Identification of an acylcholesterol lipase activity in human adipose tissue

Purification and properties of a monoacylglycerol lipase in human erythrocytes

A membrane-bound monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL) activity, previously demonstrated in intact human erythrocytes [Boyer, Somma, Vérine, L'Hôte, Finidori, Merger and Arnaud (1981) J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 53, 143-148], has now been purified to apparent homogeneity by a five-step procedure involving solubilization in CHAPS and sequential chromatographies on Sephacryl S-400, DEAE-Trisacryl, Zn(2+)-chelating Sepharose and Superose 12 columns. The purified protein has a molecular mass of 68 +/- 2 kDa, as determined by SDS/PAGE and gel filtration, suggesting that the enzyme behaves as a monomer. The concentration-dependence of MAGL activity with monooleoylglycerol, the preferred substrate showed kinetics typical of an interfacial lipolytic enzyme displaying optimal activity on emulsified substrate particles; apparent Km values were 0.27 mM and 0.49 mM for the sn-1(3)- and sn-2-isomers respectively. MAGL had no, or negligible, activity towards tri-oleoylglycerol, di-oleoylglycerol, oleoylcholesterol, oleoyl-CoA and phosphatidylcholine; it was inhibited by di-isopropylfluorophosphate, PMSF and diethyl p-nitrophenyl phosphate, suggesting that MAGL is a serine hydrolase. MAGL activity was not modified by bile salt or apolipoprotein C-II, whereas a dose-dependent inhibition was observed with apolipoprotein A-I.

Studies on cholesterol esterase in rat adipose tissue: comparison of substrates and regulation of the activity

Efficiency of substrates for cholesterol esterase (EC 3.1.1.13) assay, and regulation of the activity were investigated in rat epididymal adipose tissue. The activity in the supernatant was activated by cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase, cyclic AMP, ATP and Mg2+, both with micellar and liposomal substrates. However, the micellar substrate was more suitable for the assay than the liposomal with respect to Vmax and Km. Thus, the micellar substrate was employed. Pretreatment of the supernatant with exogenous cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase enhanced the activity dose dependently, whereas that with cyclic AMP decreased the activity slightly. The cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase activity in the assay mixture was within the range which can cause changes in cholesterol esterase activity. These results suggest that the amount of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase, rather than the cyclic AMP level, plays an important role in the regulation of cholesterol esterase in tissues with a high cholesterol esterase activity relative to the kinase activity, such as in adipose tissue.

Lipid dynamics in fish: aspects of absorption, transportation, deposition and mobilization

1. Aspects of lipid metabolism, including absorption and depositional processes, appear quite different in fish as compared to homeothermic vertebrates. 2. Dietary lipids in fish are absorbed as fatty acids and as triacylglycerols aggregated into chylomicra particles. 3. Interorgan transport of lipids, like that of mammals, consists of an exogenous (dietary) loop and an endogenous loop. 4. Fish store lipids among several depot organs, including mesenteric membranes, liver and muscle. 5. Several fast-acting and slow-acting agents modulate depot lipid mobilization. 6. Mobilized lipids may be transported in the serum as free fatty acids bound to specific carrier proteins.

On the similarity of triacylglycerol and acylcholesterol lipases in rat brain

Previously, we described a similar stimulating effect of adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) and ACTH-related synthetic peptides on triacylglycerol (TAGL) and acylcholesterol (ACL) lipase activities of rat brain. In present study, TAGL and ACL activities from rat brain were further investigated and compared through the use of tri-[3H]oleoylglycerol and [14C]oleoylcholesterol, respectively, as the substrates. A number of specific properties proved to be similar for both activities: (a) comparable rates of activity decay were observed upon heat treatment, (b) similar reaction kinetics as determined at different substrate concentrations with and without ACTH (10(-4) M), (c) both activities showed a common susceptibility to the presence of sodium taurocholate (5 mM) or trace amounts (5 microliter/ml) of organic solvent in the assay medium, (d) the distributions of the two activities in various brain regions were comparable. Taken together, these data, along with the similar activability by ACTH, suggest a common structural basis for TAGL and ACL activities in rat brain.

Accumulation of adipocyte cholesterol during hypolipidemic drug treatment in cholesterol-fed rats

An attempt was made to mobilize adipose tissue cholesterol independently of triacylglycerol by feeding cholesterol to intact Fischer 344 rats to 'load' adipocytes followed by hypolipidemic drug treatment in order to lower plasma cholesterol and, hence, adipocyte cholesterol. In this strain of rat, body weight and adipocyte sizes remain relatively constant after 1 year of age. Therefore, alterations in adipocyte cholesterol can be ascribed to factors other than cell size. Both oxandrolone and combined cholestyramine/clofibrate treatment caused significant reductions in plasma cholesterol in cholesterol-fed rats, but cholesterol concentrations in liver were reduced only by cholestyramine/clofibrate treatment. Oxandrolone enhanced the development of liver fatty liver in the cholesterol-fed rats, but cholestyramine/clofibrate significantly reduced liver triacylglycerol concentrations. Adipocyte cholesterol in the epididymal depot was significantly elevated, not lowered, in both concentrations. Adipocyte cholesterol in the epididymal depot was significantly elevated, not lowered, in both groups of drug-treated animals. Subcutaneous adipocytes from rats receiving drug treatment also contained more cholesterol, especially in rats given oxandrolone. Increments in adipocyte cholesterol were associated with decreases in the absolute amounts of apolipoproteins, A-I and A-IV, as measured by densitometric scanning of electrophoretic gels. Under the present experimental conditions, changes in plasma cholesterol scanning of electrophoretic gels. Under the present experimental conditions, changes in plasma cholesterol concentration did not adequately reflect the cholesterol content of either liver or adipose tissue.

Effects of phthalazinol (EG 626) and pyridinolcarbamate (Anginin) on lipolytic enzyme activities in rat adipose tissue -in vivo and in vitro-

Effects of Phthalazinol (EG 626), a cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase inhibitor, a thromboxane A2 antagonist and an antiatherosclerotic agent was examined regarding lipolytic enzyme activities in rat epididymal adipose tissue. The effect of Pyridinolcarbamate (Anginin) was concomitantly examined. There was a significant decrease in serum triacylglycerol levels in rats given EG 626 (100-500 mg/kg), p.o. for 1-3 weeks. In adipose tissue from EG 626 treated rats, the basal and adrenalin induced lipolysis, and cholesterylester hydrolase activity were markedly enhanced, while the phosphodiesterase activity was decreased. Anginin treatment had no effect either on the serum lipid levels or the cholesterylester hydrolase activity. An elevation in cholesterylester hydrolase activity and lipolysis by EG 626 was observed both in vivo and in vitro. Incubation of the adipose tissue with 0.229 mM of EG 626 or 0.603 mM of theophylline induced a lipolysis equivalent to that seen with 2.7 x 10(-2) mM of adrenalin. These results indicate that EG 626 exerted marked effects on lipolysis and cholesterylester hydrolase activity, probably through inhibition of phosphodiesterase. Possible contributions of the enhanced cholesterylester hydrolase activities to the antiatherogenic effect were discussed.

Two cholesterol ester hydrolases. Distribution in rat tissues and in cultured human fibroblasts and monkey arterial smooth muscle cells

Hydrolytic activity against acetone-dispersed [4-14C]cholesterol oleate has been assayed as a function of pH in seven parenchymal tissues, blood cells, and plasma of the rat, as well as in cultured human fibroblasts and monkey (Macaca nemestrina) arterial smooth muscle cells. Both acid and neutral hydrolytic activities were present in all of these except rat plasma. The pH optima were in all cases close to pH 4.5 and pH 6.8. Acid activity was quite constant from tissue to tissue, while neutral activity varied greatly, being greatest in adrenal, testis, and adipose tissue. Subcellular fractionation of human fibroblasts allowed demonstration that activities at pH 4.5 and pH 6.8 were concentrated in different fractions, apparently lysosomal and polysomal, respectively. It appears most cell types, including fibroblasts and smooth muscle cells, contain two separate enzymes capable of hydrolyzing cholesterol esters. The neutral pH polysomal enzyme, which is especially prominent in certain tissues, may have a function related to the specialized roles of these tissues.

On the individuality of aliphatic and alicyclic monoester lipases in human adipose tissue

Aliphatic and alicyclic monoester lipase activities from human adipose tissue have been comparatively investigated by using [3H] oleoylethanol and [14C] oleoylcholesterol, respectively, as substrates. A number of specific properties proved to be different for each activity. Different rates of decay of hydrolytic activity towards each substrate were observed during heat denaturation. Stability upon exposure to the cold was different for both activities, and the protective effect of glycerol was less effective for oleoylcholesterol than for oleoylethanol lipase. Serial (NH4)2SO4 fractionation in 5% increments showed that the two activities did not precipitate at identical saturation values. The behaviours of the two activities were compared in an affinity system where monoolein, a substrate molecule, served as a ligand for the enzyme(s) in a covalent complex with CH-Sepharose. During chromatography, both activities followed a comparable adsorption-elution pattern, but the oleoylcholesterol to oleoylethanol lipase activity ratio decreased by a factor of 4. Taken together, these data, along with a differential susceptibility to various surfactants, confirm our earlier hypothesis (Arnaud, J. and Boyer, J (1974) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 337, 165--168) that aliphatic and alicyclic monoester lipase activities in human fat are referable to distinct catalytic proteins.

Cholesterol ester hydrolase in human red blood cells

1. Cholesterol ester hydrolytic activity (sterol-ester hydrolase EC 3.1.1.13) was detected in human red blood cells. Enzyme activity appeared confined to the cell membrane and was most marked in washed preparations of red cell ghosts. 2. Hydrolytic activity was stimulated by the anti-oxidants D-alpha-tocopherol and butylated hydroxytoluene. Marked inhibition was produced by erythrocyte hemolysate, sodium taurocholate, and Triton X-100. 3. Optimal pH for the reaction was 5.4--5.7. 4. Because red cell cholesterol is all unesterified, it is speculated that the hydrolase serves to maintain the erythrocyte membrane free of esterified cholesterol.