Modulation of phosphatidylserine synthesis by a muscarinic receptor occupancy in human neuroblastoma cell line LA-N-1

Phosphatidylserine: A comprehensive overview of synthesis, metabolism, and nutrition

Phosphatidylserine (PtdS) is classified as a glycerophospholipid and a primary anionic phospholipid and is particularly abundant in the inner leaflet of the plasma membrane in neural tissues. It is synthesized from phosphatidylcholine or phosphatidylethanolamine by exchanging the base head group with serine, and this reaction is catalyzed by PtdS synthase-1 and PtdS synthase-2 located in the endoplasmic reticulum. PtdS exposure on the outside surface of the cell is essential for eliminating apoptotic cells and initiating the blood clotting cascade. It is also a precursor of phosphatidylethanolamine, produced by PtdS decarboxylase in bacteria, yeast, and mammalian cells. Furthermore, PtdS acts as a cofactor for several necessary enzymes that participate in signaling pathways. Beyond these functions, several studies indicate that PtdS plays a role in various cerebral functions, including activating membrane signaling pathways, neuroinflammation, neurotransmission, and synaptic refinement associated with the central nervous system (CNS). This review discusses the occurrence of PtdS in nature and biosynthesis via enzymes and genes in plants, yeast, prokaryotes, mammalian cells, and the brain, and enzymatic synthesis through phospholipase D (PLD). Furthermore, we discuss metabolism, its role in the CNS, the fortification of foods, and supplementation for improving some memory functions, the results of which remain unclear. PtdS can be a potentially beneficial addition to foods for kids, seniors, athletes, and others, especially with the rising consumer trend favoring functional foods over conventional pills and capsules. Clinical studies have shown that PtdS is safe and well tolerated by patients.

ATP11B deficiency leads to impairment of hippocampal synaptic plasticity

Synaptic plasticity is known to regulate and support signal transduction between neurons, while synaptic dysfunction contributes to multiple neurological and other brain disorders; however, the specific mechanism underlying this process remains unclear. In the present study, abnormal neural and dendritic morphology was observed in the hippocampus following knockout of Atp11b both in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, ATP11B modified synaptic ultrastructure and promoted spine remodeling via the asymmetrical distribution of phosphatidylserine and enhancement of glutamate release, glutamate receptor expression, and intracellular Ca2+ concentration. Furthermore, experimental results also indicate that ATP11B regulated synaptic plasticity in hippocampal neurons through the MAPK14 signaling pathway. In conclusion, our data shed light on the possible mechanisms underlying the regulation of synaptic plasticity and lay the foundation for the exploration of proteins involved in signal transduction during this process.

Phosphatidylserine in the brain: metabolism and function

Phosphatidylserine (PS) is the major anionic phospholipid class particularly enriched in the inner leaflet of the plasma membrane in neural tissues. PS is synthesized from phosphatidylcholine or phosphatidylethanolamine by exchanging the base head group with serine, and this reaction is catalyzed by phosphatidylserine synthase 1 and phosphatidylserine synthase 2 located in the endoplasmic reticulum. Activation of Akt, Raf-1 and protein kinase C signaling, which supports neuronal survival and differentiation, requires interaction of these proteins with PS localized in the cytoplasmic leaflet of the plasma membrane. Furthermore, neurotransmitter release by exocytosis and a number of synaptic receptors and proteins are modulated by PS present in the neuronal membranes. Brain is highly enriched with docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and brain PS has a high DHA content. By promoting PS synthesis, DHA can uniquely expand the PS pool in neuronal membranes and thereby influence PS-dependent signaling and protein function. Ethanol decreases DHA-promoted PS synthesis and accumulation in neurons, which may contribute to the deleterious effects of ethanol intake. Improvement of some memory functions has been observed in cognitively impaired subjects as a result of PS supplementation, but the mechanism is unclear.

Metabolism and functions of phosphatidylserine in mammalian brain

Phosphatidylserine (PtdSer) is involved in cell signaling and apoptosis. The mechanisms regulating its synthesis and degradation are still not defined. Thus, its role in these processes cannot be clearly established at molecular level. In higher eukaryotes, PtdSer is synthesized from phosphatidylethanolamine or phosphatidylcholine through the exchange of the nitrogen base with free serine. PtdSer concentration in the nervous tissue membranes varies with age, brain areas, cells, and subcellular components. At least two serine base exchange enzymes isoforms are present in brain, and their biochemical properties and regulation are still largely unknown because their activities vary with cell type and/or subcellular fraction, developmental stage, and differentiation. These peculiarities may explain the apparent contrasting reports. PtdSer cellular levels also depend on its decarboxylation to phosphatidylethanolamine and conversion to lysoPtdSer by phospholipases. Several aspects of brain PtdSer metabolism and functions seem related to the high polyunsaturated fatty acids content, particularly docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).

Dexamethasone increases the incorporation of [3H]serine into phosphatidylserine and the activity of serine base exchange enzyme in mouse thymocytes: a possible relation between serine base exchange enzyme and apoptosis

The exposure of phosphatidylserine toward the external surface of the membrane is a well-established event of programmed cell death. The possibility that an apoptotic stimulus influences the metabolism of this phospholipid could be relevant not only in relation to the previously mentioned event but also in relation to the capability of membrane phosphatidylserine to influence PKC activity. The present investigation demonstrates that treatment of mouse thymocytes with the apoptotic stimulus dexamethasone, enhances the incorporation of [3H]serine into phosphatidylserine. Cell treatment with dexamethasone also enhanced the activity of serine base exchange enzyme, assayed in thymocyte lysate. Both the effects were observed at periods of treatment preceding DNA fragmentation. The addition of unlabelled ethanolamine, together with [3H]serine to the medium containing dexamethasone-treated thymocytes lowered the radioactivity into phosphatidylserine. Serine base exchange enzyme activity was influenced by the procedure used to prepare thymocyte lysate and was lowered by the addition of fluoroaluminate, that is widely used as a G-protein activator. The increase of serine base exchange enzyme activity induced by dexamethasone treatment was observed independently by the procedure used to prepare cell lysate and by the presence or absence of fluoroaluminate.

Platelet-activating factor modulates brain sphingomyelin metabolism

In the present study the modulatory action of platelet-activating factor (PAF) on sphingolipid metabolism in cerebral cortical slices was studied. PAF did not alter the basal levels of either sphingomyelin (SM) or ceramide. However, the SMase-elicited reciprocal alterations in SM and ceramide levels were partially prevented by the PAF treatment. The PAF effect was dose-dependent, with 10-8 m being the lowest effective concentration, and receptor-mediated as it was abolished by WEB 2086, a PAF receptor antagonist. Neither N-oleoylethanolamine (OE, ceramidase inhibitor) or d,l-1-phenyl-2-decanoylamino-3-morpholino-1-propanol (PDMP, an inhibitor of glucosylceramide synthase and the formation of 1-O-acyl ceramides) prevented the action of PAF. Therefore, the effect of PAF was unlikely to be dependent upon transformation of ceramides into glycosphingolipids, 1-O-acyl ceramides or sphingosine. Experiments with different labeled compounds ([14C]serine, [14C]arachidonate and phosphatidyl [N-methyl-3H]choline) were also performed to test whether PAF could affect the resynthesis of SM. Data obtained agree with the idea that selective pools of both choline and ethanolamine phospholipids were used as precursors for the resynthesis of SM elicited by SMase treatment. PAF itself did not evoke any variation in the lipids analyzed but always prevented the SMase-evoked alterations. Together the data suggest the interesting possibility that PAF increases the overall turnover of SM. In summary, the present data demonstrate that PAF is able to regulate the cellular ceramide levels in brain by accelerating the SM cycle.

Regulation of the serine-base exchange enzyme system by CD4: effects of monoclonal antibodies, jacalin, interleukin 16 and the HIV membrane protein gp120

Phosphatidylserine (PtdSer) is synthesized by an exchange of the polar head group of phospholipids for a serine residue. The enzyme responsible for this reaction, the serine-base exchange enzyme system (serine-BEES) is inhibited during lymphocyte activation. We show here that triggering the CD4 cell surface molecule in several CD4+ T-cell lines regulates the serine-BEES activity, thus resulting in marked changes in PtdSer synthesis. CD4 ligands able to generate an activating signal in T-cells such as the lectin jacalin, down-regulate the synthesis of PtdSer. In contrast, monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) directed against the CD4 molecule, such as IOT4 and IOT4a, which have previously been described as generating an inhibitory signal to T-cells, induced an up-regulation of the serine-BEES and impaired CD3-induced inhibition of PtdSer synthesis. Similarly, the HIV-gp120 envelope glycoprotein, in both soluble and cross-linked forms, induces an increase in PtdSer synthesis. The protein tyrosine kinase p56lck participates in the regulation of serine-BEES activity because the effect of CD4 mAbs was additive to that of amino-hydroxyflavone, an inhibitor of p56lck. Also, CD4 mAbs were inactive in J Cam 1.6 cells or when the CD3 signals were bypassed by using thapsigargin. These results demonstrate that the CD4 surface molecule can transmit both activating and inhibiting intracellular signals depending on the CD4 ligand used. We suggest that PtdSer synthesis would be one of the intracellular signals that could explain the opposite effects of different CD4 ligands on T-cells.

Regulation of phospholipid biosynthesis by Ca(2+)-calmodulin-dependent protein kinase inhibitors

Inhibitors of Ca(2+)-calmodulin (CaM)-dependent protein kinases strongly modify phospholipid metabolism. Two compounds, KN62 and KT5926 recognized as blockers of Ca(2+)-CaM-dependent protein kinase II, induced a specific increase in phosphatidylserine (PtdSer) synthesis without noticeable changes in phosphatidylcholine (PtdCho) and phosphatidylethanolamine (PtdEtn) biosynthesis. The increase of PtdSer synthesis was dependent on the presence of Ca2+ in the incubation medium and was impaired in cells whose Ca2+ stores were depleted by pretreatment with CD3 mAb, thapsigargin or EGTA. The mechanism of the stimulation of PtdSer synthesis by these two compounds seems to involve an accumulation of Ca2+ into the endoplasmic reticulum, possibly due to an increased activity of the endoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+)-ATPase. By contrast, ML-7 and ML-9, two inhibitors of the myosin light chain kinase (MLCK), another Ca(2+)-CaM-dependent kinase, were both capable of increasing PtdSer synthesis and decreasing PtdCho and PtdEtn synthesis, reproducing the effect previously described with CaM-antagonists. The increase of PtdSer caused by ML-7 and ML-9 was Ca(2+)-dependent while the inhibition of PtdCho and PtdEtn synthesis was not. The use of these four protein kinase inhibitors thus suggests the possible existence of two CaM-dependent pathways that differentially regulates phospholipid metabolism in T cells.

Membrane depolarization in LA-N-1 cells. The effect of maitotoxin is Ca(2+)- and Na(+)-dependent

We investigated the influence of ion compositions on the membrane potential in LA-N-1 human neuroblastoma cells using bisoxonol as a potential-sensitive fluorescent dye. The ability of K+, ouabain, veratridine, and maitotoxin to induce membrane depolarization was evaluated. Increasing concentrations of K+ ions from 10 to 50 mM caused a dose-dependent increase of bisoxonol fluorescence, which was completely independent on Na+ and Ca2+. Ouabain (5 mM), an inhibitor of the Na+, K(+)-ATPase, failed to induce membrane depolarization. Veratridine (40 and 100 microM), a Na+ channel activator, only in the presence of 10 micrograms of Leiurus scorpion venom reduced the membrane potential. Maitotoxin (MTX) from 3 to 10 ng/mL depolarized LA-N-1 cells in a dose-dependent manner, and produced a rapid and sustained increase of intracellular free calcium monitored by means of fluorescent probe fura-2. The MTX-induced depolarization and the increase in cytosolic free calcium concentration were dependent on extracellular Ca2+ ions. On the other hand, Na+ ions also seem to be, although only partially, implicated in the MTX effects, since both the blockade of tetrodotoxin (TTX)-sensitive voltage-operated Na+ channels and the removal of Na+ ions were able to reduce the depolarization. In conclusion, our data indicate that the depolarizing action of MTX on LA-N-1 cells is Ca(2+)- and Na(+)-dependent, although the latter only partially, and that this effect is dependent on Ca2+ influx into the cells likely through a voltage-insensitive calcium-entry system.

Membrane integrity and phospholipid movement influence the base exchange reaction in rat liver microsomes

Properties of Ca(2+)-stimulated incorporation of amincalcohols, serine and ethanolamine, into phospholipids, and factors regulating the reaction were studied in endoplasmic reticulum membranes isolated from rat liver. In contrast to apparent K(m) values for either aminoalcohol, maximal velocities of the reaction were significantly affected by Ca2+ concentration. No competition between these two soluble substrates used at equimolar concentrations close to their K(m) values was observed, suggesting the existence of two distinct phospholipid base exchange activities. The enzyme utilizing the electrically neutral serine was not sensitive to changes of membrane potential evoked by valinomycin in the presence of KCl. On the other hand, when positively charged ethanolamine served as a substrate, the enzyme activity was inhibited by 140 mM KCl and this effect was reversed by valinomycin. The rates of inhibition of phospholipid base exchange reactions by various thiol group modifying reagents were also found to differ. Cd2+ and lipophylic p-chloromercuribenzoic acid at micromolar concentrations were most effective. It can be suggested that -SH groups located within the hydrophobic core of the enzymes molecules are essential for the recognition of membrane substrates. However, the influence of the -SH group modifying reagents on the protein-facilitated phospholipid motion across endoplasmic reticulum membranes can not be excluded, since an integral protein-mediated transverse movement of phospholipids within the membrane bilayer and Ca(2+)-mediated changes in configuration of the phospholipid polar head groups seem to be a regulatory step of the reaction. Indeed, when the membrane integrity was disordered by detergents or an organic solvent, the reaction was inhibited, although not due to the transport of its water-soluble substrates is affected, but due to modulation of physical state of the membrane bilayer and, in consequence, the accessibility of phospholipid molecules.

Protein kinase C inhibitors and PAF stimulate phosphatidylserine synthesis in human leucocytes

To study the regulation and turnover of phosphatidylserine (PtdSer) in human leucocytes, we investigated the effect of 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA), I-O-octadecyl-2-O-methyl-rac-glycero-3-phosphocholine (ET-18-OCH3 or edelfosine), staurosporine and platelet activating factor (PAF) on [14C]serine incorporation into phospholipids. More than 80% of lipid radioactivity was in PtdSer. ET-18-OCH3 stimulated incorporation into PtdSer 5-fold, without increasing incorporation into other lipids. PAF stimulated PtdSer synthesis 3-fold after 1 h, while staurosporine stimulated the synthesis 2-fold after 3 h. TPA inhibited PtdSer synthesis. It abolished the ET-18-OCH3 stimulation, and reduced the staurosporine stimulation. ET-18-OCH3 and TPA did not significantly alter the incorporation of [14C]arachidonic acid into PtdSer, and did not increase PtdSer turnover judged from chase and stability experiments. The results demonstrate that PKC inhibitors and PAF induce increased incorporation of [14C]serine into PtdSer, while TPA inhibits stimulated PtdSer synthesis. This suggests that modulation of PtdSer synthesis may regulate PKC activity in PMN cells.