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Biomedical subjects

B de Kruijff

Publications and source records attributed to B de Kruijff.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Dual specificity of sterol-mediated glycoalkaloid induced membrane disruption.

In this study the effects of the glycoalkaloids alpha-solanine, alpha-chaconine, alpha-tomatine and the aglycone solanidine on model membranes composed of PC in the absence and presence of sterols have been analysed via permeability measurements and different biophysical methods. The main result is that glycoalkaloids are able to interact strongly with sterol containing membranes thereby causing membrane disruption in a way which is specific for the type of glycoalkaloid and sterol. For this dual specificity both the sugar moiety of the glycoalkaloid and the side-chain of the sterol on position 24 turned out to be of major importance for the membrane disrupting activity. The order of potency of the glycoalkaloids was alpha-tomatine > alpha-chaconine > alpha-solanine. The plant sterols beta-sitosterol and fucosterol showed higher affinity for glycoalkaloids as compared to cholesterol and ergosterol. The mode of action of the glycoalkaloids is proposed to consist of three main steps: (1) Insertion of the aglycone part in the bilayer. (2) Complex formation of the glycoalkaloid with the sterols present. (3) Rearrangement of the membrane caused by the formation of a network of sterol-glycoalkaloid complexes resulting in a transient disruption of the bilayer during which leakage occurs.

Calorimetry, Differential Scanning

Secondary structure and folding of a functional chloroplast precursor protein.

Ferredoxin is a chloroplast stroma protein which is cytosolically synthesized as a precursor with an amino-terminal extension called the transit sequence that is needed for the post-translational uptake by the chloroplast. To characterize the secondary and tertiary structure elements, the full precursor, the holo- and apo- (without iron-sulfur cluster) forms of the mature protein, and the chemically synthesized transit peptide were obtained and analyzed separately. Circular dichroism, tryptophan fluorescence quenching, and protease accessibility experiments indicate that the precursor has a low content of defined secondary structure and resembles unfolded proteins; these properties are due to both the mature part and the transit sequence. This result provides an explanation for the lack of cytosolic factor requirement of this protein for import. In an import competition assay, the isolated transit peptide had an affinity for the chloroplasts comparable to the full precursor. Interestingly and of possible importance to the import process, the transit peptide has conformational flexibility as it adopts alternative secondary structures in different environments.

Amino Acid Sequence

Effect of doxorubicin on the order of the acyl chains of anionic and zwitterionic phospholipids in liquid-crystalline mixed model membranes: absence of drug-induced segregation of lipids into extended domains.

We investigated the effect of the antineoplastic drug doxorubicin on the order of the acyl chains in liquid-crystalline mixed bilayers consisting of dioleoylphosphatidylserine (DOPS) or -phosphatidic acid (DOPA), and dioleoylphosphatidylcholine (DOPC) or -phosphatidylethanolamine (DOPE). Previous 2H-NMR studies on bilayers consisting of a single species of di[11,11-2H2]oleoyl-labeled phospholipid showed that doxorubicin does not affect the acyl chain order of pure zwitterionic phospholipid but dramatically decreases the order of anionic phospholipid [de Wolf, F. A., et al. (1991) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1096, 67-80]. In the present work, we studied mixed bilayers in which alternatively the anionic or the zwitterionic phospholipid component was 2H-labeled so as to monitor its individual acyl chain order. Doxorubicin decreased the order parameter of the mixed anionic and zwitterionic lipids by approximately the same amount and did not induce a clear segregation of the lipid components into extended, separate domains. The drug had a comparable disordering effect on mixed bilayers of unlabeled cardiolipin and 2H-labeled zwitterionic phospholipid, indicating the absence of extensive segregation also in that case. Upon addition of doxorubicin to bilayers consisting of 67 mol% DOPE and 33 mol% anionic phospholipid, a significant part of the lipid adopted the inverted hexagonal (HII) phase at 25 degrees C. This bilayer destabilization, which occurred only in mixtures of anionic phospholipid and sufficient amounts of DOPE, might be of physiological importance. Even upon formation of extended HII-phase domains, lipid segregation was not clearly detectable, since the relative distribution of 2H-labeled anionic phospholipid and [2H]DOPE between the bilayer phase and HII phase was very similar. Our findings argue against a role of extensive anionic/zwitterionic lipid segregation in the mechanism of action and toxicity of doxorubicin.

Doxorubicin

On the mechanism of the mitochondrial decarboxylation of phosphatidylserine.

To study intramitochondrial phospholipid flow, radiolabeled phosphatidylserine was introduced into isolated rat liver mitochondria from donor vesicles through the action of a nonspecific lipid transfer protein. Imported phosphatidylserine was rapidly decarboxylated to phosphatidylethanolamine. Both the imported phosphatidylserine and the formed phosphatidylethanolamine were confined to the outer membrane. The enzyme phosphatidylserine decarboxylase was shown to be located exclusively in the inner membrane. It was not enriched in isolated contact site fractions. 1,4-Dinitrophenol caused an inhibition of the decarboxylation of phosphatidylserine. This inhibition was not due to the uncoupling of the oxidative phosphorylation itself, but possibly due to a decrease in the number of contact sites. This suggests that phosphatidylserine flows from the outer membrane to the inner membrane through contact sites between inner and outer membrane to become decarboxylated and that the formed phosphatidylethanolamine flows directly back to the outer membrane, without mixing with inner membrane phosphatidylethanolamine.

Animals

Elevated cytosolic concentrations of SecA compensate for a protein translocation defect in Escherichia coli cells with reduced levels of negatively charged phospholipids.

Cellular extracts from cells with reduced synthesis of negatively charged phospholipids were found to support in vitro translocation of the precursor of the outer membrane protein PhoE with increased efficiency. Analysis of these extracts revealed that they contain increased levels of SecA. SecA depletion resulted in a loss of the translocation stimulatory activity, which could be restored by re-addition of purified SecA. We conclude that elevated cytosolic levels of SecA counteract the reduction of translocation efficiency due to low levels of negatively charged phospholipids in the inner membrane.

Adenosine Triphosphatases

Kinetic analysis of translocation into isolated chloroplasts of the purified ferredoxin precursor.

Time courses of the import into isolated chloroplasts of the purified ferredoxin precursor were measured at different protein concentrations. Analysis of the initial import rates indicates the presence of one saturable import system with an apparent Km value of approximately 100 nM and a Vmax corresponding to the uptake of approximately 2.5 x 10(4) precursor proteins per minute per chloroplast. We conclude that the in vitro observed activity of the chloroplast protein import machinery, functioning independently from cytosolic factors, would be enough to allow chloroplast development at physiological rate.

Biological Transport

Effects of temperature variation and phenethyl alcohol addition on acyl chain order and lipid organization in Escherichia coli derived membrane systems. A 2H- and 31P-NMR study.

Using 2H- and 31P-NMR techniques the effects of temperature variation and phenethyl alcohol addition were investigated on lipid acyl chain order and on the macroscopic lipid organization of membrane systems derived from cells of the Escherichia coli fatty acid auxotrophic strain K1059, which was grown in the presence of [11,11-2H2]oleic acid. Membranes of intact cells showed a gel to liquid-crystalline phase transition in the range of 4-20 degrees C, which was similar to that observed for the total lipid extract and for the dominant lipid species phosphatidylethanolamine (PE). Phosphatidylglycerol (PG) remained in a fluid bilayer throughout the whole temperature range (4-70 degrees C). At 30 degrees C acyl chain order was highest in PE, followed by the total lipid extract, PG, intact cells, and isolated inner membrane vesicles. Acyl chain order in E. coli PE and PG was much higher than in the corresponding dioleoylphospholipids. E. coli PE was found to maintain a bilayer organization up to about 60 degrees C, whereas in the total lipid extract as well as in intact E. coli cells bilayer destabilization occurred already at about 42 degrees C. It is proposed that the regulation of temperature at which the bilayer-to-non-bilayer transition occurs may be important for membrane functioning in E. coli. Addition of phenethyl alcohol did not affect the macroscopic lipid organization in E. coli cells or in the total lipid extract, but caused a large reduction in chain order of about 70% at 1 mol% of the alcohol in both membrane systems. It is concluded that while both increasing temperature and addition of phenethyl alcohol can affect membrane integrity, in the former case this is due to the induction of non-bilayer lipid structures, whereas in the latter case this is caused by an increase in membrane fluidity.

Escherichia coli

Bilayer-penetrating properties enable apocytochrome c to follow a special import pathway into mitochondria.

In this study, we have investigated the protein/lipid interactions of two mitochondrial precursor proteins, apocytochrome c and pCOX IV-DHFR, which exhibit mitochondrial import pathways with different characteristics. In-vitro-synthesized apocytochrome c was found to bind efficiently and specifically to liposomes composed of negatively charged phospholipids and showed a (at least partial) translocation across a lipid bilayer, as reported previously for the chemically prepared precursor protein [Rietveld, A. & de Kruijff, B. (1984) J. Biol. Chem. 259, 6704-6707; Dumont, M. E. & Richards, F. M. (1984) J. Biol. Chem. 259, 4147-4156]. Negatively charged liposomes were shown to efficiently compete with mitochondria for import of in-vitro-synthesized apocytochrome c into the organelle, suggesting an important role for negatively charged phospholipids in the initial binding of apocytochrome c to mitochondria. In contrast, the purified and in-vitro-synthesized precursor fusion protein pCOX IV-DHFR, consisting of the presequence of yeast cytochrome oxidase subunit IV fused to mouse dihydrofolate reductase was unable to translocate across a pure lipid bilayer. The data indicate that the ability of apocytochrome c to spontaneously translocate across the bilayer is not shared by all mitochondrial precursor proteins. The implications of the special protein/lipid interaction of apocytochrome c for import into mitochondria will be discussed.

Animals

A water-lipid interface induces a highly dynamic folded state in apocytochrome c and cytochrome c, which may represent a common folding intermediate.

In this study, we have used CD and NMR techniques to investigate the secondary structure of (apo-) cytochrome c both in solution and when associated with micelles. In aqueous solution, the holoprotein cytochrome c is tightly folded at secondary and tertiary levels and differs strongly from its random-coiled precursor. However, in the presence of 12-PN/12-Pglycol (9:1) micelles, we observed a remarkable resemblance between the CD spectra of these partially helical proteins. The water-lipid interface induces a secondary folding of apocytochrome c, whereas cytochrome c is suggested to partially lose its tertiary structure. The exchange of all amide protons and, using deuterium-labeled proteins, of all amide deuterons with the solvent was monitored by NMR. A rapid exchange rate was observed, indicating that these folding states are highly dynamic. Saturation-transfer NMR of micelle-associated apocytochrome c showed that the exchange takes place at the (sub-) second time scale. The holoprotein in the presence of micelles was found to have two distinct exchange rates: (1) a fast rate, comparable to that found for the micelle-associated precursor and 4.5 times slower than that of the random-coiled apocytochrome c, and (2) a slow rate which is 75 times slower than the precursor in solution. Urea denaturation studies showed the micelle-bound proteins to have a low helix stability, which explains the inability of the lipid-induced secondary structure to prevent its labile protons from rapid exchange. The uniqueness of this lipid-induced highly dynamic folding state of (apo-) cytochrome c is demonstrated by comparison with amphiphilic polypeptides like melittin, and its implications for membrane translocation and functioning are discussed.

Apoproteins

Anionic phospholipids are essential for alpha-helix formation of the signal peptide of prePhoE upon interaction with phospholipid vesicles.

The conformational consequences of the interaction of the PhoE signal peptide with bilayers of different types of phospholipids was investigated using circular dichroism. It was found that interaction of the signal peptide with anionic phospholipid vesicles of dioleoylphosphatidylglycerol and dioleoylphosphatidylserine results in induction of high amounts of alpha-helical structure of 70% and 57%, respectively. Upon addition of the signal peptide to cardiolipin vesicles, less but still significant alpha-helical structure was induced (29%). In contrast, no alpha-helix formation was observed upon the interaction of the signal peptide with zwitterionic dioleoylphosphatidylcholine vesicles. In bilayers of dioleoylphosphatidylcholine with dioleoylphosphatidylglycerol, it was shown that in the presence of 100 mM NaCl a minimum amount of 50% of negatively charged lipid was required for induction of the maximal percentage of alpha-helix, whereas in the absence of salt a minimum amount of 35% of negatively charged lipid was necessary. Induction of alpha-helix structure appeared to be correlated with functionality, since, in a less functional analogue of the PhoE signal peptide, the PhoE-[Asp-19,20] signal peptide, less alpha-helix was induced than in the wild-type PhoE signal peptide. It is proposed that the interaction with anionic phospholipids is essential for a functional conformation of the PhoE signal sequence during protein translocation.

Animals

SecA insertion into phospholipids is stimulated by negatively charged lipids and inhibited by ATP: a monolayer study.

SecA-lipid interactions are believed to be important for the translocation of precursor proteins across the inner membrane of Escherichia coli [Lill, R., Dowhan, W., & Wickner, W. (1990) Cell 60, 271-280]. SecA insertion into the phospholipid bilayer could a role in this process. We investigated this possibility by studying the interactions between SecA and different phospholipids using the monolayer technique. It was established that SecA is surface-active and can insert into lipid monolayers. This insertion was greatly enhanced by the negatively charged lipids DOPG and Escherichia coli cardiolipin. Insertion of SecA into these negatively charged lipids could be detected up to initial surface pressures of 34 mN/m for DOPG and 36 mN/m for Escherichia coli cardiolipin, implying a possible role for negatively charged lipids in the insertion of SecA in biological membranes. High salt concentrations did not inhibit the SecA insertion into DOPG monolayers, suggesting not only an electrostatic but also a hydrophobic interaction of SecA with the lipid monolayer. ATP decreased both the insertion (factor 2) and binding (factor 3) of SecA to DOPG monolayers. ADP and phosphate gave a decrease in the SecA insertion to the same extent as ATP, but the binding of SecA was only slightly reduced. AMP-PNP and ATP-gamma-S did not have large effects on the insertion or on the binding of SecA to DOPG monolayers. The physiological significance of these results in protein translocation is discussed.

Adenosine Triphosphatases

Inside-outside distribution and diffusion of phosphatidylcholine in rat sarcoplasmic reticulum as determined by 13C NMR and phosphatidylcholine exchange protein.

1. The transverse distribution of phosphatidylcholine in rat sarcoplasmic reticulum was investigated employing 13C NMR in conjunction with the shift reagent DyCl3. 2. Sarcoplasmic reticulum phosphatidylcholine was enriched with 13C by feeding rats a diet containing [N-Me3-13C]choline. Up to 32% of the sarcoplasmic reticulum phosphatidyl-[N-Me3-12C]choline was replaced by phosphatidyl-[N-Me3-13C]choline. 3. Titration of 13C-enriched sarcoplasmic reticulum with Dy3+ indicates that 40% of the phosphatidyl-[N-Me3-13C]choline is exposed to the external medium, whereas 60% is shielded from interaction with Dy3+. 4. Incubation of 32P-labelled sarcoplasmic reticulum with excess mitochondria and phosphatidylcholine exchange protein results in a fast transport of approx. 80% of [32P]phosphatydylcholine to the mitochondria indicating that part of the phosphatidylcholine pool is involved in a rapid transbilayer movement.

Animals

Transverse distribution and movement of lysophosphatidylcholine in sarcoplasmic reticulum membranes as determined by 13C NMR and lysophospholipase.

1. The transverse distribution of 1-palmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phospho-N-[Me-13C]-choline in vitro incorporated in sarcoplasmic reticulum has been measured by means of 13C NMR and DyCl3 as an impermeable shift reagent. 2. Lysophosphatidylcholine added to the membranes equilibrates within 30 min at 20 degrees C between outer and inner membrane leaflet so that 42% is located in the inner leaflet. 3. Lysophosphatidylcholine diffuses back from the inner leaflet to the outer upon lysophospholipase action on the outer lysophosphatidylcholine pool.

Animals

The occurrence of lipidic particles in lipid bilayers as seen by 31P NMR and freeze-fracture electron-microscopy.

A new type of lipid organization is observed in mixtures of phosphatidyl-choline with cardiolipin (in the presence of Ca2+), monoglycosyldiglyceride and phosphatidylethanolamine (in the presence of cholesterol). This phase is characterised by an isotropic 31P NMR signal and is visualised by freeze-fracturing as particles and pits on the fracture faces of the lipid bilayer. As the most favourable model for this phase we propose the inverted micelle sandwiched in between the two monolayers of the lipid bilayer.

Calcium

A 13C NMR method for determination of the transbilayer distribution of phosphatidylcholine in large, unilamellar, protein-free and protein-containing vesicles.

(1) Large unilamellar vesicles have been prepared from N-[Ne3-13C]-18 : 1c/18 : 1c-phosphatidylcholine, both with and without the major intrinsic proteins from the human erythrocyte membrane incorporated in the bilayer. (2) It is shown that the inside-outside distribution of the lipid molecules in these large unilamellar structures can be determined using 13C NMR. (3) Large vesicles of 18 : 1c/18 : 1c-phosphatidylcholine containing glycophorin show an enhanced permeability to Dy3+. It is shown that the permeability barrier of these vesicles can be restored by addition of 10 mol% 18 : 1c/18 : 1c-phosphatidylethanolamine or 1-18 : 1c-lysophosphatidylcholine.

Animals

Calcium-induced aggregation and fusion of mixed phosphatidylcholine-phosphatidic acid vesicles as studied by 31P NMR.

1. The transbilayer distribution of the phospholipids in sonicated egg phosphatidylcholine-phosphatidic acid vesicles and the interaction of Ca2+ with these vesicles was studied by 31P NMR. 2. Over a wide composition range the bilayer of these vesicles has a symmetrical phospholipid composition. 3. With ratios of Ca2+ to phosphatidic acid in the outer monolayer of the vesicles up to 0.3, Ca2+ induces vesicle aggregation. The extent of aggregation is increased by the Ca2+ concentration in the medium and the outer monolayer concentration of phosphatidic acid. The vesicle aggregation can be fully reversed by chelating Ca2+. 4. When the ratio exceeds 0.5 Ca2+ induces vesicle fusion. The fusion is maximal for vesicles containing both phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidic acid. The data suggest that Ca2+-induced lateral phase separations make the bilayer more susceptible to fusion.

Calcium

Evidence for isotropic motion of phospholipids in liver microsomal membranes. A 31P NMR study.

1. The motional properties of phospholipids in bovine and rat liver microsomes and aqueous dispersions of the extracted lipids have been investigated employing 31 P NMR techniques. 2. The 31P NMR spectra obtained from the microsomes indicate that a considerable portion of the constituent phospholipids experience isotropic motion on the NMR timescale (10(-5) s). This is in strong contrast to the spectra obtained from aqueous dispersions of the extracted lipids, which display the characteristic lineshape associated with liquid crystalline phospholipids in (large) bilayer structures, which experience restricted anisotropic motion. 3. Evidence is presented which strongly suggests that the isotropic motion of microsomal phospholipids does not arise from tumbling of the microsomal vesicles or from lateral diffusion of phospholipids around these vesicles. 4. These results are discussed in terms of possible transitory formation of intramembrane non-bilayer lipid configurations, with which the bulk (bilayer) phospholipids are in rapid exchange.

Animals