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Li H, Li D, Ledru N, Xuanyuan Q, Wu H, Asthana A, Byers LN, Tullius SG, Orlando G, Waikar SS, Humphreys BD. Transcriptomic, epigenomic, and spatial metabolomic cell profiling redefines regional human kidney anatomy. Cell Metab 2024; 36:1105-1125.e10. [PMID: 38513647 PMCID: PMC11081846 DOI: 10.1016/j.cmet.2024.02.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2023] [Revised: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024]
Abstract
A large-scale multimodal atlas that includes major kidney regions is lacking. Here, we employed simultaneous high-throughput single-cell ATAC/RNA sequencing (SHARE-seq) and spatially resolved metabolomics to profile 54 human samples from distinct kidney anatomical regions. We generated transcriptomes of 446,267 cells and chromatin accessibility profiles of 401,875 cells and developed a package to analyze 408,218 spatially resolved metabolomes. We find that the same cell type, including thin limb, thick ascending limb loop of Henle and principal cells, display distinct transcriptomic, chromatin accessibility, and metabolomic signatures, depending on anatomic location. Surveying metabolism-associated gene profiles revealed non-overlapping metabolic signatures between nephron segments and dysregulated lipid metabolism in diseased proximal tubule (PT) cells. Integrating multimodal omics with clinical data identified PLEKHA1 as a disease marker, and its in vitro knockdown increased gene expression in PT differentiation, suggesting possible pathogenic roles. This study highlights previously underrepresented cellular heterogeneity underlying the human kidney anatomy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haikuo Li
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Dian Li
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Nicolas Ledru
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Qiao Xuanyuan
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Haojia Wu
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Amish Asthana
- Department of Surgery, Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist, Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston Salem, NC, USA
| | - Lori N Byers
- Department of Surgery, Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist, Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston Salem, NC, USA
| | - Stefan G Tullius
- Division of Transplant Surgery and Transplant Surgery Research Laboratory, Department of Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Giuseppe Orlando
- Department of Surgery, Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist, Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston Salem, NC, USA
| | - Sushrut S Waikar
- Section of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Benjamin D Humphreys
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA; Department of Developmental Biology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA.
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2
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Jacobs J, Iranpour R, Behrooz AB, da Silva Rosa SC, Ghavami S. The role of BCL2L13 in glioblastoma: turning a need into a target. Biochem Cell Biol 2024; 102:127-134. [PMID: 37988705 DOI: 10.1139/bcb-2023-0221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common aggressive central nervous system cancer. GBM has a high mortality rate, with a median survival time of 12-15 months after diagnosis. A poor prognosis and a shorter life expectancy may result from resistance to standard treatments such as radiation and chemotherapy. Temozolomide has been the mainstay treatment for GBM, but unfortunately, there are high rates of resistance with GBM bypassing apoptosis. A proposed mechanism for bypassing apoptosis is decreased ceramide levels, and previous research has shown that within GBM cells, B cell lymphoma 2-like 13 (BCL2L13) can inhibit ceramide synthase. This review aims to discuss the causes of resistance in GBM cells, followed by a brief description of BCL2L13 and an explanation of its mechanism of action. Further, lipids, specifically ceramide, will be discussed concerning cancer and GBM cells, focusing on ceramide synthase and its role in developing GBM. By gathering all current information on BCL2L13 and ceramide synthase, this review seeks to enable an understanding of these pieces of GBM in the hope of finding an effective treatment for this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joadi Jacobs
- Department of Human Anatomy and Cell Science, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, Max Rady College of Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Rosa Iranpour
- Department of Human Anatomy and Cell Science, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, Max Rady College of Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Amir Barzegar Behrooz
- Department of Human Anatomy and Cell Science, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, Max Rady College of Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
- Electrophysiology Research Center, Neuroscience Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Simone C da Silva Rosa
- Department of Human Anatomy and Cell Science, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, Max Rady College of Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Saeid Ghavami
- Department of Human Anatomy and Cell Science, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, Max Rady College of Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
- Research Institute of Hematology and Oncology, Cancer Care Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0V9, Canada
- Faculty of Medicine in Zabrze, University of Technology in Katowice, Academia of Silesia, 41-800 Zabrze, Poland
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3
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Hernandez-Corbacho M, Canals D. Drug Targeting of Acyltransferases in the Triacylglyceride and 1-O-AcylCeramide Biosynthetic Pathways. Mol Pharmacol 2024; 105:166-178. [PMID: 38164582 DOI: 10.1124/molpharm.123.000763] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2023] [Revised: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Acyltransferase enzymes (EC 2.3.) are a large group of enzymes that transfer acyl groups to a variety of substrates. This review focuses on fatty acyltransferases involved in the biosynthetic pathways of glycerolipids and sphingolipids and how these enzymes have been pharmacologically targeted in their biologic context. Glycerolipids and sphingolipids, commonly treated independently in their regulation and biologic functions, are put together to emphasize the parallelism in their metabolism and bioactive roles. Furthermore, a newly considered signaling molecule, 1-O-acylceramide, resulting from the acylation of ceramide by DGAT2 enzyme, is discussed. Finally, the implications of DGAT2 as a putative ceramide acyltransferase (CAT) enzyme, with a putative dual role in TAG and 1-O-acylceramide generation, are explored. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: This manuscript reviews the current status of drug development in lipid acyltransferases. These are current targets in metabolic syndrome and other diseases, including cancer. A novel function for a member in this group of lipids has been recently reported in cancer cells. The responsible enzyme and biological implications of this added member are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Daniel Canals
- Department of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York
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4
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Afrin F, Mateen S, Oman J, Lai JCK, Barrott JJ, Pashikanti S. Natural Products and Small Molecules Targeting Cellular Ceramide Metabolism to Enhance Apoptosis in Cancer Cells. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:4645. [PMID: 37760612 PMCID: PMC10527029 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15184645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2023] [Revised: 09/08/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Molecular targeting strategies have been used for years in order to control cancer progression and are often based on targeting various enzymes involved in metabolic pathways. Keeping this in mind, it is essential to determine the role of each enzyme in a particular metabolic pathway. In this review, we provide in-depth information on various enzymes such as ceramidase, sphingosine kinase, sphingomyelin synthase, dihydroceramide desaturase, and ceramide synthase which are associated with various types of cancers. We also discuss the physicochemical properties of well-studied inhibitors with natural product origins and their related structures in terms of these enzymes. Targeting ceramide metabolism exhibited promising mono- and combination therapies at preclinical stages in preventing cancer progression and cemented the significance of sphingolipid metabolism in cancer treatments. Targeting ceramide-metabolizing enzymes will help medicinal chemists design potent and selective small molecules for treating cancer progression at various levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farjana Afrin
- Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kasiska Division of Health Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Idaho State University, Pocatello, ID 83209, USA; (F.A.); (S.M.); (J.O.); (J.C.K.L.)
| | - Sameena Mateen
- Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kasiska Division of Health Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Idaho State University, Pocatello, ID 83209, USA; (F.A.); (S.M.); (J.O.); (J.C.K.L.)
| | - Jordan Oman
- Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kasiska Division of Health Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Idaho State University, Pocatello, ID 83209, USA; (F.A.); (S.M.); (J.O.); (J.C.K.L.)
| | - James C. K. Lai
- Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kasiska Division of Health Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Idaho State University, Pocatello, ID 83209, USA; (F.A.); (S.M.); (J.O.); (J.C.K.L.)
| | - Jared J. Barrott
- Cell Biology and Physiology, College of Life Sciences, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84602, USA;
| | - Srinath Pashikanti
- Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kasiska Division of Health Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Idaho State University, Pocatello, ID 83209, USA; (F.A.); (S.M.); (J.O.); (J.C.K.L.)
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5
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Kovilakath A, Wohlford G, Cowart LA. Circulating sphingolipids in heart failure. Front Cardiovasc Med 2023; 10:1154447. [PMID: 37229233 PMCID: PMC10203217 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2023.1154447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Accepted: 04/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Lack of significant advancements in early detection and treatment of heart failure have precipitated the need for discovery of novel biomarkers and therapeutic targets. Over the past decade, circulating sphingolipids have elicited promising results as biomarkers that premonish adverse cardiac events. Additionally, compelling evidence directly ties sphingolipids to these events in patients with incident heart failure. This review aims to summarize the current literature on circulating sphingolipids in both human cohorts and animal models of heart failure. The goal is to provide direction and focus for future mechanistic studies in heart failure, as well as pave the way for the development of new sphingolipid biomarkers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Kovilakath
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, United States
| | - George Wohlford
- Pauley Heart Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, United States
| | - L. Ashley Cowart
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and the Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, United States
- Richmond Veteran's Affairs Medical Center, Richmond, VA, United States
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6
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Dysregulated ceramide metabolism in mouse progressive dermatitis resulting from constitutive activation of Jak1. J Lipid Res 2023; 64:100329. [PMID: 36639058 PMCID: PMC9932461 DOI: 10.1016/j.jlr.2023.100329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2022] [Revised: 12/30/2022] [Accepted: 12/31/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Coordinated lipid metabolism contributes to maintaining skin homeostasis by regulating skin barrier formation, immune reactions, thermogenesis, and perception. Several reports have documented the changes in lipid composition in dermatitis, including in atopic dermatitis (AD); however, the specific mechanism by which these lipid profiles are altered during AD pathogenesis remains unknown. Here, we performed untargeted and targeted lipidomic analyses of an AD-like dermatitis model resulting from constitutive activation of Janus kinase 1 (Spade mice) to capture the comprehensive lipidome profile during dermatitis onset and progression. We successfully annotated over 700 skin lipids, including glycerophospholipids, ceramides, neutral lipids, and fatty acids, many of which were found to be present at significantly changed levels after dermatitis onset, as determined by the pruritus and erythema. Among them, we found the levels of ceramides composed of nonhydroxy fatty acid and dihydrosphingosine containing very long-chain (C22 or more) fatty acids were significantly downregulated before AD onset. Furthermore, in vitro enzyme assays using the skin of Spade mice demonstrated the enhancement of ceramide desaturation. Finally, we revealed topical application of ceramides composed of nonhydroxy fatty acid and dihydrosphingosine before AD onset effectively ameliorated the progression of AD symptoms in Spade mice. Our results suggest that the disruption in epidermal ceramide composition is caused by boosting ceramide desaturation in the initiation phase of AD, which regulates AD pathogenesis.
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7
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Kim J, Pewzner-Jung Y, Joseph T, Ben-Dor S, Futerman AH. Generation of a ceramide synthase 6 mouse lacking the DDRSDIE C-terminal motif. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0271675. [PMID: 35849604 PMCID: PMC9292091 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0271675] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2022] [Accepted: 07/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The important membrane lipid, ceramide, is generated by a family of homologous enzymes, the ceramide synthases (CerSs), multi-spanning membrane proteins located in the endoplasmic reticulum. Six CerS isoforms exist in mammals with each using a subset of acyl-CoAs for (dihydro)ceramide synthesis. A number of mice have been generated in which one or other CerS has been genetically manipulated, including complete knock-outs, with each displaying phenotypes concomitant with the expression levels of the CerS in question and the presumed biological function of the ceramide species that it generates. We recently described a short C-terminal motif in the CerS which is involved in CerS dimer formation; deleting this motif had no effect on the ability of the CerS to synthesize ceramide in vitro. In the current study, we generated a CerS6 mouse using CRISPR-Cas9, in which the DDRSDIE motif was replaced by ADAAAIA. While levels of CerS6ADAAAIA expression were unaffected in the CerS6ADAAAIA mouse, and CerS6ADAAAIA was able to generate C16-ceramide in vitro, ceramide levels were significantly reduced in the CerS6ADAAAIA mouse, suggesting that replacing this motif affects an as-yet unknown mechanism of regulation of ceramide synthesis via the DDRSDIE motif in vivo. Crossing CerS6ADAAAIA mice with CerS5 null mice led to generation of viable mice in which C16-ceramide levels were reduced by up to 90%, suggesting that depletion of C16-ceramide levels is compensated for by other ceramide species with different acyl chain lengths.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiyoon Kim
- Department Biomolecular Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Yael Pewzner-Jung
- Department Biomolecular Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Tammar Joseph
- Department Biomolecular Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Shifra Ben-Dor
- Life Sciences Core Facilities, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Anthony H. Futerman
- Department Biomolecular Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
- * E-mail:
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8
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Walsh SC, Miles JR, Keel BN, Rempel LA, Wright-Johnson EC, Lindholm-Perry AK, Oliver WT, Pannier AK. Global analysis of differential gene expression within the porcine conceptus transcriptome as it transitions through spherical, ovoid, and tubular morphologies during the initiation of elongation. Mol Reprod Dev 2022; 89:175-201. [PMID: 35023252 PMCID: PMC9305853 DOI: 10.1002/mrd.23553] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2021] [Revised: 12/04/2021] [Accepted: 12/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
This study aimed to identify transcriptome differences between distinct or transitional stage spherical, ovoid, and tubular porcine blastocysts throughout the initiation of elongation. We performed a global transcriptome analysis of differential gene expression using RNA‐Seq with high temporal resolution between spherical, ovoid, and tubular stage blastocysts at specific sequential stages of development from litters containing conceptus populations of distinct or transitional blastocysts. After RNA‐Seq analysis, significant differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and pathways were identified between distinct morphologies or sequential development stages. Overall, 1898 significant DEGs were identified between distinct spherical and ovoid morphologies, with 311 total DEGs between developmental stages throughout this first morphological transition, while 15 were identified between distinct ovoid and tubular, with eight total throughout these second morphological transition developmental stages. The high quantity of DEGs and pathways between conceptus stages throughout the spherical to ovoid transition suggests the importance of gene regulation during this first morphological transition for initiating elongation. Further, extensive DEG coverage of known elongation signaling pathways was illustrated from spherical to ovoid, and regulation of lipid signaling and membrane/ECM remodeling across these early conceptus stages were implicated as essential to this process, providing novel insights into potential mechanisms governing this rapid morphological change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie C Walsh
- Department of Biological Systems Engineering, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA
| | - Jeremy R Miles
- U.S. Meat Animal Research Center, Clay Center, Nebraska, USA
| | - Brittney N Keel
- U.S. Meat Animal Research Center, Clay Center, Nebraska, USA
| | - Lea A Rempel
- U.S. Meat Animal Research Center, Clay Center, Nebraska, USA
| | | | | | | | - Angela K Pannier
- Department of Biological Systems Engineering, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA
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9
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Kim JL, Ben-Dor S, Rosenfeld-Gur E, Futerman AH. A novel C-terminal DxRSDxE motif in ceramide synthases involved in dimer formation. J Biol Chem 2021; 298:101517. [PMID: 34942147 PMCID: PMC8789539 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2021.101517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2021] [Revised: 12/16/2021] [Accepted: 12/17/2021] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Ceramide is a lipid moiety synthesized via the enzymatic activity of ceramide synthases (CerSs), six of which have been identified in mammalian cells, and each of which uses a unique subset of acyl-CoAs for ceramide synthesis. The CerSs are part of a larger gene family, the Tram-Lag-CLN8 domain family. Here, we identify a unique, C-terminal motif, the DxRSDxE motif, which is only found in CerSs and not in other Tram-Lag-CLN8 family members. Deletion of this motif in either CerS2 or in CerS6 did not affect the ability of either enzyme to generate ceramide using both an in vitro assay and metabolic labeling, but deletion of this motif did affect the activity of CerS2 when coexpressed with CerS6. Surprisingly, transfection of cells with either CerS2 or CerS6 lacking the motif did not result in changes in cellular ceramide levels. We found that CerS2 and CerS6 interact with each other, as shown by immunoprecipitation, but deletion of the DxRSDxE motif impeded this interaction. Moreover, proteomics analysis of cells transfected with CerS6Δ338–344 indicated that deletion of the C-terminal motif impacted cellular protein expression, and in particular, the levels of ORMDL1, a negative regulator of sphingolipid synthesis. We suggest that this novel C-terminal motif regulates CerS dimer formation and thereby impacts ceramide synthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiyoon L Kim
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel
| | - Shifra Ben-Dor
- Life Sciences Core Facilities, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel
| | - Eden Rosenfeld-Gur
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel
| | - Anthony H Futerman
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel; The Joseph Meyerhoff Professor of Biochemistry at the Weizmann Institute of Science.
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Lee WK, Maaß M, Quach A, Poscic N, Prangley H, Pallott EC, Kim JL, Pierce JS, Ogretmen B, Futerman AH, Thévenod F. Dependence of ABCB1 transporter expression and function on distinct sphingolipids generated by ceramide synthases-2 and -6 in chemoresistant renal cancer. J Biol Chem 2021; 298:101492. [PMID: 34915026 PMCID: PMC8804196 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2021.101492] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2021] [Accepted: 12/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Oncogenic multidrug resistance is commonly intrinsic to renal cancer based on the physiological expression of detoxification transporters, particularly ABCB1, thus hampering chemotherapy. ABCB1 activity is directly dependent on its lipid microenvironment, localizing to cholesterol- and sphingomyelin (SM)-rich domains. As ceramides are the sole source for SMs, we hypothesized that ceramide synthase (CerS)-derived ceramides regulate ABCB1 activity. Using data from RNA-Seq databases, we found that patient kidney tumors exhibited increased CerS2 mRNA, which was inversely correlated with CerS6 mRNA in ABCB1+ clear cell carcinomas. Endogenous elevated CerS2 and lower CerS5/6 mRNA and protein resulted in disproportionately higher CerS2 to CerS5/6 activities (approximately twofold) in chemoresistant ABCB1high (A498, Caki-1) compared with chemosensitive ABCB1low (ACHN, normal human proximal convoluted tubule cell) cells. In addition, lipidomics analyses by HPLC–MS/MS showed bias toward CerS2-associated C20:0/C20:1-ceramides compared with CerS5/6-associated C14:0/C16:0-ceramides (2:1). SMs were similarly altered. We demonstrated that chemoresistance to doxorubicin in ABCB1high cells was partially reversed by inhibitors of de novo ceramide synthesis (l-cycloserine) and CerS (fumonisin B1) in cell viability assays. Downregulation of CerS2/6, but not CerS5, attenuated ABCB1 mRNA, protein, plasma membrane localization, rhodamine 123+ efflux transport activity, and doxorubicin resistance. Similar findings were observed with catalytically inactive CerS6-H212A. Furthermore, CerS6-targeting siRNA shifted ceramide and SM composition to ultra long-chain species (C22–C26). Inhibitors of endoplasmic reticulum–associated degradation (eeyarestatin I) and the proteasome (MG132, bortezomib) prevented ABCB1 loss induced by CerS2/6 downregulation. We conclude that a critical balance in ceramide/SM species is prerequisite to ABCB1 expression and functionalization, which could be targeted to reverse multidrug resistance in renal cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wing-Kee Lee
- Institute for Physiology, Pathophysiology and Toxicology, ZBAF, Witten/Herdecke University, Germany; Physiology & Pathophysiology of Cells and Membranes, Medical School OWL, Bielefeld University, Germany.
| | - Michelle Maaß
- Institute for Physiology, Pathophysiology and Toxicology, ZBAF, Witten/Herdecke University, Germany
| | - Amy Quach
- Institute for Physiology, Pathophysiology and Toxicology, ZBAF, Witten/Herdecke University, Germany; Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, UK
| | - Nataliya Poscic
- Institute for Physiology, Pathophysiology and Toxicology, ZBAF, Witten/Herdecke University, Germany
| | - Holly Prangley
- Institute for Physiology, Pathophysiology and Toxicology, ZBAF, Witten/Herdecke University, Germany; Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, UK
| | - Erin-Claire Pallott
- Institute for Physiology, Pathophysiology and Toxicology, ZBAF, Witten/Herdecke University, Germany; Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, UK
| | - Jiyoon L Kim
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Israel
| | - Jason S Pierce
- Lipidomics Shared Resource, Medical University of South Carolina, USA
| | - Besim Ogretmen
- Lipidomics Shared Resource, Medical University of South Carolina, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, USA
| | - Anthony H Futerman
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Israel
| | - Frank Thévenod
- Institute for Physiology, Pathophysiology and Toxicology, ZBAF, Witten/Herdecke University, Germany
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Shamshiddinova M, Gulyamov S, Kim HJ, Jung SH, Baek DJ, Lee YM. A Dansyl-Modified Sphingosine Kinase Inhibitor DPF-543 Enhanced De Novo Ceramide Generation. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22179190. [PMID: 34502095 PMCID: PMC8431253 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22179190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2021] [Revised: 08/18/2021] [Accepted: 08/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) synthesized by sphingosine kinase (SPHK) is a signaling molecule, involved in cell proliferation, growth, differentiation, and survival. Indeed, a sharp increase of S1P is linked to a pathological outcome with inflammation, cancer metastasis, or angiogenesis, etc. In this regard, SPHK/S1P axis regulation has been a specific issue in the anticancer strategy to turn accumulated sphingosine (SPN) into cytotoxic ceramides (Cers). For these purposes, there have been numerous chemicals synthesized for SPHK inhibition. In this study, we investigated the comparative efficiency of dansylated PF-543 (DPF-543) on the Cers synthesis along with PF-543. DPF-543 deserved attention in strong cytotoxicity, due to the cytotoxic Cers accumulation by ceramide synthase (CerSs). DPF-543 exhibited dual actions on Cers synthesis by enhancing serine palmitoyltransferase (SPT) activity, and by inhibiting SPHKs, which eventually induced an unusual environment with a high amount of 3-ketosphinganine and sphinganine (SPA). SPA in turn was consumed to synthesize Cers via de novo pathway. Interestingly, PF-543 increased only the SPN level, but not for SPA. In addition, DPF-543 mildly activates acid sphingomyelinase (aSMase), which contributes a partial increase in Cers. Collectively, a dansyl-modified DPF-543 relatively enhanced Cers accumulation via de novo pathway which was not observed in PF-543. Our results demonstrated that the structural modification on SPHK inhibitors is still an attractive anticancer strategy by regulating sphingolipid metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maftuna Shamshiddinova
- College of Pharmacy, Chungbuk National University, Chungbuk 28160, Korea; (M.S.); (S.G.); (H.-J.K.); (S.-H.J.)
| | - Shokhid Gulyamov
- College of Pharmacy, Chungbuk National University, Chungbuk 28160, Korea; (M.S.); (S.G.); (H.-J.K.); (S.-H.J.)
| | - Hee-Jung Kim
- College of Pharmacy, Chungbuk National University, Chungbuk 28160, Korea; (M.S.); (S.G.); (H.-J.K.); (S.-H.J.)
| | - Seo-Hyeon Jung
- College of Pharmacy, Chungbuk National University, Chungbuk 28160, Korea; (M.S.); (S.G.); (H.-J.K.); (S.-H.J.)
| | - Dong-Jae Baek
- College of Pharmacy, Mokpo National University, Jeonnam 58628, Korea;
| | - Yong-Moon Lee
- College of Pharmacy, Chungbuk National University, Chungbuk 28160, Korea; (M.S.); (S.G.); (H.-J.K.); (S.-H.J.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +82-43-261-2825
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Schmidt S, Gallego SF, Zelnik ID, Kovalchuk S, Albæk N, Sprenger RR, Øverup C, Pewzner-Jung Y, Futerman AH, Lindholm MW, Jensen ON, Ejsing CS. Silencing of ceramide synthase 2 in hepatocytes modulates plasma ceramide biomarkers predictive of cardiovascular death. Mol Ther 2021; 30:1661-1674. [PMID: 34400330 PMCID: PMC9077316 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2021.08.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2021] [Revised: 07/26/2021] [Accepted: 08/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Emerging clinical data show that three ceramide molecules, Cer d18:1/16:0, Cer d18:1/24:1, and Cer d18:1/24:0, are biomarkers of a fatal outcome in patients with cardiovascular disease. This finding raises basic questions about their metabolic origin, their contribution to disease pathogenesis, and the utility of targeting the underlying enzymatic machinery for treatment of cardiometabolic disorders. Here, we outline the development of a potent N-acetylgalactosamine-conjugated antisense oligonucleotide engineered to silence ceramide synthase 2 specifically in hepatocytes in vivo. We demonstrate that this compound reduces the ceramide synthase 2 mRNA level and that this translates into efficient lowering of protein expression and activity as well as Cer d18:1/24:1 and Cer d18:1/24:0 levels in liver. Intriguingly, we discover that the hepatocyte-specific antisense oligonucleotide also triggers a parallel modulation of blood plasma ceramides, revealing that the biomarkers predictive of cardiovascular death are governed by ceramide biosynthesis in hepatocytes. Our work showcases a generic therapeutic framework for targeting components of the ceramide enzymatic machinery to disentangle their roles in disease causality and to explore their utility for treatment of cardiometabolic disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steffen Schmidt
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Copenhagen, 2970 Hørsholm, Denmark
| | - Sandra F Gallego
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, VILLUM Center for Bioanalytical Sciences, University of Southern Denmark, 5230 Odense, Denmark
| | - Iris Daphne Zelnik
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
| | - Sergey Kovalchuk
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, VILLUM Center for Bioanalytical Sciences, University of Southern Denmark, 5230 Odense, Denmark
| | - Nanna Albæk
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Copenhagen, 2970 Hørsholm, Denmark
| | - Richard R Sprenger
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, VILLUM Center for Bioanalytical Sciences, University of Southern Denmark, 5230 Odense, Denmark
| | - Charlotte Øverup
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Copenhagen, 2970 Hørsholm, Denmark
| | - Yael Pewzner-Jung
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
| | - Anthony H Futerman
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
| | - Marie W Lindholm
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Copenhagen, 2970 Hørsholm, Denmark
| | - Ole N Jensen
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, VILLUM Center for Bioanalytical Sciences, University of Southern Denmark, 5230 Odense, Denmark
| | - Christer S Ejsing
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, VILLUM Center for Bioanalytical Sciences, University of Southern Denmark, 5230 Odense, Denmark; Cell Biology and Biophysics Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany.
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13
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Ożegowska K, Plewa S, Mantaj U, Pawelczyk L, Matysiak J. Serum Metabolomics in PCOS Women with Different Body Mass Index. J Clin Med 2021; 10:jcm10132811. [PMID: 34202365 PMCID: PMC8268990 DOI: 10.3390/jcm10132811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2021] [Revised: 06/15/2021] [Accepted: 06/18/2021] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most prevalent endocrine and metabolic disorder, affecting 5–10% of women of reproductive age. It results from complex environmental factors, genetic predisposition, hyperinsulinemia, hormonal imbalance, neuroendocrine abnormalities, chronic inflammation, and autoimmune disorders. PCOS impacts menstrual regularities, fertility, and dermatological complications, and may induce metabolic disturbances, diabetes, and coronary heart disease. Comprehensive metabolic profiling of patients with PCOS may be a big step in understanding and treating the disease. The study aimed to search for potential differences in metabolites concentrations among women with PCOS according to different body mass index (BMI) in comparison to healthy controls. We used broad-spectrum targeted metabolomics to evaluate metabolites’ serum concentrations in PCOS patients and compared them with healthy controls. The measurements were performed using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with the triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometry technique, which has highly selective multiple reaction monitoring modes. The main differences were found in glycerophospholipid concentrations, with no specific tendency to up-or down-regulation. Insulin resistance and elevated body weight influence acylcarnitine C2 levels more than PCOS itself. Sphingomyelin (SM) C18:1 should be more intensively observed and examined in future studies and maybe serve as one of the PCOS biomarkers. No significant correlations were observed between anthropometric and hormonal parameters and metabolome results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katarzyna Ożegowska
- Department of Infertility and Reproductive Endocrinology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 61-701 Poznań, Poland;
- Correspondence:
| | - Szymon Plewa
- Department of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 61-701 Poznań, Poland; (S.P.); (J.M.)
| | - Urszula Mantaj
- Division of Reproduction, Medical Faculty I, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 61-701 Poznan, Poland;
| | - Leszek Pawelczyk
- Department of Infertility and Reproductive Endocrinology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 61-701 Poznań, Poland;
| | - Jan Matysiak
- Department of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 61-701 Poznań, Poland; (S.P.); (J.M.)
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14
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Liu Q, Zhang L, Allman EL, Hubbard TD, Murray IA, Hao F, Tian Y, Gui W, Nichols RG, Smith PB, Anitha M, Perdew GH, Patterson AD. The aryl hydrocarbon receptor activates ceramide biosynthesis in mice contributing to hepatic lipogenesis. Toxicology 2021; 458:152831. [PMID: 34097992 DOI: 10.1016/j.tox.2021.152831] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2021] [Revised: 05/10/2021] [Accepted: 06/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) activation via 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzofuran (TCDF) induces the accumulation of hepatic lipids. Here we report that AHR activation by TCDF (24 μg/kg body weight given orally for five days) induced significant elevation of hepatic lipids including ceramides in mice, was associated with increased expression of key ceramide biosynthetic genes, and increased activity of their respective enzymes. Results from chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP), electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) and cell-based reporter luciferase assays indicated that AHR directly activated the serine palmitoyltransferase long chain base subunit 2 (Sptlc2, encodes serine palmitoyltransferase 2 (SPT2)) gene whose product catalyzes the initial rate-limiting step in de novo sphingolipid biosynthesis. Hepatic ceramide accumulation was further confirmed by mass spectrometry-based lipidomics. Taken together, our results revealed that AHR activation results in the up-regulation of Sptlc2, leading to ceramide accumulation, thus promoting lipogenesis, which can induce hepatic lipid accumulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qing Liu
- Center for Molecular Toxicology and Carcinogenesis, Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | - Limin Zhang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance in Biological Systems, State Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance and Atomic and Molecular Physics, National Centre for Magnetic Resonance in Wuhan, Wuhan Institute of Physics and Mathematics, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Erik L Allman
- Center for Molecular Toxicology and Carcinogenesis, Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | - Troy D Hubbard
- Center for Molecular Toxicology and Carcinogenesis, Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | - Iain A Murray
- Center for Molecular Toxicology and Carcinogenesis, Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | - Fuhua Hao
- Center for Molecular Toxicology and Carcinogenesis, Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | - Yuan Tian
- Center for Molecular Toxicology and Carcinogenesis, Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | - Wei Gui
- Center for Molecular Toxicology and Carcinogenesis, Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | - Robert G Nichols
- Center for Molecular Toxicology and Carcinogenesis, Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | - Philip B Smith
- Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | - Mallappa Anitha
- Center for Molecular Toxicology and Carcinogenesis, Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | - Gary H Perdew
- Center for Molecular Toxicology and Carcinogenesis, Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | - Andrew D Patterson
- Center for Molecular Toxicology and Carcinogenesis, Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA.
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15
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Izquierdo E, Casasampere M, Fabriàs G, Abad JL, Casas J, Delgado A. Synthesis and characterization of bichromophoric 1-deoxyceramides as FRET probes. Org Biomol Chem 2021; 19:2456-2467. [PMID: 33650618 DOI: 10.1039/d1ob00113b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The suitability as FRET probes of two bichromophoric 1-deoxydihydroceramides containing a labelled spisulosine derivative as a sphingoid base and two differently ω-labelled fluorescent palmitic acids has been evaluated. The ceramide synthase (CerS) catalyzed metabolic incorporation of ω-azido palmitic acid into the above labeled spisulosine to render the corresponding ω-azido 1-deoxyceramide has been studied in several cell lines. In addition, the strain-promoted click reaction between this ω-azido 1-deoxyceramide and suitable fluorophores has been optimized to render the target bichromophoric 1-deoxydihydroceramides. These results pave the way for the development of FRET-based assays as a new tool to study sphingolipid metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eduardo Izquierdo
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Medicinal Chemistry, Unit of Pharmaceutical Chemistry (Associated Unit to CSIC). Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences. University of Barcelona (UB), Joan XXIII 27-31, 08028 Barcelona, Spain.
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16
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Lotta LA, Pietzner M, Stewart ID, Wittemans LB, Li C, Bonelli R, Raffler J, Biggs EK, Oliver-Williams C, Auyeung VP, Luan J, Wheeler E, Paige E, Surendran P, Michelotti GA, Scott RA, Burgess S, Zuber V, Sanderson E, Koulman A, Imamura F, Forouhi NG, Khaw KT, Griffin JL, Wood AM, Kastenmüller G, Danesh J, Butterworth AS, Gribble FM, Reimann F, Bahlo M, Fauman E, Wareham NJ, Langenberg C. A cross-platform approach identifies genetic regulators of human metabolism and health. Nat Genet 2021; 53:54-64. [PMID: 33414548 PMCID: PMC7612925 DOI: 10.1038/s41588-020-00751-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2020] [Accepted: 11/20/2020] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
In cross-platform analyses of 174 metabolites, we identify 499 associations (P < 4.9 × 10-10) characterized by pleiotropy, allelic heterogeneity, large and nonlinear effects and enrichment for nonsynonymous variation. We identify a signal at GLP2R (p.Asp470Asn) shared among higher citrulline levels, body mass index, fasting glucose-dependent insulinotropic peptide and type 2 diabetes, with β-arrestin signaling as the underlying mechanism. Genetically higher serine levels are shown to reduce the likelihood (by 95%) and predict development of macular telangiectasia type 2, a rare degenerative retinal disease. Integration of genomic and small molecule data across platforms enables the discovery of regulators of human metabolism and translation into clinical insights.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca A. Lotta
- MRC Epidemiology Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Maik Pietzner
- MRC Epidemiology Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | | | - Laura B.L. Wittemans
- MRC Epidemiology Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK,The Big Data Institute, Li Ka Shing Centre for Health Information and Discovery, University of Oxford
| | - Chen Li
- MRC Epidemiology Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Roberto Bonelli
- Population Health and Immunity Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Australia,Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - Johannes Raffler
- Institute of Computational Biology, Helmholtz Zentrum München – German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Emma K. Biggs
- Metabolic Research Laboratories, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Clare Oliver-Williams
- British Heart Foundation Cardiovascular Epidemiology Unit, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK,Homerton College, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | | | - Jian’an Luan
- MRC Epidemiology Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Eleanor Wheeler
- MRC Epidemiology Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Ellie Paige
- National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Praveen Surendran
- British Heart Foundation Cardiovascular Epidemiology Unit, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK,British Heart Foundation Centre of Research Excellence, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK,Health Data Research UK Cambridge, Wellcome Genome Campus and University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK,Rutherford Fund Fellow, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, UK
| | | | - Robert A. Scott
- MRC Epidemiology Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Stephen Burgess
- MRC Biostatistics Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom,Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Verena Zuber
- MRC Biostatistics Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom,Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Imperial College London, UK
| | - Eleanor Sanderson
- MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, UK
| | - Albert Koulman
- MRC Epidemiology Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK,Institute of Computational Biology, Helmholtz Zentrum München – German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany,NIHR BRC Nutritional Biomarker Laboratory, University of Cambridge, UK
| | - Fumiaki Imamura
- MRC Epidemiology Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Nita G. Forouhi
- MRC Epidemiology Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Kay-Tee Khaw
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | | | - Julian L. Griffin
- Biomolecular Medicine, Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Imperial College London, UK
| | - Angela M. Wood
- British Heart Foundation Cardiovascular Epidemiology Unit, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK,British Heart Foundation Centre of Research Excellence, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK,Health Data Research UK Cambridge, Wellcome Genome Campus and University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK,National Institute for Health Research Blood and Transplant Research Unit in Donor Health and Genomics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK,The Alan Turing Institute, London, UK
| | - Gabi Kastenmüller
- Institute of Computational Biology, Helmholtz Zentrum München – German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - John Danesh
- British Heart Foundation Cardiovascular Epidemiology Unit, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK,British Heart Foundation Centre of Research Excellence, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK,Health Data Research UK Cambridge, Wellcome Genome Campus and University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK,National Institute for Health Research Blood and Transplant Research Unit in Donor Health and Genomics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK,National Institute for Health Research Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre, University of Cambridge and Cambridge University Hospitals, Cambridge, UK,Department of Human Genetics, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Hinxton, UK
| | - Adam S. Butterworth
- British Heart Foundation Cardiovascular Epidemiology Unit, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK,British Heart Foundation Centre of Research Excellence, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK,Health Data Research UK Cambridge, Wellcome Genome Campus and University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK,National Institute for Health Research Blood and Transplant Research Unit in Donor Health and Genomics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK,National Institute for Health Research Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre, University of Cambridge and Cambridge University Hospitals, Cambridge, UK,Department of Human Genetics, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Hinxton, UK
| | - Fiona M. Gribble
- Metabolic Research Laboratories, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Frank Reimann
- Metabolic Research Laboratories, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Melanie Bahlo
- Population Health and Immunity Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Australia,Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - Eric Fauman
- Internal Medicine Research Unit, Pfizer Worldwide Research, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | | | - Claudia Langenberg
- MRC Epidemiology Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK. .,Health Data Research UK Cambridge, Wellcome Genome Campus and University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK. .,Computational Medicine, Berlin Institute of Health (BIH), Charité University Medicine, Berlin, Germany.
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17
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Qian H, Deng J, Lu C, Hou G, Zhang H, Zhang M, Fang Z, Lv XD. Ceramide synthases: insights into the expression and prognosis of lung cancer. Exp Lung Res 2020; 47:37-53. [PMID: 33183094 DOI: 10.1080/01902148.2020.1844345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
CerSs (ceramide synthases), a group of enzymes that catalyze the formation of ceramides from sphingoid base and acyl-CoA substrates. As far, six types of CerSs (CerS1-CerS6) have been found in mammals. Each of these enzymes have unique characteristics, but maybe more noteworthy is the ability of individual CerS isoform to produce a ceramide with a characteristic acyl chain distribution. As key regulators of sphingolipid metabolism, CerSs highlight their unique characteristics and have emerging roles in regulating programmed cell death, cancer and many other aspects of biology. However, the role of CerSs in lung cancer has not been fully elucidated. In this study, there was no significant change in the sequence or copy number of CerSs gene, which could explain the stability of malignant tumor development through COSMIC database. In addition, gene expression in lung cancer was examined using the OncomineTM database, and the prognostic value of each gene in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) was analyzed by Kaplan-Meier analysis. The results showed that high mRNA expression levels of CerS2, CerS3, CerS4 and CerS5 in all NSCLC patients were associated with improved prognosis. Among them, CerS2 and CerS5 are also highly expressed in adenocarcinoma (Ade), but not in squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). In contrast, high or low expression of CerS1 and CerS6 no difference was observed in patients with NSCLC, Ade and SCC. Integrated the data of this study suggested that these CerSs may be a potential tumor markers or drug target of new research direction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huijiang Qian
- Department of Respiratory, The First Hospital of Jiaxing, Affiliated Hospital of Jiaxing University
| | - Jingjing Deng
- Department of Respiratory, The First Hospital of Jiaxing, Affiliated Hospital of Jiaxing University
| | - Chao Lu
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, The First Hospital of Jiaxing, Affiliated Hospital of Jiaxing University
| | - Gouxin Hou
- Department of Oncology, Affiliated Hospital of Jiaxing University, The First Hospital of Jiaxing, Jiaxing, Zhejiang, P.R. China
| | - Hualiang Zhang
- Department of Respiratory, The First Hospital of Jiaxing, Affiliated Hospital of Jiaxing University
| | - Ming Zhang
- Department of Respiratory, The First Hospital of Jiaxing, Affiliated Hospital of Jiaxing University
| | - Zhixian Fang
- Department of Respiratory, The First Hospital of Jiaxing, Affiliated Hospital of Jiaxing University
| | - Xiao-Dong Lv
- Department of Respiratory, The First Hospital of Jiaxing, Affiliated Hospital of Jiaxing University
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18
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Glucocerebrosidase: Functions in and Beyond the Lysosome. J Clin Med 2020; 9:jcm9030736. [PMID: 32182893 PMCID: PMC7141376 DOI: 10.3390/jcm9030736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2020] [Revised: 03/03/2020] [Accepted: 03/04/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Glucocerebrosidase (GCase) is a retaining β-glucosidase with acid pH optimum metabolizing the glycosphingolipid glucosylceramide (GlcCer) to ceramide and glucose. Inherited deficiency of GCase causes the lysosomal storage disorder named Gaucher disease (GD). In GCase-deficient GD patients the accumulation of GlcCer in lysosomes of tissue macrophages is prominent. Based on the above, the key function of GCase as lysosomal hydrolase is well recognized, however it has become apparent that GCase fulfills in the human body at least one other key function beyond lysosomes. Crucially, GCase generates ceramides from GlcCer molecules in the outer part of the skin, a process essential for optimal skin barrier property and survival. This review covers the functions of GCase in and beyond lysosomes and also pays attention to the increasing insight in hitherto unexpected catalytic versatility of the enzyme.
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19
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Jęśko H, Stępień A, Lukiw WJ, Strosznajder RP. The Cross-Talk Between Sphingolipids and Insulin-Like Growth Factor Signaling: Significance for Aging and Neurodegeneration. Mol Neurobiol 2019; 56:3501-3521. [PMID: 30140974 PMCID: PMC6476865 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-018-1286-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2018] [Accepted: 07/25/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Bioactive sphingolipids: sphingosine, sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P), ceramide, and ceramide-1-phosphate (C1P) are increasingly implicated in cell survival, proliferation, differentiation, and in multiple aspects of stress response in the nervous system. The opposite roles of closely related sphingolipid species in cell survival/death signaling is reflected in the concept of tightly controlled sphingolipid rheostat. Aging has a complex influence on sphingolipid metabolism, disturbing signaling pathways and the properties of lipid membranes. A metabolic signature of stress resistance-associated sphingolipids correlates with longevity in humans. Moreover, accumulating evidence suggests extensive links between sphingolipid signaling and the insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I)-Akt-mTOR pathway (IIS), which is involved in the modulation of aging process and longevity. IIS integrates a wide array of metabolic signals, cross-talks with p53, nuclear factor κB (NF-κB), or reactive oxygen species (ROS) and influences gene expression to shape the cellular metabolic profile and stress resistance. The multiple connections between sphingolipids and IIS signaling suggest possible engagement of these compounds in the aging process itself, which creates a vulnerable background for the majority of neurodegenerative disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henryk Jęśko
- Department of Cellular Signalling, Mossakowski Medical Research Centre, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Pawińskiego, 5, 02-106, Poland
| | - Adam Stępień
- Central Clinical Hospital of the Ministry of National Defense, Department of Neurology, Military Institute of Medicine, Warsaw, Szaserów, 128, 04-141, Poland
| | - Walter J Lukiw
- LSU Neuroscience Center and Departments of Neurology and Ophthalmology, Louisiana State University School of Medicine, New Orleans, USA
| | - Robert P Strosznajder
- Laboratory of Preclinical Research and Environmental Agents, Department of Neurosurgery, Mossakowski Medical Research Centre, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Pawińskiego, 5, 02-106, Poland.
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20
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Snider JM, Luberto C, Hannun YA. Approaches for probing and evaluating mammalian sphingolipid metabolism. Anal Biochem 2019; 575:70-86. [PMID: 30917945 DOI: 10.1016/j.ab.2019.03.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2019] [Revised: 03/22/2019] [Accepted: 03/22/2019] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Sphingolipid metabolism plays a critical role in regulating processes that control cellular fate. This dynamic pathway can generate and degrade the central players: ceramide, sphingosine and sphingosine-1-phosphate in almost any membrane in the cell, adding an unexpected level of complexity in deciphering signaling events. While in vitro assays have been developed for most enzymes in SL metabolism, these assays are setup for optimal activity conditions and can fail to take into account regulatory components such as compartmentalization, substrate limitations, and binding partners that can affect cellular enzymatic activity. Therefore, many in-cell assays have been developed to derive results that are authentic to the cellular situation which may give context to alteration in SL mass. This review will discuss approaches for utilizing probes for mammalian in-cell assays to interrogate most enzymatic steps central to SL metabolism. The use of inhibitors in conjunction with these probes can verify the specificity of cellular assays as well as provide valuable insight into flux in the SL network. The use of inhibitors specific to each of the central sphingolipid enzymes are also discussed to assist researchers in further interrogation of these pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin M Snider
- Department of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA; The Stony Brook Cancer Center, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - Chiara Luberto
- The Stony Brook Cancer Center, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA; Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - Yusuf A Hannun
- Department of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA; The Stony Brook Cancer Center, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA; Departments of Biochemistry, Pathology and Pharmacology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA.
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21
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Alterations of Sphingolipid Metabolism in Different Types of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. Sci Rep 2019; 9:3204. [PMID: 30824725 PMCID: PMC6397209 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-38944-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2018] [Accepted: 12/07/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The roles of sphingolipids in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) are still unknown. This study aimed to investigate the sphingolipid characteristics for different types of PCOS using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). A total of 107 women with PCOS and 37 healthy women as normal controls were studied. PCOS patients were further classified into non-obesity with insulin resistance (IR) (NOIR), obesity with IR (OIR), and non-obesity and non-IR (NIR) subgroups. A total of 87 serum sphingolipids, including 9 sphingosines, 3 sphinganines, 1 sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P), 19 ceramides (Cers), 1 ceramide-1-phosphate, 44 sphingomyelins (SMs), 4 hexosylceramides, and 6 lactosylceramides (LacCers) were analyzed using an improved sphingolipidomic approach based on LC-MS. Notable elevations in the levels of S1P, Cer, and SM were observed in PCOS patients when compared with healthy women, and SM species with long saturated acyl chains showed potential as novel biomarkers of PCOS. In addition, the level of LacCer was only elevated in NIR, and there was almost no change in NOIR and OIR. This study is the first to report the comprehensive sphingolipidomic profiling of different subgroups of PCOS with or without IR or obesity and suggests that serum sphingolipids might be useful as diagnostic biomarkers for different types of PCOS.
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22
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de Wit NM, Snkhchyan H, den Hoedt S, Wattimena D, de Vos R, Mulder MT, Walter J, Martinez-Martinez P, Hoozemans JJ, Rozemuller AJ, de Vries HE. Altered Sphingolipid Balance in Capillary Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy. J Alzheimers Dis 2018; 60:795-807. [PMID: 27662305 DOI: 10.3233/jad-160551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The majority of patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) exhibit amyloid-β (Aβ) deposits at the brain vasculature, a process referred to as cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA). In over 51% of AD cases, Aβ also accumulates in cortical capillaries, which is termed capillary CAA (capCAA). It has been postulated that the presence of capCAA in AD is a specific subtype of AD, although underlying mechanisms are not yet fully understood. Sphingolipids (SLs) are implicated in neurodegenerative disorders, including AD. However, to date it remains unknown whether alterations in the SL pathway are involved in capCAA pathogenesis and if these differ from AD. OBJECTIVE To determine whether AD cases with capCAA have an altered SL profile compared to AD cases without capCAA. METHODS Immunohistochemistry was performed to assess the expression and localization of ceramide, acid sphingomyelinase (ASM), and sphingosine-1-phosphate receptors (S1P1, S1P3). In addition, we determined the concentrations of S1P as well as different chain-lengths of ceramides using HPLC-MS/MS. RESULTS Immunohistochemical analysis revealed an altered expression of ceramide, ASM, and S1P receptors by reactive astrocytes and microglial cells specifically associated with capCAA. Moreover, a shift in the balance of ceramides with different chain-lengths and S1P content is observed in capCAA. CONCLUSION Here we provide evidence of a deregulated SL balance in capCAA. The increased levels of ASM and ceramide in activated glia cells suggest that the SL pathway is involved in the neuroinflammatory response in capCAA pathogenesis. Future research is needed to elucidate the role of S1P in capCAA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nienke M de Wit
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology and Immunology, Neuroscience Campus Amsterdam, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Hripsime Snkhchyan
- Department of Pathology, Neuroscience Campus Amsterdam, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Sandra den Hoedt
- Department of Internal Medicine, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Darcos Wattimena
- Department of Internal Medicine, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Rob de Vos
- Laboratorium Pathology Oost Nederland, Enschede, The Netherlands
| | - Monique T Mulder
- Department of Internal Medicine, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Jochen Walter
- Department of Neurology, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Pilar Martinez-Martinez
- Department of Neuroscience, School of Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, The Netherlands
| | - Jeroen J Hoozemans
- Department of Pathology, Neuroscience Campus Amsterdam, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Annemieke J Rozemuller
- Department of Pathology, Neuroscience Campus Amsterdam, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Helga E de Vries
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology and Immunology, Neuroscience Campus Amsterdam, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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23
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Tidhar R, Zelnik ID, Volpert G, Ben-Dor S, Kelly S, Merrill AH, Futerman AH. Eleven residues determine the acyl chain specificity of ceramide synthases. J Biol Chem 2018; 293:9912-9921. [PMID: 29632068 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra118.001936] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2018] [Revised: 03/19/2018] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Lipids display large structural complexity, with ∼40,000 different lipids identified to date, ∼4000 of which are sphingolipids. A critical factor determining the biological activities of the sphingolipid, ceramide, and of more complex sphingolipids is their N-acyl chain length, which in mammals is determined by a family of six ceramide synthases (CerS). Little information is available about the CerS regions that determine specificity toward different acyl-CoA substrates. We previously demonstrated that substrate specificity resides in a region of ∼150 residues in the Tram-Lag-CLN8 domain. Using site-directed mutagenesis and biochemical analyses, we now narrow specificity down to an 11-residue sequence in a loop located between the last two putative transmembrane domains (TMDs) of the CerS. The specificity of a chimeric protein, CerS5(299-309→CerS2), based on the backbone of CerS5 (which generates C16-ceramide), but containing 11 residues from CerS2 (which generates C22-C24-ceramides), was altered such that it generated C22-C24 and other ceramides. Moreover, a chimeric protein, CerS4(291-301→CerS2), based on CerS4 (which normally generates C18-C22 ceramides) displayed significant activity toward C24:1-CoA. Additional data supported the notion that substitutions of these 11 residues alter the specificities of the CerS toward their cognate acyl-CoAs. Our findings may suggest that this short loop may restrict adjacent TMDs, leading to a more open conformation in the membrane, and that the CerS acting on shorter acyl-CoAs may have a longer, more flexible loop, permitting TMD flexibility. In summary, we have identified an 11-residue region that determines the acyl-CoA specificity of CerS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rotem Tidhar
- From the Department of Biomolecular Sciences and
| | | | | | - Shifra Ben-Dor
- the Life Sciences Core Facilities, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel and
| | - Samuel Kelly
- the School of Biology and Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332-0230
| | - Alfred H Merrill
- the School of Biology and Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332-0230
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24
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Cingolani F, Simbari F, Abad JL, Casasampere M, Fabrias G, Futerman AH, Casas J. Jaspine B induces nonapoptotic cell death in gastric cancer cells independently of its inhibition of ceramide synthase. J Lipid Res 2017; 58:1500-1513. [PMID: 28572516 DOI: 10.1194/jlr.m072611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2016] [Revised: 05/30/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Sphingolipids (SLs) have been extensively investigated in biomedical research due to their role as bioactive molecules in cells. Here, we describe the effect of a SL analog, jaspine B (JB), a cyclic anhydrophytosphingosine found in marine sponges, on the gastric cancer cell line, HGC-27. JB induced alterations in the sphingolipidome, mainly the accumulation of dihydrosphingosine, sphingosine, and their phosphorylated forms due to inhibition of ceramide synthases. Moreover, JB provoked atypical cell death in HGC-27 cells, characterized by the formation of cytoplasmic vacuoles in a time and dose-dependent manner. Vacuoles appeared to originate from macropinocytosis and triggered cytoplasmic disruption. The pan-caspase inhibitor, z-VAD, did not alter either cytotoxicity or vacuole formation, suggesting that JB activates a caspase-independent cell death mechanism. The autophagy inhibitor, wortmannin, did not decrease JB-stimulated LC3-II accumulation. In addition, cell vacuolation induced by JB was characterized by single-membrane vacuoles, which are different from double-membrane autophagosomes. These findings suggest that JB-induced cell vacuolation is not related to autophagy and it is also independent of its action on SL metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Cingolani
- Research Unit on BioActive Molecules (RUBAM), Department of Biomedicinal Chemistry, Institute for Advanced Chemistry of Catalonia (IQAC-CSIC), Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Fabio Simbari
- Research Unit on BioActive Molecules (RUBAM), Department of Biomedicinal Chemistry, Institute for Advanced Chemistry of Catalonia (IQAC-CSIC), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jose Luis Abad
- Research Unit on BioActive Molecules (RUBAM), Department of Biomedicinal Chemistry, Institute for Advanced Chemistry of Catalonia (IQAC-CSIC), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Mireia Casasampere
- Research Unit on BioActive Molecules (RUBAM), Department of Biomedicinal Chemistry, Institute for Advanced Chemistry of Catalonia (IQAC-CSIC), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Gemma Fabrias
- Research Unit on BioActive Molecules (RUBAM), Department of Biomedicinal Chemistry, Institute for Advanced Chemistry of Catalonia (IQAC-CSIC), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Anthony H Futerman
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Josefina Casas
- Research Unit on BioActive Molecules (RUBAM), Department of Biomedicinal Chemistry, Institute for Advanced Chemistry of Catalonia (IQAC-CSIC), Barcelona, Spain.
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25
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Ferreira NS, Engelsby H, Neess D, Kelly SL, Volpert G, Merrill AH, Futerman AH, Færgeman NJ. Regulation of very-long acyl chain ceramide synthesis by acyl-CoA-binding protein. J Biol Chem 2017; 292:7588-7597. [PMID: 28320857 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m117.785345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2017] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Ceramide and more complex sphingolipids constitute a diverse group of lipids that serve important roles as structural entities of biological membranes and as regulators of cellular growth, differentiation, and development. Thus, ceramides are vital players in numerous diseases including metabolic and cardiovascular diseases, as well as neurological disorders. Here we show that acyl-coenzyme A-binding protein (ACBP) potently facilitates very-long acyl chain ceramide synthesis. ACBP increases the activity of ceramide synthase 2 (CerS2) by more than 2-fold and CerS3 activity by 7-fold. ACBP binds very-long-chain acyl-CoA esters, which is required for its ability to stimulate CerS activity. We also show that high-speed liver cytosol from wild-type mice activates CerS3 activity, whereas cytosol from ACBP knock-out mice does not. Consistently, CerS2 and CerS3 activities are significantly reduced in the testes of ACBP-/- mice, concomitant with a significant reduction in long- and very-long-chain ceramide levels. Importantly, we show that ACBP interacts with CerS2 and CerS3. Our data uncover a novel mode of regulation of very-long acyl chain ceramide synthesis by ACBP, which we anticipate is of crucial importance in understanding the regulation of ceramide metabolism in pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia Santos Ferreira
- From the Department of Biomolecular Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel
| | - Hanne Engelsby
- the Villum Center for Bioanalytical Sciences, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Southern Denmark, DK-5230 Odense M, Denmark, and
| | - Ditte Neess
- the Villum Center for Bioanalytical Sciences, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Southern Denmark, DK-5230 Odense M, Denmark, and
| | - Samuel L Kelly
- the School of Biology and Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332-0230
| | - Giora Volpert
- From the Department of Biomolecular Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel
| | - Alfred H Merrill
- the School of Biology and Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332-0230
| | - Anthony H Futerman
- From the Department of Biomolecular Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel
| | - Nils J Færgeman
- the Villum Center for Bioanalytical Sciences, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Southern Denmark, DK-5230 Odense M, Denmark, and
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26
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Martínez-Montañés F, Schneiter R. Following the flux of long-chain bases through the sphingolipid pathway in vivo using mass spectrometry. J Lipid Res 2016; 57:906-15. [PMID: 26977056 DOI: 10.1194/jlr.d066472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2016] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Sphingolipids are essential components of the plasma membrane. Their synthesis is tightly controlled by regulatory proteins, which impinge on the rate-limiting step of the pathway, the condensation of serine and palmitoyl-CoA to long-chain base (LCB). The subsequent conversion of LCB to ceramide by ceramide synthase (CerS) is also tightly regulated, because both the accumulation of LCB as well as an excess of ceramide is toxic. Here we describe an in vivo assay to monitor the flux of LCB through the sphingolipid pathway in yeast. Cells are provided with nonnatural odd-chain sphingosine analogs, C17-dihydrosphingosine or C17-phytosphingosine (PHS), and their incorporation into ceramide and more complex sphingolipids is monitored by mass spectrometry. Incorporation of C17-PHS is time and concentration dependent, is inhibited by fumonisin B1, an inhibitor of CerS, and greatly reduced in double mutant cells lacking components of the CerS, Lac1 and Lag1. The resulting C17-ceramides are further metabolized to more complex sphingolipids, inositol phosphorylceramide and mannosylinositol phosphorylceramide), indicating that the tracer can be used to decipher the regulation of later steps of the pathway. In support of this notion, we show that mutants lacking the Orm proteins, regulators of the rate-limiting step of the pathway, display increased steady-state levels of these intermediates without affecting their rate of synthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Roger Schneiter
- Department of Biology, University of Fribourg, 1700 Fribourg, Switzerland
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27
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Assaying Ceramide Synthase Activity In Vitro and in Living Cells Using Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry. Methods Mol Biol 2016; 1376:11-22. [PMID: 26552671 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-3170-5_2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Sphingolipids are one the major lipid families in eukaryotes, incorporating a diverse array of structural and signaling lipids such as sphingomyelin and gangliosides. The core lipid component for all complex sphingolipids is ceramide, a diacyl lipid consisting of a variable length fatty acid linked through an amide bond to a long chain base such as sphingosine or dihydrosphingosine. This reaction is catalyzed by a family of six ceramide synthases (CERS1-6), each of which preferentially catalyzes the synthesis of ceramides with different fatty acid chain lengths. Ceramides are themselves potent cellular and physiological signaling molecules heavily implicated in diabetes and neurodegenerative diseases, making it important for researchers to have access to sensitive and accurate assays for ceramide synthase activity. This chapter describes methods for assaying ceramide synthase activity in cell or tissue lysates, or in cultured cells (in situ), using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) as the readout. LC-MS/MS is a very sensitive and accurate means for assaying ceramide synthase reaction products.
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28
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Fluorescent Assays for Ceramide Synthase Activity. Methods Mol Biol 2015; 1376:23-33. [PMID: 26552672 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-3170-5_3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/16/2023]
Abstract
Ceramides are the central lipid metabolite of the sphingolipid family, and exert a potent influence over cell polarity, differentiation, and survival through their biophysical properties and their specific interactions with cell signaling proteins. Literature on the importance of ceramides in physiology and pathological conditions continues to grow, with ceramides having been identified as central effectors in major human pathologies such as diabetes and neurodegenerative conditions. In mammals, ceramide synthesis from a sphingoid base and a variable length fatty acid is catalyzed by a family of six ceramide synthases (CERS1-6), whose active sites exhibit differential specificity for different length fatty acids. CERS activity has traditionally been measured using radioactive substrates. More recently mass spectrometry has been used. In this chapter, we describe a fluorescent CERS assay, the results of which can be quantified using thin-layer chromatography (TLC) or high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Methods for quantification with either TLC or HPLC are described.
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29
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Luttgeharm KD, Cahoon EB, Markham JE. A mass spectrometry-based method for the assay of ceramide synthase substrate specificity. Anal Biochem 2015; 478:96-101. [PMID: 25725359 DOI: 10.1016/j.ab.2015.02.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2014] [Revised: 02/12/2015] [Accepted: 02/17/2015] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
The acyl composition of sphingolipids is determined by the specificity of the enzyme ceramide synthase (EC 2.3.1.24). Ceramide contains a long-chain base (LCB) linked to a variety of fatty acids to produce a lipid class with potentially hundreds of structural variants. An optimized procedure for the assay of ceramide synthase in yeast microsomes is reported that uses mass spectrometry to detect any possible LCB and fatty acid combination synthesized from unlabeled substrates provided in the reaction. The assay requires the delivery of substrates with bovine serum albumin for maximum activity within defined limits of substrate concentration and specific methods to stop the reaction and extract the lipid that avoid the non-enzymatic synthesis of ceramide. The activity of ceramide synthase in yeast microsomes is demonstrated with the four natural LCBs found in yeast along with six saturated and two unsaturated fatty acyl-coenzyme As from 16 to 26 carbons in length. The procedure allows for the determination of substrate specificity and kinetic parameters toward natural substrates for ceramide synthase from potentially any organism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyle D Luttgeharm
- Department of Biochemistry and Center for Plant Science Innovation, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68588, USA
| | - Edgar B Cahoon
- Department of Biochemistry and Center for Plant Science Innovation, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68588, USA
| | - Jennifer E Markham
- Department of Biochemistry and Center for Plant Science Innovation, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68588, USA.
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30
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Tirodkar TS, Lu P, Bai A, Scheffel MJ, Gencer S, Garrett-Mayer E, Bielawska A, Ogretmen B, Voelkel-Johnson C. Expression of Ceramide Synthase 6 Transcriptionally Activates Acid Ceramidase in a c-Jun N-terminal Kinase (JNK)-dependent Manner. J Biol Chem 2015; 290:13157-67. [PMID: 25839235 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m114.631325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2014] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
A family of six ceramide synthases with distinct but overlapping substrate specificities is responsible for generation of ceramides with acyl chains ranging from ∼14-26 carbons. Ceramide synthase 6 (CerS6) preferentially generates C14- and C16-ceramides, and we have previously shown that down-regulation of this enzyme decreases apoptotic susceptibility. In this study, we further evaluated how increased CerS6 expression impacts sphingolipid composition and metabolism. Overexpression of CerS6 in HT29 colon cancer cells resulted in increased apoptotic susceptibility and preferential generation of C16-ceramide, which occurred at the expense of very long chain, saturated ceramides. These changes were also reflected in sphingomyelin composition. HT-CerS6 cells had increased intracellular levels of sphingosine, which is generated by ceramidases upon hydrolysis of ceramide. qRT-PCR analysis revealed that only expression of acid ceramidase (ASAH1) was increased. The increase in acid ceramidase was confirmed by expression and activity analyses. Pharmacological inhibition of JNK (SP600125) or curcumin reduced transcriptional up-regulation of acid ceramidase. Using an acid ceramidase promoter driven luciferase reporter plasmid, we demonstrated that CerS1 has no effect on transcriptional activation of acid ceramidase and that CerS2 slightly but significantly decreased the luciferase signal. Similar to CerS6, overexpression of CerS3-5 resulted in an ∼2-fold increase in luciferase reporter gene activity. Exogenous ceramide failed to induce reporter activity, while a CerS inhibitor and a catalytically inactive mutant of CerS6 failed to reduce it. Taken together, these results suggest that increased expression of CerS6 can mediate transcriptional activation of acid ceramidase in a JNK-dependent manner that is independent of CerS6 activity.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ping Lu
- From the Departments of Microbiology and Immunology
| | | | | | - Salih Gencer
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and the Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, 34662 Istanbul, Turkey
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31
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Stiban J, Perera M. Very long chain ceramides interfere with C16-ceramide-induced channel formation: A plausible mechanism for regulating the initiation of intrinsic apoptosis. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-BIOMEMBRANES 2014; 1848:561-7. [PMID: 25462172 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2014.11.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2014] [Revised: 11/13/2014] [Accepted: 11/17/2014] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Mitochondria mediate both cell survival and death. The intrinsic apoptotic pathway is initiated by the permeabilization of the mitochondrial outer membrane to pro-apoptotic inter-membrane space (IMS) proteins. Many pathways cause the egress of IMS proteins. Of particular interest is the ability of ceramide to self-assemble into dynamic water-filled channels. The formation of ceramide channels is regulated extensively by Bcl-2 family proteins and dihydroceramide. Here, we show that the chain length of biologically active ceramides serves as an important regulatory factor. Ceramides are synthesized by a family of six mammalian ceramide synthases (CerS) each of which produces a subset of ceramides that differ in their fatty acyl chain length. Various ceramides permeabilize mitochondria differentially. Interestingly, the presence of very long chain ceramides reduces the potency of C16-mediated mitochondrial permeabilization indicating that the intercalation of the lipids in the dynamic channel has a destabilizing effect, reminiscent of dihydroceramide inhibition of ceramide channel formation (Stiban et al., 2006). Moreover, mitochondria isolated from cells overexpressing the ceramide synthase responsible for the production of C16-ceramide (CerS5) are permeabilized faster upon the exogenous addition of C16-ceramide whereas they are resistant to permeabilization with added C24-ceramide. On the other hand mitochondria isolated from CerS2-overexpressing cells show the opposite pattern, indicating that the product of CerS2 inhibits C16-channel formation ex vivo and vice versa. This interplay between different ceramide metabolic enzymes and their products adds a new dimension to the complexity of mitochondrial-mediated apoptosis, and emphasizes its role as a key regulatory step that commits cells to life or death.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johnny Stiban
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, Birzeit University, P.O. Box 14, West Bank 627, Palestine.
| | - Meenu Perera
- Department of Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA.
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32
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A Three-Step Assay for Ceramide Synthase Activity Using a Fluorescent Substrate and HPLC. Lipids 2014; 50:101-9. [DOI: 10.1007/s11745-014-3969-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2014] [Accepted: 11/01/2014] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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Tidhar R, Sims K, Rosenfeld-Gur E, Shaw W, Futerman AH. A rapid ceramide synthase activity using NBD-sphinganine and solid phase extraction. J Lipid Res 2014; 56:193-9. [PMID: 25368106 DOI: 10.1194/jlr.d052001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Ceramides are synthesized by six mammalian ceramide synthases (CerSs), each of which uses fatty acyl-CoAs of different chain lengths for N-acylation of the sphingoid long-chain base. We now describe a rapid and reliable CerS assay that uses a fluorescent N-[6-[(7-nitrobenzo-2-oxa-1,3-diazol-4-yl) (NBD) sphinganine substrate followed by separation of the NBD-lipid substrate and products using solid phase extraction (SPE) C18 chromatography. SPE chromatography is a quick and reliable alternative to TLC, and moreover, there is no degradation of either NBD-sphinganine or NBD-ceramide. We have optimized the assay for use with minimal amounts of protein in a minimal volume. This assay will prove useful for the analysis of CerS activity, which is of particular importance in light of the growing involvement of CerS in cell regulation and in the pathology of human diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rotem Tidhar
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel
| | - Kacee Sims
- Avanti Polar Lipids Inc., Alabaster, AL 35007-9105
| | - Eden Rosenfeld-Gur
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel
| | - Walter Shaw
- Avanti Polar Lipids Inc., Alabaster, AL 35007-9105
| | - Anthony H Futerman
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel
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34
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Don AS, Lim XY, Couttas TA. Re-configuration of sphingolipid metabolism by oncogenic transformation. Biomolecules 2014; 4:315-53. [PMID: 24970218 PMCID: PMC4030989 DOI: 10.3390/biom4010315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2013] [Revised: 02/11/2014] [Accepted: 02/27/2014] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The sphingolipids are one of the major lipid families in eukaryotes, incorporating a diverse array of structural variants that exert a powerful influence over cell fate and physiology. Increased expression of sphingosine kinase 1 (SPHK1), which catalyses the synthesis of the pro-survival, pro-angiogenic metabolite sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P), is well established as a hallmark of multiple cancers. Metabolic alterations that reduce levels of the pro-apoptotic lipid ceramide, particularly its glucosylation by glucosylceramide synthase (GCS), have frequently been associated with cancer drug resistance. However, the simple notion that the balance between ceramide and S1P, often referred to as the sphingolipid rheostat, dictates cell survival contrasts with recent studies showing that highly potent and selective SPHK1 inhibitors do not affect cancer cell proliferation or survival, and studies demonstrating higher ceramide levels in some metastatic cancers. Recent reports have implicated other sphingolipid metabolic enzymes such as acid sphingomyelinase (ASM) more strongly in cancer pathogenesis, and highlight lysosomal sphingolipid metabolism as a possible weak point for therapeutic targeting in cancer. This review describes the evidence implicating different sphingolipid metabolic enzymes and their products in cancer pathogenesis, and suggests how newer systems-level approaches may improve our overall understanding of how oncogenic transformation reconfigures sphingolipid metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony S Don
- Prince of Wales Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia.
| | - Xin Y Lim
- Prince of Wales Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia.
| | - Timothy A Couttas
- Prince of Wales Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia.
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35
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Dasgupta S, Kong J, Bieberich E. Phytoceramide in vertebrate tissues: one step chromatography separation for molecular characterization of ceramide species. PLoS One 2013; 8:e80841. [PMID: 24312247 PMCID: PMC3843679 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0080841] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2013] [Accepted: 10/15/2013] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Ceramide is a precursor for complex sphingolipids in vertebrates, while plants contain phytoceramide. By using a novel chromatography purification method we show that phytoceramide comprises a significant proportion of animal sphingolipids. Total ceramide including phytoceramide from mouse tissue (brain, heart, liver) lipid extracts and cell culture (mouse primary astrocytes, human oligodendroglioma cells) was eluted as a single homogenous fraction, and then analyzed by thin layer chromatography, and further characterized by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). We detected a unique band that migrated between non-hydroxy fatty acyl ceramide and hydroxy fatty acyl ceramide, and identified it as phytoceramide. Using RT-PCR, we confirmed that mouse tissues expressed desaturase 2, an enzyme that has been reported to generate phytoceramide from dihydroceramide. Previously, only trace amounts of phytoceramide were reported in vertebrate intestine, kidney, and skin. While its function is still elusive, this is the first report of phytoceramide characterization in glial cells and vertebrate brain, heart, and liver.
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Affiliation(s)
- Somsankar Dasgupta
- Program in Developmental Neurobiology, Institute of Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Georgia Regents University, Augusta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Jina Kong
- Program in Developmental Neurobiology, Institute of Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Georgia Regents University, Augusta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Erhard Bieberich
- Program in Developmental Neurobiology, Institute of Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Georgia Regents University, Augusta, Georgia, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Holliday Jr. MW, Cox SB, Kang MH, Maurer BJ. C22:0- and C24:0-dihydroceramides confer mixed cytotoxicity in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia cell lines. PLoS One 2013; 8:e74768. [PMID: 24040340 PMCID: PMC3767634 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0074768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2013] [Accepted: 08/06/2013] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
We previously reported that fenretinide (4-HPR) was cytotoxic to acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) cell lines in vitro in association with increased levels of de novo synthesized dihydroceramides, the immediate precursors of ceramides. However, the cytotoxic potentials of native dihydroceramides have not been defined. Therefore, we determined the cytotoxic effects of increasing dihydroceramide levels via de novo synthesis in T-cell ALL cell lines and whether such cytotoxicity was dependent on an absolute increase in total dihydroceramide mass versus an increase of certain specific dihydroceramides. A novel method employing supplementation of individual fatty acids, sphinganine, and the dihydroceramide desaturase-1 (DES) inhibitor, GT-11, was used to increase de novo dihydroceramide synthesis and absolute levels of specific dihydroceramides and ceramides. Sphingolipidomic analyses of four T-cell ALL cell lines revealed strong positive correlations between cytotoxicity and levels of C22:0-dihydroceramide (ρ = 0.74–0.81, P ≤ 0.04) and C24:0-dihydroceramide (ρ = 0.84–0.90, P ≤ 0.004), but not between total or other individual dihydroceramides, ceramides, or sphingoid bases or phosphorylated derivatives. Selective increase of C22:0- and C24:0-dihydroceramide increased level and flux of autophagy marker, LC3B-II, and increased DNA fragmentation (TUNEL assay) in the absence of an increase of reactive oxygen species; pan-caspase inhibition blocked DNA fragmentation but not cell death. C22:0-fatty acid supplemented to 4-HPR treated cells further increased C22:0-dihydroceramide levels (P ≤ 0.001) and cytotoxicity (P ≤ 0.001). These data demonstrate that increases of specific dihydroceramides are cytotoxic to T-cell ALL cells by a caspase-independent, mixed cell death mechanism associated with increased autophagy and suggest that dihydroceramides may contribute to 4-HPR-induced cytotoxicity. The targeted increase of specific acyl chain dihydroceramides may constitute a novel anticancer approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael W. Holliday Jr.
- School of Medicine Cancer Center, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, Texas, United States of America
| | - Stephen B. Cox
- Research and Testing Laboratory, Lubbock, Texas, United States of America
| | - Min H. Kang
- School of Medicine Cancer Center, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, Texas, United States of America
- Departments of Cell Biology & Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, Texas, United States of America
| | - Barry J. Maurer
- School of Medicine Cancer Center, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, Texas, United States of America
- Departments of Cell Biology & Biochemistry, Pediatrics and Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, Texas, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Park JW, Park WJ, Futerman AH. Ceramide synthases as potential targets for therapeutic intervention in human diseases. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Cell Biol Lipids 2013; 1841:671-81. [PMID: 24021978 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbalip.2013.08.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 161] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2013] [Revised: 08/28/2013] [Accepted: 08/29/2013] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Ceramide is located at a key hub in the sphingolipid metabolic pathway and also acts as an important cellular signaling molecule. Ceramide contains one acyl chain which is attached to a sphingoid long chain base via an amide bond, with the acyl chain varying in length and degree of saturation. The identification of a family of six mammalian ceramide synthases (CerS) that synthesize ceramide with distinct acyl chains, has led to significant advances in our understanding of ceramide biology, including further delineation of the role of ceramide in various pathophysiologies in both mice and humans. Since ceramides, and the complex sphingolipids generated from ceramide, are implicated in disease, the CerS might potentially be novel targets for therapeutic intervention in the diseases in which the ceramide acyl chain length is altered. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled New Frontiers in Sphingolipid Biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joo-Won Park
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 158-710, South Korea
| | - Woo-Jae Park
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel; Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Gachon University, Incheon 406-799, South Korea
| | - Anthony H Futerman
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel.
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Halasiddappa LM, Koefeler H, Futerman AH, Hermetter A. Oxidized phospholipids induce ceramide accumulation in RAW 264.7 macrophages: role of ceramide synthases. PLoS One 2013; 8:e70002. [PMID: 23936132 PMCID: PMC3729465 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0070002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2013] [Accepted: 06/18/2013] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Oxidized phospholipids (OxPLs), including 1-palmitoyl-2-glutaroyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (PGPC) and 1-palmitoyl-2-oxovaleroyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (POVPC) are among several biologically active derivatives that are generated during oxidation of low-density lipoproteins (LDLs). These OxPLs are factors contributing to pro-atherogenic effects of oxidized LDLs (OxLDLs), including inflammation, proliferation and death of vascular cells. OxLDL also elicits formation of the lipid messenger ceramide (Cer) which plays a pivotal role in apoptotic signaling pathways. Here we report that both PGPC and POVPC are cytotoxic to cultured macrophages and induce apoptosis in these cells which is associated with increased cellular ceramide levels after several hours. In addition, exposure of RAW 264.7 cells to POVPC and PGPC under the same conditions resulted in a significant increase in ceramide synthase activity, whereas, acid or neutral sphingomyelinase activities were not affected. PGPC is not only more toxic than POVPC, but also a more potent inducer of ceramide formation by activating a limited subset of CerS isoforms. The stimulated CerS activities are in line with the C16-, C22-, and C24:0-Cer species that are generated under the influence of the OxPL. Fumonisin B1, a specific inhibitor of CerS, suppressed OxPL-induced ceramide generation, demonstrating that OxPL-induced CerS activity in macrophages is responsible for the accumulation of ceramide. OxLDL elicits the same cellular ceramide and CerS effects. Thus, it is concluded that PGPC and POVPC are active components that contribute to the capacity of this lipoprotein to elevate ceramide levels in macrophages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lingaraju M. Halasiddappa
- Institute of Biochemistry, Graz University of Technology, Graz, Austria
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Harald Koefeler
- Core Facility for Mass Spectrometry, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Anthony H. Futerman
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Albin Hermetter
- Institute of Biochemistry, Graz University of Technology, Graz, Austria
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Schiffmann S, Birod K, Männich J, Eberle M, Wegner MS, Wanger R, Hartmann D, Ferreiros N, Geisslinger G, Grösch S. Ceramide metabolism in mouse tissue. Int J Biochem Cell Biol 2013; 45:1886-94. [PMID: 23792024 DOI: 10.1016/j.biocel.2013.06.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2013] [Revised: 05/27/2013] [Accepted: 06/09/2013] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Ceramides with different N-acyl chains can act as second messengers in various signaling pathways. They are involved in cell processes such as apoptosis, differentiation and inflammation. Ceramide synthases (CerS) are key enzymes in the biosynthesis of ceramides and dihydroceramides. Six isoenzymes (CerS1-6) catalyze the N-acylation of the sphingoid bases, albeit with strictly acyl-Coenzyme A (CoA) chain length specificity. We analyzed the mRNA expression, the protein expression, the specific activity of the CerS, and acyl-CoA, dihydroceramide and ceramide levels in different tissues by LC-MS/MS. Our data indicate that each tissue express a distinct composition of CerS, whereby the CerS mRNA expression levels do not correlate with the respective protein expression levels in the tissues. Furthermore, we found a highly significant negative correlation between the protein expression level of CerS6 and the C16:0-acyl-CoA amounts as well as between the protein expression of CerS2 and C24:0-acyl-CoA amounts. These data indicate that in mouse tissues low substrate availability is compensated by higher CerS protein expression level and vice versa. Apart from the expression level and the specific activity of the CerS, other enzymes of the sphingolipid pathway also influence the composition of ceramides with distinct chain lengths in each cell. Acyl-CoA availability seems to be less important for ceramide composition and might be compensated for by CerS expression/activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susanne Schiffmann
- Pharmazentrum Frankfurt/ZAFES, Institut für Klinische Pharmakologie, Klinikum der Goethe-Universität Frankfurt, Frankfurt/Main 60590, Germany.
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40
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Gaebler A, Milan R, Straub L, Hoelper D, Kuerschner L, Thiele C. Alkyne lipids as substrates for click chemistry-based in vitro enzymatic assays. J Lipid Res 2013; 54:2282-2290. [PMID: 23709689 DOI: 10.1194/jlr.d038653] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Click chemistry is evolving as a powerful tool in biological applications because it allows the sensitive and specific detection of compounds with alkyne or azido groups. Here we describe the use of alkyne lipids as substrates for in vitro enzymatic assays of lipid modifying enzymes. The small alkyne moiety is introduced synthetically at the terminus of the hydrocarbon chain of various substrate lipids. After the assay, the label is click-reacted with the azide-bearing fluorogenic dye 3-azido-7-hydroxycoumarin, followed by the separation of the lipid mix by thin-layer chromatography and fluorescence detection, resulting in high sensitivity and wide-range linearity. Kinetic analyses using alkyne-labeled substrates for lysophosphatidic acid acyltransferases, lysophosphatidylcholine acyltransferases, and ceramide synthases resulted in Michaelis-Menten constants similar to those for radiolabeled or natural substrates. We tested additional alkyne substrates for several hydrolases and acyltransferases in lipid metabolism. In this pilot study we establish alkyne lipids as a new class of convenient substrates for in vitro enzymatic assays.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne Gaebler
- LIMES Life and Medical Sciences Institute, University of Bonn, 53115 Bonn, Germany
| | - Robin Milan
- LIMES Life and Medical Sciences Institute, University of Bonn, 53115 Bonn, Germany
| | - Leon Straub
- LIMES Life and Medical Sciences Institute, University of Bonn, 53115 Bonn, Germany
| | - Dominik Hoelper
- LIMES Life and Medical Sciences Institute, University of Bonn, 53115 Bonn, Germany
| | - Lars Kuerschner
- LIMES Life and Medical Sciences Institute, University of Bonn, 53115 Bonn, Germany
| | - Christoph Thiele
- LIMES Life and Medical Sciences Institute, University of Bonn, 53115 Bonn, Germany.
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Abstract
There are several well-established mechanisms involved in radiation-induced cell death in mammalian cell systems. The p53-mediated apoptotic pathway is the most widely recognized mechanism (Lowe et al. Nature 362:847-849, 1993), although apoptosis has long been considered a less relevant mechanism of radiation-induced cell death (Steel, Acta Oncol 40:968-975, 2001; Brown and Wouters, Cancer Res 59:1391-1399, 1999; Olive and Durand, Int J Radiat Biol 71:695-707, 1997). We and others have recently focused instead on the emerging links between radiation, apoptosis, and ceramide and showed that ceramide is a sphingolipid-derived second messenger capable of initiating apoptotic cascades in response to various stress stimuli, including radiation.Ceramide, the backbone of all sphingolipids, is synthesized by a family of ceramide synthases (CerS), each using acyl-CoAs of defined chain length for N-acylation of the sphingoid long-chain base. Six mammalian CerS homologs have been cloned that demonstrated high selectivity towards acyl-CoAs (Lahiri et al. FEBS Lett 581:5289-5294, 2007), and more recently, it was shown that their activity can be modulated by dimer formation (Mesicek et al. Cell Signal 22:1300-1307, 2010; Laviad et al. J Biol Chem 283:5677-5684, 2008).This de novo ceramide synthesis has been observed in irradiated cells through a pathway normally suppressed by ataxia telangiectasia-mutated (ATM) protein, a key component of the cellular response to DNA double-strand breaks (Liao et al. J Biol Chem 274:17908-17917, 1999). ATM is not the sole factor known to affect apoptotic potential by modulating CerS activity. Recent work has also implicated protein kinase Cα (PKCα) as a potential CerS activator (Truman et al. Cancer Biol Ther 8:54-63, 2009).In this review, we summarize involvement of CerS in sphingolipid-mediated apoptosis in irradiated human prostate cancer cells and discuss future directions in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carla Hajj
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA.
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42
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Abstract
The ceramide synthase (CerS) enzymes catalyze the formation of (dihydro) ceramide, and thereby provide critical complexity to all sphingolipids (SLs) with respect to their acyl chain length. This review summarizes the progress in the field of CerS from the time of their discovery more than a decade ago as Longevity assurance (Lass) genes in yeast, until the recent development of CerS-deficient mouse models. Human hereditary CerS disorders are yet to be discovered. However, the recent findings in CerS mutant animals highlight the important physiological role of these enzymes. The fundamental findings with respect to CerS structure, function, localization, and regulation are discussed, as well as CerS roles in maintaining longevity in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joo-Won Park
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 158-710, South Korea
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Kim HJ, Qiao Q, Toop HD, Morris JC, Don AS. A fluorescent assay for ceramide synthase activity. J Lipid Res 2012; 53:1701-7. [PMID: 22661289 DOI: 10.1194/jlr.d025627] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The sphingolipids are a diverse family of lipids with important roles in membrane compartmentalization, intracellular signaling, and cell-cell recognition. The central sphingolipid metabolite is ceramide, formed by the transfer of a variable length fatty acid from coenzyme A to a sphingoid base, generally sphingosine or dihydrosphingosine (sphinganine) in mammals. This reaction is catalyzed by a family of six ceramide synthases (CerS1-6). CerS activity is usually assayed using either radioactive substrates or LC-MS/MS. We describe a CerS assay with fluorescent, NBD-labeled sphinganine as substrate. The assay is readily able to detect endogenous CerS activity when using amounts of cell or tissue homogenate protein that are lower than those reported for the radioactive assay, and the Michaelis-Menten constant was essentially the same for NBD-sphinganine and unlabeled sphinganine, indicating that NBD-sphinganine is a good substrate for these enzymes. Using our assay, we confirm that the new clinical immunosuppressant FTY720 is a competitive inhibitor of CerS activity, and show that inhibition requires the compound's lipid tail and amine headgroup. In summary, we describe a fluorescent assay for CerS activity that circumvents the need to use radioactive substrates, while being more accessible and cheaper than LC-MS based assays.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyun Joon Kim
- Lowy Cancer Research Centre, Prince of Wales Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, 2052, NSW, Australia
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44
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Epstein S, Castillon GA, Qin Y, Riezman H. An essential function of sphingolipids in yeast cell division. Mol Microbiol 2012; 84:1018-32. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2958.2012.08087.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
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45
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Laviad EL, Kelly S, Merrill AH, Futerman AH. Modulation of ceramide synthase activity via dimerization. J Biol Chem 2012; 287:21025-33. [PMID: 22539345 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m112.363580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 96] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Ceramide, the backbone of all sphingolipids, is synthesized by a family of ceramide synthases (CerS) that each use acyl-CoAs of defined chain length for N-acylation of the sphingoid long chain base. CerS mRNA expression and enzymatic activity do not always correlate with the sphingolipid acyl chain composition of a particular tissue, suggesting post-translational mechanism(s) of regulation of CerS activity. We now demonstrate that CerS activity can be modulated by dimer formation. Under suitable conditions, high M(r) CerS complexes can be detected by Western blotting, and various CerS co-immunoprecipitate. CerS5 activity is inhibited in a dominant-negative fashion by co-expression with catalytically inactive CerS5, and CerS2 activity is enhanced by co-expression with a catalytically active form of CerS5 or CerS6. In a constitutive heterodimer comprising CerS5 and CerS2, the activity of CerS2 depends on the catalytic activity of CerS5. Finally, CerS dimers are formed upon rapid stimulation of ceramide synthesis by curcumin. Together, these data demonstrate that ceramide synthesis can be regulated by the formation of CerS dimers and suggest a novel way to generate the acyl chain composition of ceramide (and downstream sphingolipids), which may depend on the interaction of CerS with each other.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elad L Laviad
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel
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46
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Abstract
Sphingolipid metabolism in metazoan cells consists of a complex interconnected web of numerous enzymes, metabolites and modes of regulation. At the centre of sphingolipid metabolism reside CerSs (ceramide synthases), a group of enzymes that catalyse the formation of ceramides from sphingoid base and acyl-CoA substrates. From a metabolic perspective, these enzymes occupy a unique niche in that they simultaneously regulate de novo sphingolipid synthesis and the recycling of free sphingosine produced from the degradation of pre-formed sphingolipids (salvage pathway). Six mammalian CerSs (CerS1-CerS6) have been identified. Unique characteristics have been described for each of these enzymes, but perhaps the most notable is the ability of individual CerS isoforms to produce ceramides with characteristic acyl-chain distributions. Through this control of acyl-chain length and perhaps in a compartment-specific manner, CerSs appear to regulate multiple aspects of sphingolipid-mediated cell and organismal biology. In the present review, we discuss the function of CerSs as critical regulators of sphingolipid metabolism, highlight their unique characteristics and explore the emerging roles of CerSs in regulating programmed cell death, cancer and many other aspects of biology.
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47
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Hartmann D, Lucks J, Fuchs S, Schiffmann S, Schreiber Y, Ferreirós N, Merkens J, Marschalek R, Geisslinger G, Grösch S. Long chain ceramides and very long chain ceramides have opposite effects on human breast and colon cancer cell growth. Int J Biochem Cell Biol 2012; 44:620-8. [PMID: 22230369 DOI: 10.1016/j.biocel.2011.12.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 153] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2011] [Revised: 12/14/2011] [Accepted: 12/22/2011] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Ceramides are known to be key players in intracellular signaling and are involved in apoptosis, cell senescence, proliferation, cell growth and differentiation. They are synthesized by ceramide synthases (CerS). So far, six different mammalian CerS (CerS1-6) have been described. Recently, we demonstrated that human breast cancer tissue displays increased activity of CerS2, 4, and 6, together with enhanced generation of their products, ceramides C(16:0), C(24:0), and C(24:1). Moreover, these increases were significantly associated with tumor dignity. To clarify the impact of this observation, we manipulated cellular ceramide levels by overexpressing ceramide synthases 2, 4 or 6 in MCF-7 (breast cancer) and HCT-116 (colon cancer) cells, respectively. Overexpression of ceramide synthases 4 and 6 elevated generation of short chain ceramides C(16:0), C(18:0) and C(20:0), while overexpression of ceramide synthase 2 had no effect on ceramide production in vivo, presumably due to limited substrate availability, because external addition of very long chain acyl-CoAs resulted in a significant upregulation of very long chain ceramides. We also demonstrated that upregulation of CerS4 and 6 led to the inhibition of cell proliferation and induction of apoptosis, whereas upregulation of CerS2 increased cell proliferation. On the basis of our data, we propose that a disequilibrium between ceramides of various chain length is crucial for cancer progression, while normal cells require an equilibrium between very long and long chain ceramides for normal physiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Hartmann
- Pharmazentrum frankfurt/ZAFES, Institut für Klinische Pharmakologie, Klinikum der Goethe-Universität Frankfurt, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590 Frankfurt/Main, Germany
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48
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Figueiredo JM, Rodrigues DC, Silva RCMC, Koeller CM, Jiang JC, Jazwinski SM, Previato JO, Mendonça-Previato L, Urményi TP, Heise N. Molecular and functional characterization of the ceramide synthase from Trypanosoma cruzi. Mol Biochem Parasitol 2011; 182:62-74. [PMID: 22226824 DOI: 10.1016/j.molbiopara.2011.12.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2011] [Revised: 12/14/2011] [Accepted: 12/20/2011] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
In this study, we characterized ceramide synthase (CerS) of the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi at the molecular and functional levels. TcCerS activity was detected initially in a cell-free system using the microsomal fraction of epimastigote forms of T. cruzi, [(3)H]dihydrosphingosine or [(3)H]sphingosine, and fatty acids or acyl-CoA derivatives as acceptor or donor substrates, respectively. TcCerS utilizes both sphingoid long-chain bases, and its activity is exclusively dependent on acyl-CoAs, with palmitoyl-CoA being preferred. In addition, Fumonisin B(1), a broad and well-known acyl-CoA-dependent CerS inhibitor, blocked the parasite's CerS activity. However, unlike observations in fungi, the CerS inhibitors Australifungin and Fumonisin B(1) did not affect the proliferation of epimastigotes in culture, even after exposure to high concentrations or after extended periods of treatment. A search of the parasite genome with the conserved Lag1 motif from Lag1p, the yeast acyl-CoA-dependent CerS, identified a T. cruzi candidate gene (TcCERS1) that putatively encodes the parasite's CerS activity. The TcCERS1 gene was able to functionally complement the lethality of a lag1Δ lac1Δ double deletion yeast mutant in which the acyl-CoA-dependent CerS is not detectable. The complemented strain was capable of synthesizing normal inositol-containing sphingolipids and is 10 times more sensitive to Fumonisin B(1) than the parental strain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliana M Figueiredo
- Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Centro de Ciências da Saúde Bloco G-019, Av. Carlos Chagas Filho 373, Cidade Universitária, Ilha do Fundão, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 21941-902, Brazil
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49
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Ternes P, Feussner K, Werner S, Lerche J, Iven T, Heilmann I, Riezman H, Feussner I. Disruption of the ceramide synthase LOH1 causes spontaneous cell death in Arabidopsis thaliana. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2011; 192:841-854. [PMID: 21883234 DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-8137.2011.03852.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
The bioactive lipid ceramide is produced by the enzyme ceramide synthase, which exists in several isoforms in most eukaryotic organisms. Here, we investigated functional differences between the three ceramide synthase isoforms in Arabidopsis thaliana. The biochemical properties of the three ceramide synthases were investigated by comparing lipid profiles of yeast strains expressing LOH1, LOH2 or LOH3 with those of wild-type and loh1, loh2 and loh3 knockout plants. Expression profiles of the ceramide synthases and of the pathogenesis-related gene PR-1 were investigated by real-time PCR. Each ceramide synthase isoform showed a characteristic preference regarding acyl-CoA chain length as well as sphingoid base hydroxylation, which matches the pattern of ceramide and glucosylceramide species found in leaves. After extended culture under short-day conditions, loh1 plants showed spontaneous cell death accompanied by enhanced expression of PR-1. The levels of free trihydroxy sphingoid bases as well as ceramide and glucosylceramide species with C(16) fatty acid were significantly elevated while species with C(20) -C(28) fatty acids were reduced. These data suggest that spontaneous cell death in the loh1 line is triggered either by the accumulation of free trihydroxy sphingoid bases or ceramide species with C(16) fatty acid.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philipp Ternes
- Department of Plant Biochemistry, Albrecht von Haller Institute for Plant Sciences, Georg August University, D-37077 Göttingen, Germany
- Present address: metanomics GmbH, Tegeler Weg 33, D-10589 Berlin, Germany
| | - Kirstin Feussner
- Department of Plant Biochemistry, Albrecht von Haller Institute for Plant Sciences, Georg August University, D-37077 Göttingen, Germany
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Genetics, Institute for Microbiology and Genetics, Georg August University, D-37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Stephanie Werner
- Department of Plant Biochemistry, Albrecht von Haller Institute for Plant Sciences, Georg August University, D-37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Jennifer Lerche
- Department of Plant Biochemistry, Albrecht von Haller Institute for Plant Sciences, Georg August University, D-37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Tim Iven
- Department of Plant Biochemistry, Albrecht von Haller Institute for Plant Sciences, Georg August University, D-37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Ingo Heilmann
- Department of Plant Biochemistry, Albrecht von Haller Institute for Plant Sciences, Georg August University, D-37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Howard Riezman
- Department of Biochemistry, Sciences II, University of Geneva, CH-1211 Geneva 4, Switzerland
| | - Ivo Feussner
- Department of Plant Biochemistry, Albrecht von Haller Institute for Plant Sciences, Georg August University, D-37077 Göttingen, Germany
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50
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Abstract
Ceramides are a class of sphingolipids that are abundant in cell membranes. They are important structural components of the membrane but can also act as second messengers in various signaling pathways. Until recently, ceramides and dihydroceramides were considered as a single functional class of lipids and no distinction was made between molecules with different chain lengths. However, based on the development of high-throughput, structure-specific and quantitative analytical methods to measure ceramides, it has now become clear that in cellular systems the amounts of ceramides differ with respect to their chain length. Further studies have indicated that some functions of ceramides are chain-length dependent. In this review, we discuss the chain length-specific differences of ceramides including their pathological impact on Alzheimer's disease, inflammation, autophagy, apoptosis and cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabine Grösch
- pharmazentrum frankfurt/ZAFES, Institut für Klinische Pharmakologie, Klinikum der Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universität Frankfurt, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590 Frankfurt/Main, Germany.
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