. The specific activities of HGL and HPL were estimated from the lipase and free fatty acid (FFA) outputs at the postpyloric and duodenal levels, respectively. Based on the in vivo data, lipolysis was also performed in vitro by mixing the meal either with gastric juice and subsequently with pancreatic juice and bile or with purified HGL and HPL. FFAs were measured by thin-layer chromatography, and the specific activities of HGL and HPL were expressed as micromoles of FFA per minute per milligram of lipase.

RESULTS

In vitro, the specific activities on the liquid meal TGs were 32 (gastric juice) and 34 (pure lipase) micromol x min(-1) x mg(-1) with HGL and 47 (pancreatic juice) and 43 (pure lipase) micromol x min(-1). mg(-1) with HPL. The specific activities on the solid meal TGs were 33 (gastric juice) and 32 (pure lipase) micromol x min(-1) x mg(-1) with HGL and 12 (pancreatic juice) and 15 (pure lipase) micromol x min(-1) x mg(-1) with HPL. The in vivo values obtained were in the same range. The secretory lipase outputs were 21.6+/-14.5 mg HGL and 253.5+/-95.5 mg HPL with the liquid test meal and 15.2+/-5.1 mg HGL and 202.9+/-96.1 mg HPL with the solid test meal.

CONCLUSIONS

The specific activities of HGL and HPL on meal TGs were much lower than those measured in vitro under optimized assay conditions (1300-8000). However, these low specific activities are enough for the meal TGs to be completely lipolysed, given the amounts of HGL and HPL secreted during a meal.

The C-terminal domain of pancreatic lipase: functional and structural analogies with c2 domains

The 3D structure of pancreatic lipase (PL) consists of two functional domains. The N-terminal domain belongs to the alpha/beta hydrolase fold and contains the active site, which involves a catalytic triad analogous to that present in serine proteases. The beta-sandwich C-terminal domain of PL plays an important part in the binding process between the lipase and colipase, the specific PL cofactor. Recent structure-function studies have suggested that the PL C-terminal domain may have an extra role apart from that of binding colipase. This domain contains an exposed hydrophobic loop (beta5') which was found to be located on the same side as the hydrophobic loops surrounding the active site, and it may be involved in the lipid binding process. Indirect evidence for this new function of the PL C-terminal domain has been provided by studies with monoclonal antibodies directed against the beta5' loop. The catalytic activity of the PL-antibody complexes on water insoluble substrates decreased drastically, whereas their esterase activity on a soluble substrate remained unchanged. During the last few years, a number of protein structures (15-lipoxygenase, alpha-toxin from Clostridium perfringens) have been determined that contain domains with close structural homologies with the beta-sandwich C-terminal domain of PL. Generally speaking, these domains show structural homologies with the C2 domains occurring in a wide range of proteins involved in signal transduction (e.g. phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C, protein kinase C, cytosolic phospholipase A2), membrane traffic (e.g. synaptotagmin I, rabphilin) and membrane disruption (e.g. perforin). Here it is proposed to review the structure and function of the C2 domains, based on the recent 3D structures and improved sequence alignments.

Colipase: structure and interaction with pancreatic lipase

Colipase is a small protein cofactor needed by pancreatic lipase for the efficient dietary lipid hydrolysis. It binds to the C-terminal, non-catalytic domain of lipase, thereby stabilising an active conformation and considerably increasing the overall hydrophobic binding site. Structural studies of the complex and of colipase alone have clearly revealed the functionality of its architecture. Interestingly, a structural analogy has recently been discovered between colipase and a domain in a developmental protein (Dickkopf), based on sequence analogy and homology modeling. Whether this structural analogy implies a common function (lipid interaction) remains to be clarified. Structural analogies have also been recognised between the pancreatic lipase C-terminal domain, the N-terminal domains of lipoxygenases and the C-terminal domain of alpha-toxin. These non-catalytic domains in the latter enzymes are important for interaction with membranes. It has not been established if these domains are also involved in eventual protein cofactor binding as is the case for pancreatic lipase.

Human pancreatic lipase: colipase dependence and interfacial binding of lid domain mutants

Five key amino acid residues from human pancreatic lipase (HPL) are mutated in some pancreatic lipase-related proteins 2 (PLRP2) that are not reactivated by colipase in the presence of bile salts. One of these residues (Y403) is involved in a direct interaction between the HPL C-terminal domain and colipase. The other four residues (R256, D257, Y267, and K268) are involved in the interactions stabilizing the open conformation of the lid domain, which also interacts with colipase. Here we produced and characterized three HPL mutants: HPL Y403N, an HPL four-site mutant (R256G, D257G, Y267F, and K268E), and an HPL five-site mutant (R256G, D257G, Y267F, K268E, and Y403N), in which the HPL amino acids were replaced by those present in human PLRP2. Colipase reactivated both the HPL Y403N mutant and HPL, and Y403 is therefore not essential for lipase-colipase interactions. Both the HPL four-site and five-site mutants showed low activity on trioctanoin, were inhibited by bile salts (sodium taurodeoxycholate, NaTDC) and were not reactivated by colipase. The interfacial binding of the HPL four-site mutant to a trioctanoin emulsion was suppressed in the presence of 4 mM NaTDC and was not restored by addition of colipase. Protein blotting/protein overlay immunoassay revealed that the HPL four-site mutant-colipase interactions are not abolished, and therefore, the absence of reactivation of the HPL four-site mutant is probably due to a lid domain conformation that prevents the interfacial binding of the lipase-colipase complex. The effects of colipase were also studied with HPL(-lid), an HPL mutant showing an 18-residue deletion within the lid domain, which therefore has only one colipase interaction site. HPL(-lid) showed a low activity on trioctanoin, was inhibited by bile salts, and recovered its lipase activity in the presence of colipase. Reactivation of HPL(-lid) by colipase was associated with a strong interfacial binding of the mutant to a trioctanoin emulsion. The lid domain is therefore not essential for either the interfacial binding of HPL or the lipase-colipase interactions.

Structural basis for the substrate selectivity of pancreatic lipases and some related proteins

The classical human pancreatic lipase (HPL), the guinea pig pancreatic lipase-related protein 2 (GPLRP2) and the phospholipase A1 from hornet venom (DolmI PLA1) illustrate three interesting steps in the molecular evolution of the pancreatic lipase gene family towards different substrate selectivities. Based on the known 3D structures of HPL and a GPLRP2 chimera, as well as the modeling of DolmI PLA1, we review here the structural features and the kinetic properties of these three enzymes for a better understanding of their structure-function relationships. HPL displays significant activity only on triglycerides, whereas GPLRP2 displays high phospholipase and galactolipase activities, together with a comparable lipase activity. GPLRP2 shows high structural homology with HPL with the exception of the lid domain which is made of five amino acid residues (mini-lid) instead of 23 in HPL. The lid domain deletion in GPLRP2 allows the free access to the active site and reduces the steric hindrance towards large substrates, such as galactolipids. The role of the lid domain in substrate selectivity has been investigated by site-directed mutagenesis and the substitution of HPL and GPLRP2 lid domains. The addition of a large-size lid domain in GPLRP2 increases the substrate selectivity for triglycerides by depressing the phospholipase activity. The phospholipase activity is, however, not induced in the case of the HPL mutant with GPLRP2 mini-lid. Therefore, the presence of a full-length lid domain is not the unique structural feature explaining the absence of phospholipase activity in HPL. The 3D structure of the GPLRP2 chimera and the model of DolmI PLA1 reveal a higher hydrophilic/lipophilic balance (HLB) of the surface loops (beta5 loop, beta9 loop, lid domain) surrounding the active site, as compared to the homologous loops in HPL. This observation provides a potential explanation for the ability of GPLRP2 and DolmI PLA1 to hydrolyze polar lipids, such as phospholipids. In conclusion, the beta5 loop, the beta9 loop, and the lid domain play an essential role in substrate selectivity towards triglycerides, phospholipids and galactolipids.

Pancreatic lipase-related protein 1 (PLRP1) is present in the pancreatic juice of several species

Pancreatic lipase-related protein 1 (PLRP1) was purified from human, canine, porcine and rat pancreatic juices. The four PLRP1s were identified using microsequencing methods after performing gel filtration on Ultrogel AcA-54 followed by chromatography on Heparin-Sepharose cation-exchanger. Polyclonal antibodies specific to human PLRP1 (HPLRP1) were raised in the rabbit using a synthetic decapeptide from HPLRP1. The results of Western blotting analysis showed that these antibodies recognized native HPLRP1 and recombinant HPLRP1 produced by insect cells, and cross-reacted only with rat PLRP1 (RPLRP1). No significant lipolytic activity was observed with native canine PLRP1 and recombinant HPLRP1 on various glycerides, phospholipid and vitamin esters, or on cholesterol esters. It was established for the first time that this protein is secreted in variable amounts by the adult exocrine pancreas of several species.

Reactivation of the totally inactive pancreatic lipase RP1 by structure-predicted point mutations

Both classical pancreatic lipase (DPL) and pancreatic lipase-related protein 1 (DPLRP1) have been found to be secreted by dog exocrine pancreas. These two proteins were purified to homogeneity from canine pancreatic juice and no significant catalytic activity was observed with dog PLRP1 on any of the substrates tested: di- and tri-glycerides, phospholipids, etc. DPLRP1 was crystallized and its structure solved by molecular replacement and refined at a resolution of 2.10 A. Its structure is similar to that of the classical PL structures in the absence of any inhibitors or micelles. The lid domain that controls the access to the active site was found to have a closed conformation. An amino-acid substitution (Ala 178 Val) in the DPLRP1 may result in a steric clash with one of the acyl chains observed in the structures of a C11 alkyl phosphonate inhibitor, a transition state analogue, bound to the classical PL. This substitution was suspected of being responsible for the absence of DPLRP1 activity. The presence of Val and Ala residues in positions 178 and 180, respectively, are characteristic of all the known PLRP1, whereas Ala and Pro residues are always present in the same positions in all the other members of the PL gene family. Introducing the double mutation Val 178 Ala and Ala 180 Pro into the human pancreatic RP1 (HPLRP1) gene yielded a well expressed and folded enzyme in insect cells. This enzyme is kinetically active on triglycerides. Our findings on DPLRP1 and HPLRP1 are therefore likely to apply to all the RP1 lipases.

Human pancreatic lipase: an exposed hydrophobic loop from the C-terminal domain may contribute to interfacial binding

Epitope mapping was performed using four anti-HPL monoclonal antibodies (mAb's 81-23, 146-40, 315-25, and 320-24) directed against human pancreatic lipase (HPL). Three HPL mutants produced in insect cells were tested for this purpose: (i) N-HPL, which consists of only the N-terminal domain of HPL, (ii) HPL(-lid), in which a short loop consisting of 5 amino acid residues replaces the full-length 23-residue lid domain present in HPL, and (iii) N-GPLRP2/C-HPL chimera, a chimeric mutant consisting of the N-terminal domain of the guinea pig pancreatic lipase related protein 2 (GPLRP2) fused to the C-terminal domain of HPL. The C-terminal domain of HPL (C-HPL) was prepared in a pure form after performing chymotryptic digestion of HPL. The mAb 146-40 recognizes HPL, HPL(-lid), and N-HPL but not GPLRP2, N-GPLRP2/C-HPL chimera, or the C-HPL. The antibody mAb 146-40 therefore specifically recognizes the N-terminal domain of HPL, and the epitope recognized does not include the amphiphilic lid. On the other hand, mAb's 81-23, 315-25, and 320-24 react specifically to the C-terminal domain of HPL, since they recognize HPL, HPL(-lid), the N-GPLRP2/C-HPL chimera, and the C-HPL but not N-HPL or GPLRP2. It was further established that these three mAb's recognize the same conformational epitope, the structure of which is stabilized by the N-terminal domain in the presence of SDS at concentrations greater than its critical micellar concentration. This conformational epitope was found to be located in the vicinity of Met 397 and Arg 414. These two residues delineate a highly exposed peptide stretch extending from the HPL C-terminal domain, which includes a hydrophobic surface loop (beta5'). Kinetic studies on the HPL/mAb's complexes showed that the lipase activity was much lower in these complexes than in HPL. The results of the present study suggest for the first time that the beta5' loop from the C-terminal domain may be involved in the interaction of HPL with a lipid/water interface.

An inactive pancreatic lipase-related protein is activated into a triglyceride-lipase by mutagenesis based on the 3-D structure

Both classical dog pancreatic lipase (DPL) and dog pancreatic lipase-related protein 1 (DPLRP1) have been found to be secreted by the exocrine pancreas. These two proteins were purified to homogeneity from canine pancreatic juice and no significant catalytic activity was observed with DPLRP1 on any of the substrates tested: di- and tri-glycerides; phospholipids (PC); etc. DPLRP1 was crystallized and its structure solved by molecular replacement and refined at a resolution of 2.10 A. Its structure is similar to that of the classical pancreatic lipase (PL) structures determined in the absence of any inhibitors or micelles. The lid domain that controls the access to the active site was found to have a closed conformation. An amino-acid substitution (Ala 178 Val) in the DPLRP1 was suspected of being responsible for the absence of enzymatic activity by inducing a steric clash with one of the acyl chain observed in the structures of chiral C11 alkyl phosphonate inhibitors, bound to the classical PL. The presence of Val and Ala residues in positions 178 and 180, respectively, are characteristic of the three known pancreatic lipase-related protein 1 (PLRP1), whereas Ala and Pro residues are always present at the same positions in all the other members of the PL gene family. Introducing the double mutation Val 178 Ala and Ala 180 Pro into the human pancreatic-related protein 1 (HPLRP1) gene yielded a well expressed and folded enzyme in insect cells. This enzyme is kinetically active on tributyrin (1800 U/mg) as well as trioctanoin (2250 U/mg) and its activity is low in the presence of taurodeoxycholate and stimulated in the presence of colipase. Our findings on DPLRP1 and HPLRP1 are therefore likely to apply to all the PLRP1 lipases.

In vivo and in vitro studies on the stereoselective hydrolysis of tri- and diglycerides by gastric and pancreatic lipases

The stereoselectivity of dog gastric and dog pancreatic lipases was investigated both in vitro, under simulated physiological conditions, and in vivo, during the digestion of a liquid test meal. In vitro it was observed that although both lipases had a stereopreference for the sn-3 position in triglycerides, it was about three times higher in the case of the gastric lipase. On the other hand, both lipases clearly showed a comparable enantioselectivity for the sn-1 position when a racemic diolein was used as the substrate. In the case of pancreatic lipase, the enantiomeric excess of 1,2-sn-diolein generated in vitro by the hydrolysis of triolein was found to decrease significantly, and even to be slightly reversed, at high rates of hydrolysis (above 50%) due to the further stereoselective hydrolysis of diglycerides into monoglycerides. This finding may explain the low enantiomeric excess of the diglycerides observed in vivo during the early phase of intraduodenal digestion when pancreatic lipase plays a predominant role and the rate of triolein hydrolysis is already high. On the other hand, a large enantiomeric excess of 1,2-sn-diolein generated from triolein was always the fingerprint of the gastric lipase in vitro even at high hydrolysis rates. This fingerprinting of gastric lipase was observed during both the intragastric phase and the late intestinal phase of lipolysis. This feature was therefore taken as an index to determine the respective roles of gastric and pancreatic lipases during in vivo lipolysis. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that stereoselectivity has been used as a tool to discriminate between the activities of two enzymes hydrolyzing the same substrate in vivo.

Pancreatic lipase structure-function relationships by domain exchange

We designed chimeric mutants by exchanging the lid domains of the classical human pancreatic lipase (HPL) and the guinea pig pancreatic lipase related protein 2 (GPLRP2). This latter enzyme possesses naturally a large deletion within the lid domain and is not activated by lipid/water interfaces. Furthermore, GPLRP2 exhibits phospholipase A1 and lipase activities in the same order of magnitude, whereas HPL has no significant phospholipase activity and displays a clear interfacial activation. An HPL mutant [HPL(-lid)] with GPLRP2 mini-lid domain does not display interfacial activation. Its specific activity toward triglycerides is, however, dramatically reduced. A GPLRP2 mutant [GPLRP2(+lid)] with HPL full-length lid domain is not interfacially activated, and its lid domain probably exists under a permanent open conformation. Therefore, the phenomenon of interfacial activation in HPL is not only due to the presence of a full-length lid domain but also to other structural elements which probably allow the existence of stabilized closed and open conformations of the lid. GPLRP2(+lid) phospholipase activity is significantly reduced as compared to GPLRP2, whereas its lipase activity remains at the same level. Therefore, the lid domain plays a major role in substrate selectivity and can be considered as part of the active site. However, the presence of a full-length lid domain is not sufficient to explain the absence of phospholipase activity in HPL since HPL(-lid) does not display any phospholipase activity. We also produced a chimeric GPLRP2 mutant in which the C-terminal domain was substituted by the HPL C-terminal domain. The colipase effects, i.e., anchoring and stabilization of the lipase at the interface, are clearly observed with the chimera, whereas GPLRP2 is insensitive to colipase. The kinetic characterization of this chimera reveals for the first time that the interfacial stability of pancreatic lipases depends on the structure of the C-terminal domain.

A pancreatic lipase with a phospholipase A1 activity: crystal structure of a chimeric pancreatic lipase-related protein 2 from guinea pig

BACKGROUND

The guinea pig pancreatic lipase-related protein 2 (GPLRP2) differs from classical pancreatic lipases in that it displays both lipase and phospholipase A1 activities; classical pancreatic lipases have no phospholipase activity. The sequence of GPLRP2 is 63 % identical to that of human pancreatic lipase (HPL), but the so-called lid domain, is much reduced in GPLRP2. A phospholipase A1 from hornet venom (Dolml PLA1) is very similar to HPL and GPLRP2 but is devoid of lipase activity; Dolml PLA1 also contains a reduced lid domain and lacks a region termed the beta9 loop, which is located in the vicinity of the HPL and GPLRP2 active sites. The structure determination of a chimera of GPLRP2 and HPL and domain building of Dolml PLA1 were undertaken to gain a better understanding of the structural parameters responsible for the differences in lipase versus phospholipase activity among these structurally related enzymes.

RESULTS

The crystal structure of a chimeric mutant of GPLRP2, consisting of the catalytic domain of GPLRP2 and the C-terminal domain of HPL, has been solved and refined to 2.1 A resolution. This enzyme belongs to the alpha/beta hydrolase fold family and shows high structural homology with classical pancreatic lipases. The active site is closely related to those of serine esterases, except for an unusual geometry of the catalytic triad. Due to the reduced size of the lid domain, the catalytic serine is fully accessible to solvent. Part of the beta9 loop, which stabilizes the lid domain in the closed conformation of the classical HPL, is totally exposed to the solvent and is not visible in the electron-density map.

CONCLUSIONS

The structures of the related enzymes, GPLRP2 and HPL and the model of Dolml PLA1, provide insights into the role played by the loops located above the active site in controlling substrate selectivity towards triglycerides or phospholipids. In GPLRP2, the lid domain is reduced in size compared to HPL, and hydrophilic residues are exposed to solvent. GPLRP2 is thus able to accommodate the polar head of phospholipids. The beta9 loop is still present in GPLRP2, making it possible for this enzyme to still accommodate triglycerides. In Dolml PLA1, the beta9 loop is absent, and this enzyme is unable to process triglycerides retaining only the phospholipase A1 activity.

Lipid binding and activating properties of porcine pancreatic colipase split at the Ile79-Thr80 bond

Porcine colipase, the protein cofactor of pancreatic lipase, was isolated from pancreas freshly collected on animals and from a side fraction from the production of insulin (Novo Nordisk A/S). Samples of purified colipase were analyzed for homogeneity by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RPLC), quantitative N-terminal sequence determination and mass spectrometry. The activating properties of colipase preparations were assayed against tributyrin, triolein or the commercial Intralipid emulsion, in presence of bile salt. Two fractions of colipase with the same specific activity were purified from fresh pancreas. The major fraction (85%) contained one single protein corresponding to fragment 1-93 of the 95-residue form of colipase (procolipase) previously characterized in porcine pancreatic juice. The other fraction (15%) corresponded to fragment 1-91 of procolipase. Also, two fractions of colipase were purified from the side fraction supplied by Novo. These fractions consisted of the 95-residue proform of colipase and of fragment 1-93, respectively, both specifically cleaved at the Ile79-Thr80 peptide bond with partial removal of isoleucine at position 79 and serine at position 78. Procolipase split at the 79-80 bond retained full activity on tributyrin and triolein and on the Intralipid emulsion but the kinetics of hydrolysis of triacylglycerol substrates showed much longer lag periods than those observed with native procolipase. Also, all forms of procolipase split at the 79-80 bond showed one peak in RPLC but their retention time was markedly decreased as compared to that of native procolipase which indicated a weaker hydrophobic binding capacity. The value of the retention time was of the same order of magnitude as that of inactive reduced procolipase. Treatment of native procolipase by pancreatic endopeptidases showed that elastase is likely responsible for specific cleavage at the 79-80 bond of procolipase purified from the Novo extract. Limited proteolysis by trypsin of the proforms of colipase split at the 79-80 bond reduced the lag period. Results presented in this communication provide the first direct evidence showing that the finger-shaped peptide segment between half-cystine residues at positions 69 and 87 is involved in colipase-lipid interaction as previously hypothesized from the three-dimensional structure of the protein.

Cloning and expression in insect cells of two pancreatic lipases and a procolipase from Myocastor coypus

The physiological role of pancreatic lipases has traditionally been assigned solely to triacylglyceride metabolism, while the digestion of phospholipids requires the presence of the pancreatic phospholipase A2, a 14-kDa enzyme unrelated to pancreatic lipases. However, in the guinea pig, it was observed that the pancreatic phospholipase A2 was absent and that a guinea pig pancreatic-lipase-related protein 2 (GPL-RP2) was responsible for phospholipase activity, in contrast to the situation observed in other mammalian species. As the guinea pig is a member of the hystricomorph rodents, it was of interest to investigate if other species within this evolutionary suborder display similar characteristics. The coypu (Myocastor coypus) also a member of the hystricomorph rodents, was chosen for further investigations. The cDNAs encoding two pancreatic lipases and a procolipase from the coypu were cloned, expressed and characterized. One lipase, CoPL-RP2, was identified as belonging to the RP2 subfamily, while the second, CoPL, was found to belong to the classical pancreatic lipase subfamily. Enzymic characterization and sequence data suggest a role for coypu colipase as a specific cofactor for CoPL, while this coypu colipase cannot be an important cofactor for CoPL-RP2 in vivo. Also, the new lipase cDNA sequences were used in a phylogentic analysis to reinvestigate the taxonomical position of the hystricomorph rodents (e.g. coypu and guinea pig) with respect to the myomorph rodents (e.g. rat and mouse).

Lipase structures at the interface between chemistry and biochemistry

In this chapter we review recent molecular knowledge on two structurally related mammalian triglyceride lipases which have evolved from a common ancestral gene. The common property of the lipase family members is that they interact with non-polar substances. Pancreatic lipase hydrolyzes triglycerides in the small intestine in the presence of many dietary components, other digestive enzymes and high concentrations of detergents (bile salts). Lipoprotein lipase acts at the vascular side of the blood vessels where it hydrolyses triglycerides and some phospholipids of the circulating plasma lipoproteins. A third member of the gene family, hepatic lipase, is found in the liver of mammals. Also, this lipase is involved in lipoprotein metabolism. The three lipases are distantly related to some non-catalytic yolk proteins from Drosophila (Persson et al., 1989; Kirchgessner et al., 1989; Hide et al., 1992) and to a phospholipase A1 from hornet venom (Soldatova et al., 1993).

Structure-function relationships in naturally occurring mutants of pancreatic lipase

From primary structure comparison, the pancreatic lipase family is now divided into three subgroups: classical pancreatic lipases, pancreatic lipase-related proteins 1 (RPI) and pancreatic lipase-related proteins 2 (RP2). Among the RP2 subfamily, the guinea-pig and coypu enzymes share kinetic properties which differ from those of classical pancreatic lipases. Both enzymes display a high phospholipase activity and are not interfacially activated using a short chain triglyceride as substrate. Their activity towards insoluble triglycerides is inhibited by micellar concentrations of bile salts and is not restored by addition of colipase. These atypical kinetic properties are discussed in the light of amino acid sequence comparison between RP2 and classical pancreatic lipases, based on the closed and open conformations of the 3-D structure of human pancreatic lipase.

Evidence for a pancreatic lipase subfamily with new kinetic properties

Several new members of the pancreatic lipase family have been reported recently, and amino acid sequence comparison reveals that this family can now be divided into three subgroups: (1) "classical" pancreatic lipases, (2) related proteins 1 (RP1), and (3) related proteins 2 (RP2) (Giller, T., et al. (1992) J. Biol. Chem. 267(23), 16509-16516). Whereas "classical" pancreatic lipases are well characterized with respect to kinetic properties, i.e., interfacial activation and dependence on colipase in the presence of bile salts, the two latter subfamilies have been poorly investigated so far. The kinetic behavior of a lipase from guinea pig pancreas differs, however, from that of "classical" lipases (Hjorth, A., et al. (1993) Biochemistry 32, 4702-4707). This enzyme is highly homologous to RP2 lipases with the exception of a deletion in the so-called lid domain that regulates access to the active center of pancreatic lipases. We have now characterized a novel lipase from coypu (Myocastor coypus) pancreas. This enzyme, also belonging to the RP2 subfamily, possesses a full-length lid domain, but its kinetic properties are very similar to those of the guinea pig enzyme: (1) a high phospholipase activity, (2) the absence of interfacial activation, and (3) the absence of a colipase effect at high bile salt concentrations. Since both guinea pig and coypu pancreas produce a classical pancreatic lipase and no measurable phospholipase A2 activity, it is suggested that RP2 enzymes act as real phospholipases under physiological conditions. In fact, all RP2 lipases from other species might share phospholipase activity and fulfill new biological functions.

Cloning of the classical guinea pig pancreatic lipase and comparison with the lipase related protein 2

Starting from total pancreatic mRNAs, the classical guinea pig pancreatic lipase was cloned using rapid amplification of 3' and 5' cDNA ends. Internal oligonucleotide primers were designed from a partial cDNA clone including the region coding for the lid domain. Using this strategy, we did not amplify the cDNA corresponding to the pancreatic lipase related protein 2 in which the lid domain is deleted. Amino acid sequences of the classical guinea pig pancreatic lipase and the related protein 2 were compared based on the primary and tertiary structures of the classical human pancreatic lipase. Their distinct physiological roles are discussed in the light of functional amino acid differences.

One-step purification and characterization of human pancreatic lipase expressed in insect cells

A cDNA clone encoding the sequence of human pancreatic lipase (HPL) was subcloned into the baculovirus transfer vector pVL1392 and used in co-transfection of Spodoptera frugiperda (Sf9) insect cells with wild-type Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus (AcNPV) DNA. A single recombinant protein (50 kDa) secreted by Sf9 cells was detectable in the culture medium 24 h post-infection using both anti-HPL polyclonal antibodies and potentiometric measurements of lipolytic activity. The expression level reached 40 mg/l of enzyme at 6 days. A single cation-exchange chromatography was sufficient to obtain a highly pure recombinant HPL as demonstrated by N-terminal sequencing, amino acid composition and carbohydrate analysis, as well as by mass spectrometry. These analyses revealed the production of mature protein with the correct processing of signal peptide and an homogenous glycosylation pattern. The kinetic properties of recombinant and native HPL were compared. Both enzymes showed similar profiles of interfacial activation, inhibition by bile salts and re-activation by colipase.

A structural domain (the lid) found in pancreatic lipases is absent in the guinea pig (phospho)lipase

Typically pancreatic lipases are characterized by the following properties: (1) they are activated by lipid/water interfaces (interfacial activation), (2) they are inhibited by bile salts but reactivated by colipase (a small activator protein), and (3) they do not hydrolyze significantly phospholipids. A cDNA clone encoding a guinea pig pancreatic (phospho)lipase (GPL) has been sequenced and expressed. The enzyme (recombinant as well as native) differs from other pancreatic lipases in that (1) it is not interfacially activated, (2) its activity is unaffected by the presence of bile salts and/or colipase using tributyrin as substrate, and (3) it exhibits equally phospholipase A1 and lipase activities. The amino acid sequence of GPL is highly homologous to that of other known pancreatic lipases, with the exception of a deletion in the so-called lid domain that regulates access to the active centers of other lipases. We propose that this deletion is directly responsible for the anomalous behavior of this enzyme. Thus GPL challenges the classical distinction between lipases, esterases, and phospholipases.

Gastric and pancreatic lipase levels during a test meal in dogs

The levels of gastric and pancreatic lipases in the duodenum and the jejunum were measured during the digestion of a test meal in dogs. Using both a specific enzymatic titration and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, it is shown for the first time that gastric lipase remains active in the duodenal and jejunal contents. An experimental device was set up for measuring the secretions and the intestinal flows of lipases during the digestion of a liquid test meal. In a dog equipped with gastric and duodenal cannulae, the secretion of gastric lipase was stimulated by food ingestion, reaching 3.0 +/- 0.3 mg/h (three times the basal secretion rate) during the 1st h of digestion. The total secretory outputs of gastric and pancreatic lipases recorded over a 3-h period of digestion were 7.2 +/- 1.2 mg and 18.7 +/- 1.2 mg, respectively.

Isoform purification of gastric lipases. Towards crystallization

Several isoforms of rabbit and human gastric lipases have been purified. These isoforms have the same apparent molecular weight (Mr approximately 50,000), but very different isoelectric points. Some of these isoforms were purified: pI 7.2 and 6.5 in the case of rabbit gastric lipase; and pI 7.4 and 7.2 in that of human gastric lipase. All the purified isoforms were found to have the same specific lipase activity (around 1200 units per mg of protein, measured on tributyrin as substrate). The isoforms of dog gastric lipase are more closely related, and could not be separated. Partial enzymatic deglycosylation of human gastric lipase reduced the apparent molecular weight from Mr approximately 50,000 to Mr approximately 43,000 and induced a change in the isoelectrofocusing pattern and the emergence of a new isoform (pI 7.3). It is concluded that the charge heterogeneity of gastric lipases is at least partly due to the glycan moiety of the molecule, which amounts to approximately 14% of the total molecular weight. Several crystallization trials on purified native preparations of rabbit and human gastric lipases were unsuccessful, whereas crystals were obtained from native dog gastric lipase and all the purified isoforms of rabbit and human gastric lipases, some of which were crystallographically characterized.

Dog gastric lipase: stimulation of its secretion in vivo and cytolocalization in mucous pit cells

Dog gastric lipase (DGL) secretion is stimulated in vivo by urecholine, pentagastrin, histamine, 16,16-dimethyl prostaglandin E2, and secretin. Under fasting conditions, DGL is irreversibly inactivated by gastric acid below pH 1.5; consequently, DGL output can be underestimated. This problem has been resolved by buffering the acid or by using an antisecretory drug such as omeprazole during stimulation. There is a clear parallelism between the secretion of DGL and of gastric mucus. This observation led to the present investigation of the cellular localization of DGL using immunofluorescence techniques. Results showed that DGL is cytolocalized in mucous pit cells of gastric glands. Pepsinogen is found in chief cells. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first description of an enzyme (gastric lipase) secreted by mucous-type gastric cells. In contrast to other species, gastric lipase of the dog is located in cardiac, fundic, and antral mucosae.