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Sebastián Cerdán

Publications and source records attributed to Sebastián Cerdán.

11 recordsLinked to original sources

The redox switch/redox coupling hypothesis.

We provide an integrative interpretation of neuroglial metabolic coupling including the presence of subcellular compartmentation of pyruvate and monocarboxylate recycling through the plasma membrane of both neurons and glial cells. The subcellular compartmentation of pyruvate allows neurons and astrocytes to select between glucose and lactate as alternative substrates, depending on their relative extracellular concentration and the operation of a redox switch. This mechanism is based on the inhibition of glycolysis at the level of glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase by NAD(+) limitation, under sufficiently reduced cytosolic NAD(+)/NADH redox conditions. Lactate and pyruvate recycling through the plasma membrane allows the return to the extracellular medium of cytosolic monocarboxylates enabling their transcellular, reversible, exchange between neurons and astrocytes. Together, intracellular pyruvate compartmentation and monocarboxylate recycling result in an effective transcellular coupling between the cytosolic NAD(+)/NADH redox states of both neurons and glial cells. Following glutamatergic neurotransmission, increased glutamate uptake by the astrocytes is proposed to augment glycolysis and tricarboxylic acid cycle activity, balancing to a reduced cytosolic NAD(+)/NADH in the glia. Reducing equivalents are transferred then to the neuron resulting in a reduced neuronal NAD(+)/NADH redox state. This may eventually switch off neuronal glycolysis, favoring the oxidation of extracellular lactate in the lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) equilibrium and in the neuronal tricarboxylic acid cycles. Finally, pyruvate derived from neuronal lactate oxidation, may return to the extracellular space and to the astrocyte, restoring the basal redox state and beginning a new loop of the lactate/pyruvate transcellular coupling cycle. Transcellular redox coupling operates through the plasma membrane transporters of monocarboxylates, similarly to the intracellular redox shuttles coupling the cytosolic and mitochondrial redox states through the transporters of the inner mitochondrial membrane. Finally, transcellular redox coupling mechanisms may couple glycolytic and oxidative zones in other heterogeneous tissues including muscle and tumors.

Animals↗

Functional genomics in Dictyostelium: MidA, a new conserved protein, is required for mitochondrial function and development.

Genomic sequencing has revealed a large number of evolutionary conserved genes of unknown function. In the absence of characterized functional domains, the discovery of the role of these genes must rely on experimental approaches. We have selected 30 Dictyostelium discoideum genes of unknown function that showed high similarity to uncharacterized human genes and were absent in the complete proteomes from Saccharomyces cerevisiae and S. pombe. No putative functional motifs were found in their predicted encoded proteins. Eighteen genes were successfully knocked-out and three of them showed obvious phenotypes. A detailed analysis of one of them, midA, is presented in this report. Disruption of midA in Dictyostelium leads to pleiotropic defects. Cell size, growth rate, phagocytosis and macropinocytosis were affected in the mutant. During development, midA- cells showed an enhanced tendency to remain at the slug stage, and spore viability was compromised. The expression of MidA fused to GFP in midA- strain rescued the phenotype and the fused protein was located in the mitochondria. Although cellular oxygen consumption, mitochondrial content and mitochondrial membrane potential were similar to wild type, the amount of ATP was significantly reduced in the mutant suggesting a mitochondrial dysfunction. Metabolomic analysis by natural-abundance 13C-nuclear magnetic resonance has shown the lack of glycogen accumulation during growth. During starvation, mutant cells accumulated higher levels of ammonia, which inhibited normal development. We hypothesize that the lack of MidA reduces mitochondrial ATP synthetic capacity and this has an impact in some but not all energy-dependent cellular processes. This work exemplifies the potential of Dictyostelium as a model system for functional genomic studies.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Microscopic images of intraspheroidal pH by 1H magnetic resonance chemical shift imaging of pH sensitive indicators.

OBJECTIVE: We investigate microscopic pH heterogeneity within tumor spheroids using a novel 1H NMR methodology that provides high resolution measurements of intraspheroidal pH. MATERIAL AND METHODS: High resolution microscopic images of intraspheroidal pH were obtained by 1H NMR using chemical shift selective excitation of the H2 resonance of imidazole added to the incubation medium. Imidazole accumulated in the intraspheroidal space in a pH dependent manner. Maps of intraspheroidal pH could be obtained by transforming pixel by pixel (32 x 32 micro) the regional variation of imidazole H2 intensity into a relative pH scale. RESULTS: Our analysis revealed drastic intraspheroidal pH alterations depending on the size of the spheroid, ca. 0.6 pH units more acidic in the necrotic core than in the periphery, for spheroids of 600 mum diameter. The presence of concentric regions having similar intraspheroidal pH was consistently observed. The thickness of these regions decreased from pH 7.2 to pH 6.8 and increased below the latter pH value. CONCLUSION: Our observations are compatible with the general model of spheroid growth where the more external layers of cells are in active growth and depict more alkaline pH values while the inner layers remain quiescent or evolve to a necrotic core, depicting more acidic pH values.

Animals↗

A fast and sensitive 1H NMR method to measure the turnover of the H2 hydrogen of lactate.

A fast and sensitive procedure to determine the turnover of the H2 hydrogen of lactate and quantify its (2)H-enrichment by (1)H NMR is illustrated using C6 cells metabolizing (3-(13)C) lactate in 50% (2)H(2)O (vol/vol). (2)H substitution of the lactate H2 hydrogen resulted in two easily detectable transformations of the vicinal H3 doublet resonance: 1) the formation of an H3 singlet due to the disappearance of the homonuclear coupling to H2 ((3)J(betaH-alphaH) = 7.0 Hz), and 2) an upfield isotopic shift derived from the vicinal (2)H2 substitution (Delta(3) = -0.007 ppm). Only those lactate molecules that have passed through the cell cytosol experience these effects, since H2 deuteration involves lactate dehydrogenase activity and NAD((2)H). Thus, analysis of the observed shifted and unshifted H3 lactate resonances from the incubation medium allows the discrimination of the perprotonated (3-(13)C) lactate added as substrate, and the (3-(13)C, 2-(2)H) lactate recycled to the incubation medium after passage through the cytosol.

Algorithms↗

In vitro characterization of an Fe(8) cluster as potential MRI contrast agent.

The complex [(tacn)(6)Fe(8)(micro(3)-O)(2)(micro(2)-OH)(12)]Br(8).9H(2)O (Fe(8)) was evaluated in vitro as a new kind of possible MRI contrast agent. Relaxivities were measured at 1.41 and 9.4 T for Fe(8) and commercial Gd-DTPA dissolved in PBS. There was significant difference for r(1) and r(2) values between Fe(8) and Gd-DTPA at high field (9.4 T) and for r(1) at low field (1.4 T) (p<0.05). Phantom studies with T(1)-weighted MRI at 9.4 T suggest T(1) contrast potential for Fe(8). That is, up to 5.2 times higher intensity enhancement with respect to that of equimolar Gd-DTPA was obtained with an Fe(8) concentration, referred to the whole molecule, of 0.2 mM, for which no toxicity on C6 cells could be detected. No toxic effects on cultured C6 cells were observed up to a concentration of 1 mM Fe(8).

Animals↗

A novel series of complexones with bis- or biazole structure as mixed ligands of paramagnetic contrast agents for MRI.

We describe the syntheses, physicochemical properties and biological evaluation of a novel series of complexones containing bis- or biazoles moieties and two iminodiacetic acid units as novel ligands for paramagnetic lanthanides. The complexones were prepared by reaction of the corresponding 1,1'-bishaloethylbi- or bispyrazoles with methyl iminodiacetate and subsequent NaOH hydrolysis. 1,1'-Bisbromoethyl precursors were obtained by direct alkylation with an excess of 1,2-dibromoethane, or by heating the corresponding alcohol in HCl. Sigmoidal binding isotherms and MO calculations supported as most stable structures in solution, those containing two Gd(III) atoms bound per molecule of complexone with half saturation values S(0.5) (M(-1), 22 degrees C, pH 7.2) in the range 6.5 10(-6)<S(0.5)<36.1 10(-6). Relaxivity properties [r(1), r(2), s(-1) mM(-1) Gd(III)] determined at 1.5 Tesla gave values (12.0<r(1)<17.7, 12.2<r(2)<20), improving significantly the relaxivities of reference compounds such as Gd(III)EDTA (5.2, 5.6) or Gd(III)DTPA (4.30, 4.30). These improvements involve mainly increased hydration and slower rotational motions. In vitro toxicity experiments are reported.

Animals↗

Hydrogen turnover and subcellular compartmentation of hepatic [2-(13)C]glutamate and [3-(13)C]aspartate as detected by (13)C NMR.

(13)C NMR monitored the dynamics of exchange from specific hydrogens of hepatic [2-(13)C]glutamate and [3-(13)C]aspartate with deuterons from intracellular heavy water providing information on alpha-ketoglutarate/glutamate exchange and subcellular compartmentation. Mouse livers were perfused with [3-(13)C]alanine in buffer containing or not 50% (2)H(2)O for increasing periods of time (1 min < t < 30 min). Liver extracts prepared at the end of the perfusions were analyzed by high resolution (13)C NMR (150.13 MHz) with (1)H decoupling only and with simultaneous (1)H and (2)H decoupling. (13)C-(2)H couplings and (2)H-induced isotopic shifts observed in the glutamate C2 resonance, allowed to estimate the apparent rate constants (forward, reverse; min(-1)) for (i) the reversible exchange of [2-(13)C]glutamate H2 as catalyzed mainly by aspartate aminotransferase (0.32, 0.56), (ii) the reversible exchange of [2-(13)C]glutamate H3(proS) as catalyzed by NAD(P) isocitrate dehydrogenase (0.1, 0.05), and (iii) the irreversible exchanges of glutamate H3(proR) and H3(proS) as catalyzed by the sequential activities of mitochondrial aconitase and NAD isocitrate dehydrogenase of the tricarboxylic acid cycle (0.035), respectively. A similar approach allowed to determine the rates of (1)H-(2)H exchange for the H2 (0.4, 0.5) or H3(proR) (0.3, 0.2) or the H2 and H3(proS) hydrogens (0.20, 0.23) of [3-(13)C]aspartate isotopomers. The ubiquitous subcellular localization of (1)H-(2)H exchange enzymes and the exclusive mitochondrial localization of pyruvate carboxylase and the tricarboxylic acid cycle resulted in distinctive kinetics of deuteration in the H2 and either or both H3 hydrogens of [2-(13)C]glutamate and [3-(13)C]aspartate, allowing to follow glutamate and aspartate trafficking through cytosol and mitochondria.

Animals↗

Futile cycling of lactate through the plasma membrane of C6 glioma cells as detected by (13C, 2H) NMR.

We report a novel ((13)C, (2)H) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) procedure to investigate lactate recycling through the monocarboxylate transporter of the plasma membrane of cells in culture. C6 glioma cells were incubated with [3-(13)C]lactate in Krebs-Henseleit Buffer containing 50% (2)H(2)O (vol/vol) for up to 30 hr. (13)C NMR analysis of aliquots progressively taken from the medium, showed: (1) a linearly decreasing singlet at approximately 20.85 parts per million (ppm; -0.119 micromol/mg protein/hr) derived from the methyl carbon of [3-(13)C]lactate; and (2) an exponentially increasing shifted singlet at approximately 20.74 ppm (0.227 micromol/ mg protein/hr) from the methyl carbon of [3-(13)C, 2-(2)H]lactate. The shifted singlet appears because during its transit through the cytosol, [3-(13)C]lactate generates [3-(13)C, 2-(2)H]lactate in the lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) equilibrium, which may return to the incubation medium through the reversible monocarboxylate carrier. The methyl group of [3-(13)C, 2-(2)H]lactate is shifted -0.11 ppm with respect to that of [3-(13)C]lactate, making it possible to distinguish between both molecules by (13)C NMR. During incubations with 2.5 mM [1-(13)C]glucose and 3.98 mM [U-(13)C(3)]lactate or with 2.5 mM [1-(13)C]glucose and 3.93 mM [2-(13)C]pyruvate, C2-deuterated lactate was produced only from [1-(13)C]glucose or [U-(13)C(3)]lactate, revealing that this deuteration process is redox sensitive. When [1-(13)C]glucose and [U-(13)C(3)]lactate were used as substrates, no significant [3-(13)C]lactate production from [1-(13)C]glucose was detected, suggesting that glycolytic lactate production may be stopped under the high lactate concentrations prevailing under mild hypoxic or ischemic episodes or during cerebral activation.

Animals↗

Role of glial metabolism in diabetic encephalopathy as detected by high resolution 13C NMR.

The roles of glial energetics and of the glutamine cycle in diabetic encephalopathy have been investigated ex vivo by (13)C NMR in extracts of adult rat brain. Streptozotocin-induced diabetic or euglycemic animals received intravenous infusions of (1-(13)C) glucose in the absence and presence of trifluoroacetic acid or methionine sulfoximine, two selective inhibitors of the glial tricarboxylic acid cycle or of glutamine synthase, respectively. (1-(13)C) glucose infusions resulted in smaller (13)C incorporation in all carbons of cerebral glutamate, glutamine and GABA in the diabetic animals. Co-infusion of trifluoroacetic acid with (1-(13)C) glucose further reduced the (13)C enrichments in cerebral glutamate and glutamine, the decrease being larger in the diabetic animals than in the corresponding euglycemic controls. Methionine sulfoximine decreased to undetectable levels the fractional (13)C enrichment in the carbons of cerebral glutamine in both groups and had no significant effect on (13)C incorporation in glutamate and GABA, suggesting that glutamine is not the main precursor of glutamate and GABA. Additional animals were infused with (1,2-(13)C(2)) acetate, a major substrate of glial metabolism. In this case, (1,2-(13)C(2)) acetate infusions resulted in increased (13)C incorporation in all carbons of glutamate, glutamine and GABA in the diabetic animals. Together, these results reveal that diabetic encephalopathy has an important effect in astroglial metabolism, decreasing glucose transport and metabolism and increasing the relative contribution of glial oxidative metabolism to the support of glutamatergic and GABAergic neurotransmissions.

Animals↗

Cerebral glucose metabolism and the glutamine cycle as detected by in vivo and in vitro 13C NMR spectroscopy.

We review briefly 13C NMR studies of cerebral glucose metabolism with an emphasis on the roles of glial energetics and the glutamine cycle. Mathematical modeling analysis of in vivo 13C turnover experiments from the C4 carbons of glutamate and glutamine are consistent with: (i) the glutamine cycle being the major cerebral metabolic route supporting glutamatergic neurotransmission, (ii) glial glutamine synthesis being stoichiometrically coupled to glycolytic ATP production, (iii) glutamine serving as the main precursor of neurotransmitter glutamate and (iv) glutamatergic neurotransmission being supported by lactate oxidation in the neurons in a process accounting for 60-80% of the energy derived from glucose catabolism. However, more recent experimental approaches using inhibitors of the glial tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle (trifluoroacetic acid, TFA) or of glutamine synthase (methionine sulfoximine, MSO) reveal that a considerable portion of the energy required to support glutamine synthesis is derived from the oxidative metabolism of glucose in the astroglia and that a significant amount of the neurotransmitter glutamate is produced from neuronal glucose or lactate rather than from glial glutamine. Moreover, a redox switch has been proposed that allows the neurons to use either glucose or lactate as substrates for oxidation, depending on the relative availability of these fuels under resting or activation conditions, respectively. Together, these results suggest that the coupling mechanisms between neuronal and glial metabolism are more complex than initially envisioned.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗