Nuclear magnetic resonance studies of polyisoprenols in model membranes

In Search for the Membrane Regulators of Archaea

Membrane regulators such as sterols and hopanoids play a major role in the physiological and physicochemical adaptation of the different plasmic membranes in Eukarya and Bacteria. They are key to the functionalization and the spatialization of the membrane, and therefore indispensable for the cell cycle. No archaeon has been found to be able to synthesize sterols or hopanoids to date. They also lack homologs of the genes responsible for the synthesis of these membrane regulators. Due to their divergent membrane lipid composition, the question whether archaea require membrane regulators, and if so, what is their nature, remains open. In this review, we review evidence for the existence of membrane regulators in Archaea, and propose tentative location and biological functions. It is likely that no membrane regulator is shared by all archaea, but that they may use different polyterpenes, such as carotenoids, polyprenols, quinones and apolar polyisoprenoids, in response to specific stressors or physiological needs.

At the membrane frontier: a prospectus on the remarkable evolutionary conservation of polyprenols and polyprenyl-phosphates

Long-chain polyprenols and polyprenyl-phosphates are ubiquitous and essential components of cellular membranes throughout all domains of life. Polyprenyl-phosphates, which include undecaprenyl-phosphate in bacteria and the dolichyl-phosphates in archaea and eukaryotes, serve as specific membrane-bound carriers in glycan biosynthetic pathways responsible for the production of cellular structures such as N-linked protein glycans and bacterial peptidoglycan. Polyprenyl-phosphates are the only form of polyprenols with a biochemically-defined role; however, unmodified or esterified polyprenols often comprise significant percentages of the cellular polyprenol pool. The strong evolutionary conservation of unmodified polyprenols as membrane constituents and polyprenyl-phosphates as preferred glycan carriers in biosynthetic pathways is poorly understood. This review surveys the available research to explore why unmodified polyprenols have been conserved in evolution and why polyprenyl-phosphates are universally and specifically utilized for membrane-bound glycan assembly.

NMR study of the preferred membrane orientation of polyisoprenols (dolichol) and the impact of their complex with polyisoprenyl recognition sequence peptides on membrane structure

Earlier NMR studies showed that the polyisoprenols (PIs) dolichol (C95), dolichylphosphate (C95-P) and undecaprenylphosphate (C55-P) could alter membrane structure by inducing in the lamellar phospholipid (PL) bilayer a nonlamellar or hexagonal (Hex II) structure. The destabilizing effect of C95 and C95-P on host fatty acyl chains was supported by small angle X-ray diffraction and freeze-fracture electron microscopy. Our present 1H- and 31P-NMR studies show that the addition of a polyisoprenol recognition sequence (PIRS) peptide to nonlamellar membranes induced by the PIs can reverse the hexagonal structure phase back to a lamellar structure. This finding shows that the PI:PIRS docking complex can modulate the polymorphic phase transitions in PL membranes, a finding that may help us better understand how glycosyl carrier-linked sugar chains may traverse membranes. Using an energy-minimized molecular modeling approach, we also determined that the long axis of C95 in phosphatidylcholine (PC) membranes is oriented approximately parallel to the interface of the lipid bilayer, and that the head and tail groups are positioned near the bilayer interior. In contrast, the phosphate head group of C95-P is anchored at the PC bilayer, and the angle between the long axis of C95-P and the bilayer interface is about 758, giving rise to a preferred conformation more perpendicular to the plane of the bilayer. Molecular modeling calculations further revealed that up to five PIRS peptides can bind cooperatively to a single PI molecule, and this tethered structure has the potential to form a membrane channel. If such a channel were to exist in biological membranes, it could be of functional importance in glycoconjugate translocation, a finding that has not been previously reported.

The effect of polysialic acid on molecular dynamics of model membranes studied by 31P NMR spectroscopy

The paper reports the results of our study on the dynamics of model phospholipid membranes studied by 31P NMR spectroscopy. The 31P NMR spectra of multilamellar vesicles in temperatures below the main phase transition of PC are reported. The 31P NMR spectra revealed changes caused by an increase of the membrane fluidity when polysialic acid (polySia) was applied as a modifying agent. The presence of polySia in the external environment of the phospholipid vesicles changes the motional freedom in the region of phosphate group of lipids. Increase of polysialic acid concentration changes structural properties of a membrane by increasing its fluidity.

Transmembrane movement of dolichol linked carbohydrates during N-glycoprotein biosynthesis in the endoplasmic reticulum

The process of N-linked glycosylation of secretory proteins is characterized by enzymatic reactions occurring on both sides of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane. On either side multiple glycosyltransferases participate in the stepwise addition of monosaccharides to core oligosaccharide unit that is attached to the lipid carrier dolichyl pyrophosphate. Cytoplasm-oriented glycosyltransferases use nucleotide-activated sugars as substrates, whereas lumen-oriented transferases that act later in the pathway make use of dolichyl phosphate-linked monosaccharides. The completely assembled core oligosaccharide is transferred to proteins on the lumenal side of the ER. The topological organization of this biosynthetic pathway requires the translocation of lipid-linked mono- and oligo-saccharides across the ER membrane. The transfer of the substrates and intermediates depend on specific translocators, i.e. so called flippases.

Interaction of undecaprenyl phosphate with phospholipid bilayers

The effect of undecaprenyl phosphate (C55-P) on dioleoylphosphatidylcholine (DOPC) bilayer lipid membranes has been studied. The current-voltage characteristics, steady-state diffusion potentials, membrane conductance-temperature relationships, membrane electric capacitance and membrane breakdown voltage have been measured for different mixtures of undecaprenyl phosphate and DOPC. The ratio of permeability coefficients for sodium and chloride ions, the activation energy for ion migration across the membrane and membrane thickness have been determined. The electrical measurements showed that undecaprenyl phosphate decreases membrane-normalized conductance, membrane ionic permeability, membrane hydrophobic thickness and membrane selectivity for chloride ions, and increases the activation energy for ion transport, membrane nonlinearity potential, membrane specific capacitance, membrane electromechanical stability and membrane selectivity for sodium ions. From the results, we suggest that the interaction of the gradient of electric transmembrane potential with the negative charge of the phosphate group of C55-P determines the dynamics, conformation and aggregation behaviour of undecaprenyl phosphate in phospholipid membranes. Some implications of these findings for a possible regulation of the C55-P-dependent expression of polysialic acid capsule in Escherichia coli K1 bacterial cells are indicated.

From peptidoglycan to glycoproteins: common features of lipid-linked oligosaccharide biosynthesis

The peptidoglycan layer of bacterial cell walls is biosynthesised using a lipid carrier undecaprenyl phosphate to assemble and transport the MurNAc(GlcNAc)-pentapeptide precursor. Similar lipid-linked cycles are involved in the biosynthesis of other bacterial exopolysaccharides and eukaryotic asparagine-linked glycoproteins, the latter involving the structurally related dolichyl phosphate as a lipid carrier. Recent protein sequence data and common inhibitors of the bacterial and eukaryotic systems have revealed functional similarities between the two systems. Biological and physical studies on the lipid carriers themselves have provided clues to their role in oligosaccharide translocation, but have not revealed significant differences in function between undecaprenyl phosphate and dolichyl phosphate. The presence of dolichyl phosphate and a family of saturated isoprenoid lipids in Archaebacteria suggests a possible evolutionary link between the two systems.

Dolichol delays G1-arrest for one cell cycle in human fibroblasts subjected to depletion of serum or mevalonate

It is well-established that some product(s) or metabolite(s) of mevalonate is (are) critical for growth of mammalian cells. In the search for this (these) compound(s) it seems meaningful to distinguish between compounds needed for cell cycle progression in proliferating cells and compounds needed for growth activation of arrested cells. By using time-lapse video recording we have studied the possible regulatory role of cholesterol, dolichol and mevalonate in the cell cycle of human diploid fibroblasts (HDF). HDF, which are serum-dependent, were rapidly growth-arrested in the first part of G1 upon removal of serum factors. They also responded to mevinolin (an HMG CoA reductase inhibitor) by a similar G1-block, indicating that a mevalonate-derived product is involved in the G1-located cell cycle control of HDF. Interestingly, dolichol counteracted the G1-block caused by both types of treatment. Hence, the early G1-cells could traverse the remainder of the cell cycle and divide despite depletion of serum or mevalonate. We also demonstrated that addition of dolichol resulted in a significant decrease in the rate of protein degradation. This protein stabilizing effect may constitute the mechanism by which dolichol delays the G1-arrest of HDF.

The interaction of various cholesterol 'ancestors' with lipid membranes: a 2H-NMR study on oriented bilayers

The effect of putative cholesterol 'precursors' on model membranes has been studied by deuterium nuclear, magnetic resonance (2H-NMR) spectroscopy. Oriented bilayers were prepared from 1-myristoyl-2-[2H27 myristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DMPC-d27) and tricyclohexaprenols or octaprenediols. Order parameter profiles were determined and showed that tricyclohexaprenols and octaprenediols increase the acyl chain order in DMPC bilayers, but to a smaller extent than cholesterol. The order parameter increases, depending on the chain position, from 5% to 7% in the presence of ditertiary octaprenediol, and from 16% to 21% in the presence of tricyclohexaprenol-Z,Z. Aqueous multilamellar dispersions of DMPC-d27 and of DMPC-d27 containing 30 mol% tricyclohexaprenol-E,E were prepared, and the first moments calculated from 2H-NMR spectra over the temperature range 5-55 degrees C. Tricyclohexaprenol-E,E almost abolishes the phase transition of DMPC. Thus, as predicted, tricyclohexaprenols and octaprenediols have a cholesterol-like behaviour in lipid membranes; however their effect on the model DMPC system is weak. On the contrary, isoarborinol has no effect on the lipid chain order in the liquid-crystalline phase of DMPC bilayers. 2H-NMR spectra of aqueous dispersions of DMPC-d27 and 30 mol% isoarborinol between 25 and 60 degrees C showed the coexistence of two lamellar phases over a wide temperature range, which was confirmed by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and 31P-NMR spectroscopy. This absence of ordering effect of isoarborinol might be related to some inherent structural features.

Functional analysis of the sialyltransferase complexes in Escherichia coli K1 and K92

The polysialyltransferase (polyST) structural gene, neuS, for poly alpha 2,8sialic acid (PSA) capsule synthesis in Escherichia coli K1 was previously mapped near the kps region 1 and 2 junction (S. M. Steenbergen and E. R. Vimr, Mol. Microbiol. 4:603-611, 1990). Present Southern and colony blot hybridization results confirmed that neuS was a region 2 locus and indicated apparent homology with neuS from E. coli K92, bacteria that synthesize a sialyl alpha 2,8-2,9-linked polymer. A K1- mutant with an insertion mutation in neuS was complemented in trans by K92 neuS, providing direct evidence that neuS encoded the PSA polymerase. A 2.9-kb E. coli K1 kps subclone was sequenced to better characterize polyST. In addition to neuS, the results identified a new open reading frame, designated neuE, the linker sequence between regions 1 and 2, and the last gene of region 1, kpsS. The kpsS translational reading frame was confirmed by sequencing across the junction of a kpsS'-lacZ+ fusion. PolyST was identified by maxicell analysis of nested deletions and coupled in vitro transcription-translation assays. PolyST's derived primary structure predicted a 47,500-Da basic polypeptide without extensive similarity to other known proteins. PolyST activity was increased 31-fold and was membrane localized when neuS was cloned into an inducible expression vector, suggesting, together with the polyST primary structure, that polyST is a peripheral inner membrane glycosyltransferase. However, polyST could not initiate de novo PSA synthesis, indicating a functional requirement for other kps gene products. The existence of a sialyltransferase distinct from polyST was suggested by identification of a potential polyprenyl-binding motif in a C-terminal membrane-spanning domain of the predicted neuE gene product. Direct evidence for a quantitatively minor sialyltransferase activity, which could function to initiate PSA synthesis, was obtained by phenotypic analysis of mutants with multiple defects in sialic acid synthesis, degradation, and polymerization. The results provide an initial molecular description of K1 and K92 sialyltransferase complexes and suggest a possible common function for accessory kps gene products.

Topography of glycosylation reactions in the endoplasmic reticulum

A variety of distinct protein glycosylation reactions occur in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) of eukaryotic cells. In some instances, both the proteins to be glycosylated and the precursor sugar donors must be translocated across the membrane from the cytoplasm to the lumen of the ER. Elucidation of the individual steps in each of the glycosylation pathways has revealed the topographic complexity of these reactions.

Specific lipids enhance the activity of UDP-GlcNAc: dolichol phosphate GlcNAc-1-phosphate transferase in rat liver endoplasmic reticulum membrane vesicles

The rate of the reaction catalyzed by UDP-N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc):dolichol phosphate GlcNAc-1-phosphate transferase in rat liver endoplasmic reticulum vesicles was shown to be influenced by particular lipids. Utilizing in vitro assay conditions where the membrane vesicles retained latency of glucose-6-phosphatase activity, the addition of phosphatidylethanolamine, cardiolipin, or monogalactosyldiglyceride resulted in severalfold increases in the rate of dolichol pyrophosphate N-acetylglucosamine synthesis. Other phospholipids were not stimulatory. These rates were dependent on the concentrations of the exogenous lipids and of the substrate dolichol phosphate. In the presence of cardiolipin, the membrane-bound enzyme became more susceptible to inactivation by protease K and to inhibition by tunicamycin. Titration of cardiolipin-containing endoplasmic reticulum vesicles with adriamycin indicated that the majority of the cardiolipin was exposed on the outer surface. These results suggest that the particular lipids altered membrane structure in a way that allowed further access of the enzyme to substrate, inhibitor, and other molecules. Lipids observed in these studies to be stimulatory are known to exist in the macromolecular hexagonal phase and may therefore be affecting the GlcNAc-1-phosphate transferase by locally disrupting the bilayer structure of the membrane. As other dolichol-utilizing enzymes have been previously observed by other investigators to be similarly influenced by such lipids, the effects may be common to enzymes of the dolichol cycle.