Biomedical subjects

R Bittman

Publications and source records attributed to R Bittman.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

PubMed1996

Inhibitors of lipid phosphatidate receptors: N-palmitoyl-serine and N-palmitoyl-tyrosine phosphoric acids.

An improved synthesis of two lipid phosphoric acids, N-palmitoyl-L-serine phosphoric acid (NP-Ser-PA) and N-palmitoyl-L-tyrosine phosphoric acid (NP-Tyr-PA), from the benzyl esters of L-serine and L-tyrosine is described. The sequence of N-acylation, followed by phosphitylation with N, N-diisopropyl dibenzyl phosphoramidite, oxidation to the corresponding phosphate triesters, and simultaneous debenzylation of the dibenzyl phosphate and benzyl carboxylic esters gave NP-Ser-PA and NP-Tyr-PA in high overall yields. NP-Ser-PA and NP-Tyr-PA and their D stereoisomers were potent reversible inhibitors of the lysophosphatidic acid receptors expressed in Xenopus oocytes, thus providing prototypic structures for the development of inhibitors of the lysophosphatidate family of phospholipid growth factors.

Animals↗

PubMed1995

Gramicidin channel function does not depend on phospholipid chirality.

Chiral interactions are often important determinants for molecular recognition in chemistry and biochemistry. In order to determine whether the phospholipid backbone could be important for the conformational preference of membrane-spanning channels, we made use of the linear pentadecapeptide antibiotic gramicidin A (gA+) and a Trp-->Phe-substituted gA+ analogue, gramicidin M+ (gM+), as well as their enantiomers [gramicidin A- (gA-) and gramicidin M- (gM-), respectively]. All four analogues form conducting channels in planar bilayers formed from the dialkylphospholipids (R)- or (S)- dioleylphosphatidylcholine or from the diacylphospholipid (R)-dioleoylphosphatidylcholine. The characteristics of channels formed by the two gramicidin A enantiomers, or the two gramicidin M enantiomers, in membranes formed by either of the dioleylphosphatidylcholine enantiomers are indistinguishable. Similarly, channels formed by either pair of gramicidin enantiomers in dioleoylphosphatidylcholine bilayers are indistinguishable. We conclude that chiral interactions between gramicidin channels and the lipids in the host bilayer cannot be important determinants of gramicidin channel structure or function. The membrane/solution interface, therefore, seems to organize the channel structure because of the general characteristics of the nonpolar/polar transition at the interface rather than because of specific chemical interactions.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1995

Lateral domain formation in cholesterol/phospholipid monolayers as affected by the sterol side chain conformation.

The interaction of side-chain variable cholesterol analogues with dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) or N-palmitoylsphingomyelin (N-PSPM) has been examined in monolayer membranes at the air/water interface. The sterols had either unbranched (n-series) or single methyl-branched (iso-series) side chains, with the length varying between 3 and 10 carbons (C3-C10). The efficacy of interaction between the sterols and the phospholipids was evaluated based on the ability of the sterols to form condensed sterol/phospholipid domains in the phospholipid monolayers. Domain formation was detected with monolayer fluorescence microscopy using NBD-cholesterol as the fluorescent probe. In general, a side chain length of at least 5 carbons was necessary for the unbranched sterols to form visible sterol/phospholipid domains in DPPC or N-PSPM mixed monolayers. With the iso-analogues, a side chain of at least 6 carbons was needed for sterol/phospholipid domains to form. The macroscopic domains were stable up to a certain surface pressure (ranging from 1 to 12 mN/m). At this onset phase transformation pressure, the domain line boundary dissipated, and the monolayer entered into an apparent one phase state (no clearly visible lateral domains). However, with some DPPC monolayers containing short chain sterols (n-C3, n-C4,n-C5, and i-C5), a new condensed phase appeared to form (at 20 mol%) when the monolayer was compressed beyond the phase transformation pressure. These precipitates formed at surface pressures between 6-8.3 mN/m, were clearly observable up to at least 30 mN/m. When the monolayers containing these four sterols were allowed to expand, the condensed precipitates dissolved at the same pressure at which they were formed during monolayer compression. No condensed precipitates were observed with these sterols in corresponding N-PSPM monolayers. Taken together, the results of this study emphasize the importance of the length and conformation of the cholesterol side chain in determining the efficacy of sterol/phospholipid interaction in model membranes. The major difference between DPPC and N-PSPM monolayers at different sterol compositions was mainly the lateral distribution and the size of the domains as well as the onset phase transformation pressure intervals.

1,2-Dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine↗

PubMed1995

Sphingolipids activate membrane fusion of Semliki Forest virus in a stereospecific manner.

The alphavirus Semliki Forest virus (SFV) enters cells through receptor-mediated endocytosis. Subsequently, triggered by the acid pH in endosomes, the viral envelope fuses with the endosomal membrane. Membrane fusion of SFV has been shown previously to be dependent on the presence of cholesterol in the target membrane. Recently, we have demonstrated that fusion of SFV also requires sphingolipids [Nieva, J. L., Bron, R., Corver, J., & Wilschut, J. (1994) EMBO J. 13, 2797-2804]. In the present paper, we show that the activation of low-pH-dependent fusion of SFV by sphingolipids is a stereospecific process. Pyrene-labeled SFV fused rapidly and extensively with liposomes consisting of a mixture of phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, and cholesterol, supplemented with low concentrations of D-erythro-ceramide, representing the naturally occurring sphingolipid stereoisomer. Fusion was assessed by a decrease in the pyrene excimer fluorescence. L-erythro-, D-threo-, and L-threo-ceramide did not support fusion of the virus. Similar results were obtained with the corresponding sphingomyelin stereoisomers. The stereospecificity of SFV fusion activation was confirmed by using an assay based on degradation of the viral capsid protein by trypsin encapsulated in the target liposomes. Fusion mediated by D-erythro-ceramide was not affected by the additional presence in the target liposomes of ceramide stereoisomers incapable of fusion activation. Binding of the virus to the liposomes, as assessed by flotation on sucrose density gradients, was not dependent on the presence of fusion-competent or fusion-incompetent sphingolipids in the liposomes. The results of this study support the notion that a stereospecific interaction of the viral fusion protein with D-erythro sphingolipids in the target membrane represents an essential step in the activation of the fusion capacity of SFV.

Ceramides↗

PubMed1995

Enzymatic characterization of the target for isoniazid in Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

The inhA gene has been recently shown to encode a common protein target for isoniazid and ethionamide action in Mycobacterium tuberculosis. In this paper, we demonstrate that the M. tuberculosis InhA protein catalyzes the NADH-specific reduction of 2-trans-enoyl-ACP, essential for fatty acid elongation. This enzyme preferentially reduces long-chain substrates (12-24 carbons), consistent with its involvement in mycolic acid biosynthesis. Steady-state kinetic studies showed that the two substrates bind to InhA via a sequential kinetic mechanism, with the preferred ordered addition of NADH and the enoyl substrate. The chemical mechanism involves stereospecific hydride transfer of the 4S hydrogen of NADH to the C3 position of the 2-trans-enoyl substrate, followed by protonation at C2 of an enzyme-stabilized enolate intermediate. Kinetic and microcalorimetric analysis demonstrates that the binding of NADH to the S94A mutant InhA, known to confer resistance to both isoniazid and ethionamide, is altered. This difference can account for the isoniazid-resistance phenotype, with the formation of a binary InhA-NADH complex required for drug binding. Isoniazid binding to either the wild-type or S94A mutant InhA could not be detected by titration microcalorimetry, suggesting that this compound is a prodrug, which must be converted to its active form.

Acyl Coenzyme A↗

PubMed1995

Interaction of sphingomyelinase with sphingomyelin analogs modified at the C-1 and C-3 positions of the sphingosine backbone.

In this study, analogs differing at the C-1 or C-3 position of the sphingosine backbone of sphingomyelin were examined in neutral pH-optimum sphingomyelinase assays. Two analogs modified at the C-1 position, ceramide-1-phosphate and ceramide-1-phosphoethanol-N,N-dimethylamine, could act as modest substrates but showed no ability to inhibit the reaction when egg sphingomyelin was used as the substrate. Four analogs of sphingomyelin differing at the C-3 position were used in which the hydroxyl group was replaced by a hydrogen atom (to give a deoxy-sphingomyelin analog), or with a O-methyl, O-ethyl or O-tetrahydropyranyl group. The deoxy analog showed no ability to compete with substrate of sphingomyelinase nor could it be hydrolyzed by the enzyme, suggesting that the hydroxyl group is a required substituent for the substrate. The 3-O-methyl and 3-O-ethyl-sphingomyelin analogs were inhibitors, with IC50 values of 50 microM and 140 microM, respectively at standard assay conditions. However, when the rat brain acidic pH-optimum sphingomyelinase was used, no inhibition by the 3-O-methyl analog could be detected. The size of the alkyl group on the ether moiety was important, as shown by the inability of 3-O-tetrahydropyranyl-sphingomyelin to compete with substrate of neutral pH-optimum sphingomyelinase.

Alkylation↗

PubMed1995

Differential scanning calorimetric study of the effect of sterol side chain length and structure on dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine thermotropic phase behavior.

We have investigated the thermotropic phase behavior of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) bilayers containing a series of cholesterol analogues varying in the length and structure of their alkyl side chains. We find that upon the incorporation of up to approximately 25 mol % of any of the side chain analogues, the DPPC main transition endotherm consists of superimposed sharp and broad components representing the hydrocarbon chain melting of sterol-poor and sterol-rich phospholipid domains, respectively. Moreover, the behavior of these components is dependent on sterol side chain length. Specifically, for all sterol/DPPC mixtures, the sharp component enthalpy decreases linearly to zero by 25 mol % sterol while the cooperativity is only moderately reduced from that observed in the pure phospholipid. In addition, the sharp component transition temperature decreases for all sterol/DPPC mixtures; however, the magnitude of the decrease is dependent on the sterol side chain length. With respect to the broad component, the enthalpy initially increases to a maximum around 25 mol % sterol, thereafter decreasing toward zero by 50 mol % sterol with the exception of the sterols with very short alkyl side chains. Both the transition temperature and cooperativity of the broad component clearly exhibit alkyl chain length-dependent effects, with both the transition temperature and cooperativity decreasing more dramatically for sterols with progressively shorter side chains. We ascribe the chain length-dependent effects on transition temperature and cooperativity to the hydrophobic mismatch between the sterol and the host DPPC bilayer (see McMullen, T. P. W., Lewis, R. N. A. H., and McElhaney, R. N. (1993) Biochemistry 32:516-522). Moreover, the effective stoichiometry of sterol/DPPC interactions is altered by a significantly large degree of hydrophobic mismatch between the sterol and the DPPC bilayer. Thus the short chain sterols appear to exhibit considerable immiscibility in gel state DPPC bilayers, effectively limiting their interaction with adjacent phospholipid molecules.

1,2-Dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine↗

PubMed1995

Sphingolipid-dependent fusion of Semliki Forest virus with cholesterol-containing liposomes requires both the 3-hydroxyl group and the double bond of the sphingolipid backbone.

Low-pH-induced membrane fusion of Semliki Forest virus (SFV) in a model system is mediated by sphingolipids in the target membrane; ceramide is the sphingolipid minimally required (J. L. Nieva, R. Bron, J. Corver, and J. Wilschut, EMBO J. 13:2797-2804, 1994). Here, using various ceramide analogs, we demonstrate that sphingolipid-dependent fusion of SFV with cholesterol-containing liposomes exhibits remarkable molecular specificity, the 3-hydroxyl group and the 4,5-trans carbon-carbon double bond of the sphingosine backbone being critical for the sphingolipid to mediate the process. This observation supports the notion that sphingolipids act as a cofactor in SFV fusion, interacting directly with the viral fusion protein to induce its ultimate fusion-active conformation.

Ceramides↗

PubMed1995

Short-chain ceramide-1-phosphates are novel stimulators of DNA synthesis and cell division: antagonism by cell-permeable ceramides.

Ceramide and ceramide-1-phosphate are sphingolipid analogues of diacylglycerol and phosphatidate, respectively, and they are putative second messengers of agonist-stimulated sphingomyelin metabolism. The interactions of exogenous cell-permeable ceramides and ceramide-1-phosphates in modifying DNA synthesis and signal transduction were investigated in Rat-1 fibroblasts. C2- and C8-Ceramide-1-phosphates (N-acetylsphingosine-1-phosphate and N-octanoylsphingosine-1-phosphate, respectively) at 1-10 microM stimulated DNA synthesis and cell division. This effect was blocked by cell-permeable ceramides. C2-Ceramide stimulated the conversion of exogenous C8-ceramide-1-phosphate to C8-ceramide, with very little production of sphingosine or sphingosine-1-phosphate. This mechanism may be partly responsible for preventing the stimulation of DNA synthesis. Unlike phosphatidate or lyso-phosphatidate, concentrations of C8-ceramide-1-phosphate that stimulated DNA synthesis did not inhibit adenylate cyclase activity, nor did they increase the activities of phospholipase D or mitogen-activated protein kinases (42- and 44 kDa isoforms). Although ceramide-1-phosphate can be considered as an analogue of phosphatidate, the effects of this compound on signal transduction differ considerably from those of phosphatidate. This work demonstrates that short-chain ceramide-1-phosphates can be used as novel external agonists that can stimulate DNA synthesis. This effect can be counteracted by short-chain ceramides.

Animals↗

PubMed1994

Structure of polymerizable lipid bilayers VII: lateral organization of diacetylenic phosphatidylcholines with short proximal acyl chains.

As an extension of recent results (Rhodes, Xu and Bittman (1992) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1128, 93; Hui, Xu and Bittman (1992) Langmuir 8, 2724) with a C18 diacetylenic phosphatidylcholine, bilayers of 1,2-bis(pentacosa-4,6-diynoyl)-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (C25) were investigated using X-ray diffraction on multibilayers and electron diffraction on Langmuir-Blodgett deposited bilayers. Monolayers of this lipid form solid (gel phase) domains at pi > 14 mN/m. Electron diffraction data indicated that the chain spacing in these domains is 4.25 A and that the chains are tilted at angle of approximately 35 degrees relative to the bilayer plane. Wide angle data from X-ray diffraction experiments indicated a similar spacing and chain tilt. Small angle data showed that the lamellar repeat was 70 A at high humidity and < or = 60 A at low humidity. The bilayer electron density profiles indicated a bilayer structure with no interdigitation. High angle reflections indicate that the principal acyl chain repeat is preserved as a function of hydration but some rearrangement occurs for other reflections. The approximately 10 A reflection corresponding to the headgroup spacing previously observed with C18-diacetylenic phosphatidylcholine bilayers was not observed. The results are interpreted in terms of a packing model and possible limitations or constraints to the polymerization process.

Acetylene↗

PubMed1994

Interaction of cholesterol with sphingomyelin in monolayers and vesicles.

To understand the structural basis for the apparent strong interaction between cholesterol and sphingomyelin (SPM), we have synthesized an analogue of SPM, 3-deoxy-2-O-stearoyl-SPM, in which an ester-linked acyl chain replaces the amide-linked acyl chain at C-2 and a hydrogen replaces the hydroxy group at C-3. We have compared the behavior of this analogue with that of 3-deoxy-N-stearoyl-SPM in monolayers and vesicles, both as pure phospholipids and in mixtures with cholesterol. The force-area isotherm of 3-deoxy-2-O-stearoyl-SPM was similar to that of 3-deoxy-N-stearoyl-SPM. The surface potential across the pure SPM monolayer at the air-water interface was larger for 3-deoxy-2-O-stearoyl-SPM than for 3-deoxy-N-stearoyl-SPM (about 430 mV and 330 mV, respectively, at 50 A2). The overall dipole moment of 3-deoxy-2-O-stearoyl-SPM was almost constant at 570 mD (between a mean molecular area range of 45-85 A2), whereas that of 3-deoxy-N-stearoyl-SPM was about 420 mD. Cholesterol appeared to be equally miscible in both SPM monolayers, as determined from the condensing effect cholesterol had on the lateral packing of the two SPMs. The oxidation of monolayer cholesterol by cholesterol oxidase was also determined using both SPMs. The stoichiometry at which free cholesterol clusters disappeared in monolayers, when going from high to low cholesterol content, was 2:1 (mol sterol/mol SPM) for both SPMs.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Chemical Phenomena↗

PubMed1994

Bacterial lipopolysaccharide has structural similarity to ceramide and stimulates ceramide-activated protein kinase in myeloid cells.

Bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) stimulate similar cellular responses. TNF-alpha and IL-1 beta are known to initiate signaling through a pathway involving hydrolysis of sphingomyelin to ceramide (Kolesnick, R. N., and Golde, D. W. (1994) Cell 77, 325-328). In this system, ceramide acts as a second messenger stimulating a ceramide-activated serine/threonine protein kinase. The present studies demonstrate that LPS, like TNF and IL-1, stimulates ceramide-activated protein kinase activity in human leukemia (HL-60) cells and in freshly isolated human neutrophils. Lipid A, the biologically active core of LPS, enhanced kinase activity in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. As little as 10 nM lipid A was effective, and a maximal effect occurred with 500 nM lipid A, increasing kinase activity 5-fold. Native LPS similarly induced kinase activation. This effect of LPS was markedly enhanced by LPS binding protein and required the LPS receptor CD14. In contrast to TNF and IL-1, LPS did not cause sphingomyelin hydrolysis and thus stimulates ceramide-activated protein kinase without generating ceramide. Molecular modeling showed strong structural similarity between ceramide and a region of lipid A. Based on these observations, we propose that LPS stimulates cells by mimicking the second messenger function of ceramide.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1994

Effect of sterol side-chain structure on sterol-phosphatidylcholine interactions in monolayers and small unilamellar vesicles.

In this study we have characterized the monolayer behavior of analogues of cholesterol having different side-chain structures and their interaction with phosphatidylcholines in mixed monolayers and small unilamellar vesicles (SUVs). Two series of side-chain analogues of cholesterol were synthesized, one with an unbranched side chain (the n-series, from 3 to 7 carbons in length), and the other with a single methyl-branched side chain (the iso-series, from 5 to 10 carbons in length). The length and conformation of the sterol side chain markedly influenced both the mean molecular area of the pure sterols and their monolayer stability (i.e., collapse pressure). Shorter side chains gave smaller mean molecular areas and decreased monolayer stability. The sterols from the n-series also had smaller mean molecular areas than the corresponding sterols in the iso-series. In mixed 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPPC)/sterol monolayers (equimolar ratio; at 22 degrees C), all of the sterols tested decreased the monolayer stability as judged by the lower collapse pressure with sterol than without sterol. A similar trend was observed in mixed monolayers containing 1-stearoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (SOPC), except that sterols from the iso-series with a chain length of 8 or 10 carbon atoms actually stabilized the monolayer compared with the sterol-free SOPC monolayer. The ability of the sterols to condense the molecular packing of DPPC was similar with all sterols (3-5% condensation at 10 mN/m), irrespective of the length or structure of the side chain. 5-Androsten-3 beta-ol, however, which lacks the side chain, did not at all condense the monolayer packing of DPPC. With SOPC mixed monolayers, all side chain containing sterols caused a 18-20% condensation (at 10 mN/m) of monolayer packing. The condensing effect of 5-androsten-3 beta-ol on SOPC packing was again much smaller (about 10%) compared with that of the side-chain sterols. The rate of sterol oxidation by cholesterol oxidase (at 37 degrees C) in DPPC-containing SUVs increased as a function of increasing the side-chain length (iso-series). With sterols from the n-series, the same trend was seen, except that the n-C7 analogue was oxidized much slower than the n-C4, n-C5, and n-C6 analogues. With SOPC SUVs, a similar side-chain dependent oxidation pattern was observed. Our results support and extend previous knowledge about the importance of the sterol side chain in determining sterol-sterol and sterol-phospholipid interactions, both in mono- and bilayers.

1,2-Dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine↗

PubMed1994

Isosteric phosphonate analogs of ET-16-OMe. Synthesis and biological evaluation of the enantiomers of 2'-(trimethylammonio)ethyl 4-(hexadecyloxy)-3-methoxybutanephosphonate and 2'-(trimethylammonio)ethyl 4-(hexadecylthio)-3-methoxybutanephosphonate.

The enantiomers of two isosteric phosphonate analogs of the ether-linked antitumor agent 1-O-octadecyl-2-O-methyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (ET-18-OMe) were synthesized and evaluated for their cytotoxicity against various mouse leukemic cell lines in vitro and in vivo. The key step in the synthesis of the alkyloxy and alkylthio analogs (1 and 2, respectively) is the opening of an epoxide [hexadecyl 2-oxiranylmethyl ether (4) or hexadecyl 2-oxiranylmethyl thioether (8)] by LiCH2P(O)(OMe)2 using BF3.Et2O in tetrahydrofuran at low temperature. The cytotoxic activities of the hexadecyloxy and hexadecylthio phosphonate analogs of ET-18-OMe (1 and 2) against the murine leukemias WEHI-3B,L1210, and P388 were similar, indicating that substitution of a sulfur atom for oxygen in the long-chain ether does not result in a significant difference in cytotoxicity. The IC50 values of 1 and 2 were in the range of 1-5 microM. Alkyloxy phosphonate 1 was highly effective in inhibiting the growth of WEHI-3B and P388 tumors implanted in BALB/C mice. The alkyloxy and alkylthio phosphonates 1 and 2 prolonged the survival of CD1 mice bearing L1210 tumors. The antitumor activities of the phosphonate analogs of ET-18-OMe in these in vitro and in vivo studies were independent of chirality, consistent with previous studies with the enantiomers of 1-O-hexadecyl-2-O-methyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine.

Animals↗

PubMed1994

An efficient asymmetric synthesis of diacylglycerols.

A convenient preparation of 1,2-diacyl-sn-glycerol or 2,3-diacyl-sn-glycerol is described starting from allyl bromide. The latter was converted to allyl 4-methoxyphenyl ether, which is dihydroxylated using AD-mix as a catalyst to yield 3-O-(4'-methoxyphenyl)-sn-glycerol or 1-O-(4'-methoxyphenyl)-sn-glycerol in high yield and high optical purity. After diacylation, ceric ammonium nitrate was used to remove the 4-methoxyphenyl group under mild conditions that avoid acyl migration to 1,3-dipalmitoylglycerol. Thus chiral 1,2-diacylglycerol can be prepared from allyl bromide in just four steps in 78% overall yield and high enantiomeric excess. This scheme represents an inexpensive method for the large-scale preparation of chiral 1,2-diacyl-sn-glycerol and 2,3-diacyl-sn-glycerol.

Diglycerides↗

PubMed1993

Substrate recognition by ceramide-activated protein kinase. Evidence that kinase activity is proline-directed.

Signal transduction for tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-1 involves sphingomyelin hydrolysis to ceramide and stimulation of a ceramide-activated serine/threonine protein kinase (Mathias, S., Younes, A., Kan, C., Orlow, I., Joseph, C., and Kolesnick, R. (1993) Science 259, 519-522). Kinase activity is detected by phosphorylation of a 19-amino acid peptide derived from the sequence surrounding Thr669 of the epidermal growth factor receptor. Thr669 is contained within a -Pro-Leu-Thr-Pro- motif, which conforms to a known recognition sequence for the proline-directed class of serine/threonine protein kinases. The present studies used peptides with single-site amino acid substitutions within this sequence to assess substrate recognition by ceramide-activated protein kinase. Substitution of alanine for the C-terminal but not the N-terminal proline reduced kinase activity by 80%. Similarly, substitution of basic residues for the leucine residue reduced kinase activity by 90%. Substitution of acidic residues for leucine, or its removal, also markedly reduced kinase activity. Surprisingly, addition of a leucine residue between threonine and the C-terminal proline enhanced kinase activity 3-4 fold. The Vmax(app) of the enzyme toward the control peptide containing -Pro-Leu-Thr-Pro- (200 +/- 11 pmol of peptide phosphorylated/min/mg of membrane protein) was enhanced 2.3-fold by ceramide. However, ceramide had no effect on the Km (2.0 +/- 0.4 mM). Membranes containing ceramide-activated protein kinase showed minimal activity toward peptides derived from substrates for casein kinase II, S6 kinase, protein kinase C, and cAMP-dependent protein kinase, but possessed substantial activity toward a calmodulin kinase substrate. However, activities toward these substrates were not enhanced by ceramide. These results suggest that ceramide-activated protein kinase may be a member of the proline-directed class of protein kinases and display specificity for -Leu-Thr-Pro- as a minimal substrate recognition motif.

Alanine↗

PubMed1993

Cholesterol interacts with lactosyl and maltosyl cerebrosides but not with glucosyl or galactosyl cerebrosides in mixed monolayers.

Pure and mixed monolayers of mono- and dihexoside cerebrosides with cholesterol have been characterized at the air/water interface. Cholesterol oxidase was used as a reporter enzyme for the cholesterol-cerebroside interaction in the mixed monolayers. The cerebrosides either were derived from bovine brain extracts or were synthetic. The dihexoside cerebrosides were synthesized by coupling of the hepta-O-acetyl-alpha-lactosyl- or maltosylphosphoramidates with D-erythro-N-acylceramides in dichloromethane, in the presence of trimethylsilyl triflate and molecular sieves, followed by hydrolysis of the acetate-protecting groups. All of the bovine-brain-derived cerebrosides [galactosyl cerebroside (GalCer, types I and II), glucosyl cerebroside (GlcCer), and lactosyl cerebroside (LacCer)] had very condensed force-area isotherms (compressibility values of 3-5 x 10(-3) m/mN at 20 mN/m), as did the synthetic N-stearoylmaltosylceramide (N-18:0 MaltCer). Shorter-chain synthetic cerebrosides (N-8:0 LacCer and N-8:0 MaltCer) had more expanded isotherms, with compressibility values of 15-17 x 10(-3) m/mN. When cholesterol was included in mixed monolayers of monohexoside cerebroside, it did not induce significant condensation of packing (indicating that cholesterol did not increase the order of the acyl chains). However, with dihexoside cerebrosides, a cholesterol-induced condensing effect was observed, which amounted to a 11-19% reduction in the observed mean molecular area. When cholesterol oxidase was used to titrate the stoichiometry of cholesterol/cerebroside in mixed monolayers, at which pure cholesterol clusters appeared, it was observed that in monohexoside cerebroside monolayers cholesterol clusters were present even below a 1:1 molar stoichiometry.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

PubMed1993

Hydrolysis of short acyl chain inositol lipids by phospholipase C-delta 1.

We investigated the relationship between substrate aggregation and activation of phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C-delta 1 (PLC-delta 1), isolated from bovine brain cytosol. The inositol lipids 1,2-dibutyryl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoinositol (di-C4-PI), 1,2-dihexanoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoinositol (di-C6-PI), and 1,2-dioctanoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoinositol (di-C8-PI) were prepared from synthetic cytidine diphosphate diglyceride analogs in a reaction with myo-inositol catalyzed by yeast phosphatidylinositol synthase. All three lipids served as substrates for PLC-delta 1 at concentrations significantly below their critical micelle concentration (cmc). Under these conditions, steps that might limit the reaction rate, such as membrane adsorption or penetration into the phospholipid surface, were eliminated. Below the cmc, the concentration of lipid substrate required to produce hydrolysis followed the order: di-C8-PI < di-C6-PI << di-C4-PI. Calcium was essential for hydrolysis of the short chain substrates at all lipid concentrations tested. The dependence of the reaction on calcium suggests that this ion activates PLC-delta 1 at a step other than adsorption to or penetration of the membrane surface. As the concentration of di-C8-PI was raised above the cmc, the reaction velocity increased 2-3-fold. These results are consistent with the idea that micellar or bilayer aggregates of phosphoinositol are not required for PLC-catalyzed hydrolysis, although the reaction rate is enhanced by micelle formation.

Animals↗