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Simoes M, Saleh A, Choi YM, Airola MV, Haley JD, Coant N. Measurement of neutral ceramidase activity in vitro and in vivo. Anal Biochem 2022; 643:114577. [PMID: 35134389 DOI: 10.1016/j.ab.2022.114577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2021] [Revised: 01/14/2022] [Accepted: 01/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
Abstract
Neutral ceramidase is a hydrolase of ceramide that has been implicated in multiple biologic processes, including inflammation and oncogenesis. Ceramides and other sphingolipids, belong to a family of N-acyl linked lipids that are biologically active in signaling, despite their limited structural functions. Ceramides are generally pro-apoptotic, while sphingosine and sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) exert proliferative and pro-oncogenic effects. Ceramidases are important regulators of ceramide levels that hydrolyze ceramide to sphingosine. Thus, ceramidase inhibition significantly increases the quantities of ceramide and its associated signaling. To better understand the function of ceramide, biochemical and cellular assays for enzymatic activity were developed and validated to identify inhibitors of human neutral ceramidase (nCDase). Here we review the measurement of nCDase activity both in vitro and in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Simoes
- Department of Pathology and Stony Brook Cancer Center, Stony Brook University Renaissance School of Medicine, Stony Brook, NY, 11794, USA
| | - Amalia Saleh
- Department of Pathology and Stony Brook Cancer Center, Stony Brook University Renaissance School of Medicine, Stony Brook, NY, 11794, USA
| | - Yong-Mi Choi
- Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, 11794, USA
| | - Michael V Airola
- Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, 11794, USA
| | - John D Haley
- Department of Pathology and Stony Brook Cancer Center, Stony Brook University Renaissance School of Medicine, Stony Brook, NY, 11794, USA
| | - Nicolas Coant
- Department of Pathology and Stony Brook Cancer Center, Stony Brook University Renaissance School of Medicine, Stony Brook, NY, 11794, USA.
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Zienkiewicz A, Gömann J, König S, Herrfurth C, Liu YT, Meldau D, Feussner I. Disruption of Arabidopsis neutral ceramidases 1 and 2 results in specific sphingolipid imbalances triggering different phytohormone-dependent plant cell death programmes. New Phytol 2020; 226:170-188. [PMID: 31758808 DOI: 10.1111/nph.16336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2019] [Accepted: 11/18/2019] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Sphingolipids act as regulators of programmed cell death (PCD) and the plant defence response. The homeostasis between long-chain base (LCB) and ceramide (Cer) seems to play an important role in executions of PCD. Therefore, deciphering the role of neutral ceramidases (NCER) is crucial to identify the sphingolipid compounds that trigger and execute PCD. We performed comprehensive sphingolipid and phytohormone analyses of Arabidopsis ncer mutants, combined with gene expression profiling and microscopic analyses. While ncer1 exhibited early leaf senescence (developmentally controlled PCD - dPCD) and an increase in hydroxyceramides, ncer2 showed spontaneous cell death (pathogen-triggered PCD-like - pPCD) accompanied by an increase in LCB t18:0 at 35 d, respectively. Loss of NCER1 function resulted in accumulation of jasmonoyl-isoleucine (JA-Ile) in the leaves, whereas disruption of NCER2 was accompanied by higher levels of salicylic acid (SA) and increased sensitivity to Fumonisin B1 (FB1 ). All mutants were also found to activate plant defence pathways. These data strongly suggest that NCER1 hydrolyses ceramides whereas NCER2 functions as a ceramide synthase. Our results reveal an important role of NCER in the regulation of both dPCD and pPCD via a tight connection between the phytohormone and sphingolipid levels in these two processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agnieszka Zienkiewicz
- Department of Plant Biochemistry, Albrecht-von-Haller-Institute for Plant Sciences, University of Goettingen, D-37077, Goettingen, Germany
- Centre of Modern Interdisciplinary Technologies, Nicolaus Copernicus University, 87-100, Toruń, Poland
| | - Jasmin Gömann
- Department of Plant Biochemistry, Albrecht-von-Haller-Institute for Plant Sciences, University of Goettingen, D-37077, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Stefanie König
- Department of Plant Biochemistry, Albrecht-von-Haller-Institute for Plant Sciences, University of Goettingen, D-37077, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Cornelia Herrfurth
- Department of Plant Biochemistry, Albrecht-von-Haller-Institute for Plant Sciences, University of Goettingen, D-37077, Goettingen, Germany
- Service Unit for Metabolomics and Lipidomics, Goettingen Center for Molecular Biosciences (GZMB), University of Goettingen, D-37077, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Yi-Tse Liu
- Department of Plant Biochemistry, Albrecht-von-Haller-Institute for Plant Sciences, University of Goettingen, D-37077, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Dorothea Meldau
- Department of Plant Biochemistry, Albrecht-von-Haller-Institute for Plant Sciences, University of Goettingen, D-37077, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Ivo Feussner
- Department of Plant Biochemistry, Albrecht-von-Haller-Institute for Plant Sciences, University of Goettingen, D-37077, Goettingen, Germany
- Department of Plant Biochemistry, Goettingen Center for Molecular Biosciences (GZMB), University of Goettingen, D-37077, Goettingen, Germany
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Machala M, Procházková J, Hofmanová J, Králiková L, Slavík J, Tylichová Z, Ovesná P, Kozubík A, Vondráček J. Colon Cancer and Perturbations of the Sphingolipid Metabolism. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:E6051. [PMID: 31801289 PMCID: PMC6929044 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20236051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2019] [Revised: 11/25/2019] [Accepted: 11/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The development and progression of colorectal cancer (CRC), a major cause of cancer-related death in the western world, is accompanied with alterations of sphingolipid (SL) composition in colon tumors. A number of enzymes involved in the SL metabolism have been found to be deregulated in human colon tumors, in experimental rodent studies, and in human colon cancer cells in vitro. Therefore, the enzymatic pathways that modulate SL levels have received a significant attention, due to their possible contribution to CRC development, or as potential therapeutic targets. Many of these enzymes are associated with an increased sphingosine-1-phosphate/ceramide ratio, which is in turn linked with increased colon cancer cell survival, proliferation and cancer progression. Nevertheless, more attention should also be paid to the more complex SLs, including specific glycosphingolipids, such as lactosylceramides, which can be also deregulated during CRC development. In this review, we focus on the potential roles of individual SLs/SL metabolism enzymes in colon cancer, as well as on the pros and cons of employing the current in vitro models of colon cancer cells for lipidomic studies investigating the SL metabolism in CRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miroslav Machala
- Department of Chemistry and Toxicology, Veterinary Research Institute, Hudcova 296/70, 62100 Brno, Czech Republic; (J.P.); (L.K.); (J.S.)
| | - Jiřina Procházková
- Department of Chemistry and Toxicology, Veterinary Research Institute, Hudcova 296/70, 62100 Brno, Czech Republic; (J.P.); (L.K.); (J.S.)
| | - Jiřina Hofmanová
- Department of Cytokinetics, Institute of Biophysics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Královopolská 135, 61265 Brno, Czech Republic; (J.H.); (Z.T.); (P.O.); (A.K.); (J.V.)
| | - Lucie Králiková
- Department of Chemistry and Toxicology, Veterinary Research Institute, Hudcova 296/70, 62100 Brno, Czech Republic; (J.P.); (L.K.); (J.S.)
| | - Josef Slavík
- Department of Chemistry and Toxicology, Veterinary Research Institute, Hudcova 296/70, 62100 Brno, Czech Republic; (J.P.); (L.K.); (J.S.)
| | - Zuzana Tylichová
- Department of Cytokinetics, Institute of Biophysics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Královopolská 135, 61265 Brno, Czech Republic; (J.H.); (Z.T.); (P.O.); (A.K.); (J.V.)
| | - Petra Ovesná
- Department of Cytokinetics, Institute of Biophysics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Královopolská 135, 61265 Brno, Czech Republic; (J.H.); (Z.T.); (P.O.); (A.K.); (J.V.)
- Institute of Biostatistics and Analyses, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Poštovská 68/3, 60200 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Alois Kozubík
- Department of Cytokinetics, Institute of Biophysics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Královopolská 135, 61265 Brno, Czech Republic; (J.H.); (Z.T.); (P.O.); (A.K.); (J.V.)
| | - Jan Vondráček
- Department of Cytokinetics, Institute of Biophysics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Královopolská 135, 61265 Brno, Czech Republic; (J.H.); (Z.T.); (P.O.); (A.K.); (J.V.)
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Schulz ME, Katunaric B, Hockenberry JC, Gutterman DD, Freed JK. Manipulation of the Sphingolipid Rheostat Influences the Mediator of Flow-Induced Dilation in the Human Microvasculature. J Am Heart Assoc 2019; 8:e013153. [PMID: 31462128 PMCID: PMC6755855 DOI: 10.1161/jaha.119.013153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2019] [Accepted: 07/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Background Elevated levels of ceramide, a sphingolipid known to cause a transition from nitric oxide (NO)- to hydrogen peroxide-dependent flow-induced dilation (FID) in human arterioles, correlate with adverse cardiac events. However, elevations of ceramide are associated with changed concentrations of other sphingolipid metabolites. The effects of sphingolipid metabolites generated through manipulation of this lipid pathway on microvascular function are unknown. We examined the hypothesis that inhibition or activation of the ceramide pathway would determine the mediator of FID. Methods and Results Using videomicroscopy, internal diameter changes were measured in human arterioles collected from discarded adipose tissue during surgery. Inhibition of neutral ceramidase, an enzyme responsible for the hydrolysis of ceramide, favored hydrogen peroxide-dependent FID in arterioles from healthy patients. Using adenoviral technology, overexpression of neutral ceramidase in microvessels from diseased patients resulted in restoration of NO-dependent FID. Exogenous sphingosine-1-phosphate, a sphingolipid with opposing effects of ceramide, also restored NO as the mediator of FID in diseased arterioles. Likewise, exogenous adiponectin, a known activator of neutral ceramidase, or, activation of adiponectin receptors, favored NO-dependent dilation in arterioles collected from patients with coronary artery disease. Conclusions Sphingolipid metabolites play a critical role in determining the mediator of FID in human resistance arterioles. Manipulating the sphingolipid balance towards ceramide versus sphingosine-1-phosphate favors microvascular dysfunction versus restoration of NO-mediated FID, respectively. Multiple targets exist within this biolipid pathway to treat microvascular dysfunction and potentially improve patient outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary E. Schulz
- Department of AnesthesiologyMedical College of WisconsinMilwaukeeWI
- Cardiovascular CenterMedical College of WisconsinMilwaukeeWI
| | - Boran Katunaric
- Department of AnesthesiologyMedical College of WisconsinMilwaukeeWI
- Cardiovascular CenterMedical College of WisconsinMilwaukeeWI
| | - Joseph C. Hockenberry
- Cardiovascular CenterMedical College of WisconsinMilwaukeeWI
- Division of CardiologyDepartment of MedicineMedical College of WisconsinMilwaukeeWI
| | - David D. Gutterman
- Cardiovascular CenterMedical College of WisconsinMilwaukeeWI
- Division of CardiologyDepartment of MedicineMedical College of WisconsinMilwaukeeWI
| | - Julie K. Freed
- Department of AnesthesiologyMedical College of WisconsinMilwaukeeWI
- Cardiovascular CenterMedical College of WisconsinMilwaukeeWI
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Zhong L, Liu E, Yang C, Diao Y, Harijati N, Liu J, Hu Z, Jin S. Gene cloning of a neutral ceramidase from the sphingolipid metabolic pathway based on transcriptome analysis of Amorphophallus muelleri. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0194863. [PMID: 29590184 PMCID: PMC5874051 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0194863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2017] [Accepted: 03/12/2018] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Amorphophallus is a perennial herbaceous plant species mainly distributed in the tropics or subtropics of Asia and Africa. It has been used as a traditional medicine for a long time and now is utilized for the pharmaceutical, chemical and agriculture industries as a valued economic crop. Recently, Amorphophallus has attracted tremendous interest because of its high ceramide content. However, the breeding and genome studies are severely limited by the arduous whole genome sequencing of Amorphophallus. In this study, the transcriptome data of A. muelleri was obtained by utilizing the high-throughput Illumina sequencing platform. Based on this information, the majority of the significant genes involved in the proposed sphingolipid metabolic pathway were identified. Then, the full-length neutral ceramidase cDNA was obtained with the help of its candidate transcripts, which were acquired from the transcriptome data. Furthermore, we demonstrated that this neutral ceramidase was a real ceramidase by eukaryotic expression in the yeast double knockout mutant Δypc1 Δydc1, which lacks the ceramidases—dihydroCDase (YDC1p), phytoCDase (YPC1p). In addition, the biochemical characterization of purified A. muelleri ceramidase (AmCDase) exhibited classical Michaelis-Menten kinetics with an optimal activity ranging from pH 6.5 to 8.0. Based on our knowledge, this study is the first to report the related information of the neutral ceramidase in Amorphophallus. All datasets can provide significant information for related studies, such as gene expression, genetic improvement and application on breeding in Amorphophallus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Zhong
- State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, PR China
| | - Erxi Liu
- Institute of Konjac, Enshi Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Enshi, Hubei, PR China
| | - Chaozhu Yang
- Institute of Konjac, Enshi Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Enshi, Hubei, PR China
| | - Ying Diao
- Lotus Engineering Research Center of Hubei Province, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, PR China
| | - Nunung Harijati
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Brawijaya University, Jl.Veteran Malang, Indonesia
| | - Jiangdong Liu
- College of Life Science, Department of Biology, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, PR China
| | - Zhongli Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, PR China
- * E-mail: (ZH); (SJ)
| | - Surong Jin
- Institute of Chemical and Life Science, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, PR China
- * E-mail: (ZH); (SJ)
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Novgorodov SA, Riley CL, Yu J, Keffler JA, Clarke CJ, Van Laer AO, Baicu CF, Zile MR, Gudz TI. Lactosylceramide contributes to mitochondrial dysfunction in diabetes. J Lipid Res 2016; 57:546-62. [PMID: 26900161 PMCID: PMC4808764 DOI: 10.1194/jlr.m060061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2015] [Revised: 02/16/2016] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Sphingolipids have been implicated as key mediators of cell-stress responses and effectors of mitochondrial function. To investigate potential mechanisms underlying mitochondrial dysfunction, an important contributor to diabetic cardiomyopathy, we examined alterations of cardiac sphingolipid metabolism in a mouse with streptozotocin-induced type 1 diabetes. Diabetes increased expression of desaturase 1, (dihydro)ceramide synthase (CerS)2, serine palmitoyl transferase 1, and the rate of ceramide formation by mitochondria-resident CerSs, indicating an activation of ceramide biosynthesis. However, the lack of an increase in mitochondrial ceramide suggests concomitant upregulation of ceramide-metabolizing pathways. Elevated levels of lactosylceramide, one of the initial products in the formation of glycosphingolipids were accompanied with decreased respiration and calcium retention capacity (CRC) in mitochondria from diabetic heart tissue. In baseline mitochondria, lactosylceramide potently suppressed state 3 respiration and decreased CRC, suggesting lactosylceramide as the primary sphingolipid responsible for mitochondrial defects in diabetic hearts. Moreover, knocking down the neutral ceramidase (NCDase) resulted in an increase in lactosylceramide level, suggesting a crosstalk between glucosylceramide synthase- and NCDase-mediated ceramide utilization pathways. These data suggest the glycosphingolipid pathway of ceramide metabolism as a promising target to correct mitochondrial abnormalities associated with type 1 diabetes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergei A Novgorodov
- Departments of Neuroscience Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425
| | | | - Jin Yu
- Departments of Neuroscience Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425
| | - Jarryd A Keffler
- Departments of Neuroscience Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425
| | | | - An O Van Laer
- Ralph H. Johnson Veteran Affairs Medical Center, Charleston, SC 29401 Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425
| | - Catalin F Baicu
- Ralph H. Johnson Veteran Affairs Medical Center, Charleston, SC 29401 Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425
| | - Michael R Zile
- Ralph H. Johnson Veteran Affairs Medical Center, Charleston, SC 29401 Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425
| | - Tatyana I Gudz
- Departments of Neuroscience Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425 Ralph H. Johnson Veteran Affairs Medical Center, Charleston, SC 29401
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Sundaram K, Mather AR, Marimuthu S, Shah PP, Snider AJ, Obeid LM, Hannun YA, Beverly LJ, Siskind LJ. Loss of neutral ceramidase protects cells from nutrient- and energy -deprivation-induced cell death. Biochem J 2016; 473:743-55. [PMID: 26747710 PMCID: PMC5513154 DOI: 10.1042/bj20150586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2015] [Accepted: 01/08/2016] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Sphingolipids are a family of lipids that regulate the cell cycle, differentiation and cell death. Sphingolipids are known to play a role in the induction of apoptosis, but a role for these lipids in necroptosis is largely unknown. Necroptosis is a programmed form of cell death that, unlike apoptosis, does not require ATP. Necroptosis can be induced under a variety of conditions, including nutrient deprivation and plays a major role in ischaemia/reperfusion injury to organs. Sphingolipids play a role in ischaemia/reperfusion injury in several organs. Thus, we hypothesized that sphingolipids mediate nutrient-deprivation-induced necroptosis. To address this, we utilized mouse embryonic fibroblast (MEFs) treated with 2-deoxyglucose (2DG) and antimycin A (AA) to inhibit glycolysis and mitochondrial electron transport. 2DG/AA treatment of MEFs induced necroptosis as it was receptor- interacting protein (RIP)-1/3 kinase-dependent and caspase-independent. Ceramides, sphingosine (Sph) and sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) were increased following 2DG/AA treatment. Cells lacking neutral ceramidase (nCDase(-/-)) were protected from 2DG/AA. Although nCDase(-/-) cells generated ceramides following 2DG/AA treatment, they did not generate Sph or S1P. This protection was stimulus-independent as nCDase(-/-) cells were also protected from endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stressors [tunicamycin (TN) or thapsigargin (TG)]. nCDase(-/-) MEFs had higher autophagic flux and mitophagy than wild-type (WT) MEFs and inhibition of autophagy sensitized them to necroptosis. These data indicate that loss of nCDase protects cells from nutrient- deprivation-induced necroptosis via autophagy, and clearance of damaged mitochondria. Results suggest that nCDase is a mediator of necroptosis and might be a novel therapeutic target for protection from ischaemic injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kumaran Sundaram
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40202, U.S.A
| | - Andrew R Mather
- University of South Carolina Medical School, Columbia, SC 29209, U.S.A
| | - Subathra Marimuthu
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40202, U.S.A
| | - Parag P Shah
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40202, U.S.A. James Graham Brown Cancer Center, University of Louisville, KY 40202, U.S.A
| | - Ashley J Snider
- Department of Medicine, Stony Brook Cancer Center, Stony Brook University, NY 11794, U.S.A. ∥Northport Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Northport, NY 11768, U.S.A
| | - Lina M Obeid
- Department of Medicine, Stony Brook Cancer Center, Stony Brook University, NY 11794, U.S.A. ∥Northport Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Northport, NY 11768, U.S.A
| | - Yusuf A Hannun
- Department of Medicine, Stony Brook Cancer Center, Stony Brook University, NY 11794, U.S.A
| | - Levi J Beverly
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40202, U.S.A. James Graham Brown Cancer Center, University of Louisville, KY 40202, U.S.A. Department of Medicine, University of Louisville, KY 40202, U.S.A
| | - Leah J Siskind
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40202, U.S.A. James Graham Brown Cancer Center, University of Louisville, KY 40202, U.S.A.
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Airola MV, Allen WJ, Pulkoski-Gross MJ, Obeid LM, Rizzo RC, Hannun YA. Structural Basis for Ceramide Recognition and Hydrolysis by Human Neutral Ceramidase. Structure 2015; 23:1482-1491. [PMID: 26190575 PMCID: PMC4830088 DOI: 10.1016/j.str.2015.06.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2015] [Revised: 06/03/2015] [Accepted: 06/11/2015] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Neutral ceramidase (nCDase) catalyzes conversion of the apoptosis-associated lipid ceramide to sphingosine, the precursor for the proliferative factor sphingosine-1-phosphate. As an enzyme regulating the balance of ceramide and sphingosine-1-phosphate, nCDase is emerging as a therapeutic target for cancer. Here, we present the 2.6-Å crystal structure of human nCDase in complex with phosphate that reveals a striking, 20-Å deep, hydrophobic active site pocket stabilized by a eukaryotic-specific subdomain not present in bacterial ceramidases. Utilizing flexible ligand docking, we predict a likely binding mode for ceramide that superimposes closely with the crystallographically observed transition state analog phosphate. Our results suggest that nCDase uses a new catalytic strategy for Zn(2+)-dependent amidases, and generates ceramide specificity by sterically excluding sphingolipids with bulky headgroups and specifically recognizing the small hydroxyl head group of ceramide. Together, these data provide a foundation to aid drug development and establish common themes for how proteins recognize the bioactive lipid ceramide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael V Airola
- Department of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA; Department of Medicine, Stony Brook Cancer Center, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
| | - William J Allen
- Department of Applied Mathematics and Statistics, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
| | | | - Lina M Obeid
- Department of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA; Department of Medicine, Stony Brook Cancer Center, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA; Department of Medicine, Northport Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Northport, NY 11768, USA
| | - Robert C Rizzo
- Department of Applied Mathematics and Statistics, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
| | - Yusuf A Hannun
- Department of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA; Department of Medicine, Stony Brook Cancer Center, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA.
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Snider AJ, Wu BX, Jenkins RW, Sticca JA, Kawamori T, Hannun YA, Obeid LM. Loss of neutral ceramidase increases inflammation in a mouse model of inflammatory bowel disease. Prostaglandins Other Lipid Mediat 2012; 99:124-30. [PMID: 22940715 DOI: 10.1016/j.prostaglandins.2012.08.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2012] [Revised: 08/07/2012] [Accepted: 08/16/2012] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Sphingolipids are emerging as important mediators of immune and inflammatory responses. We have previously demonstrated that sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) and its synthetic enzyme sphingosine kinase-1 (SK1) play an important role in inflammatory bowel disease. S1P generation is dependent on SK phosphorylation of sphingosine. Generation of sphingosine results only from the breakdown of ceramide by ceramidases (CDase). In this study, we set out to determine the role of neutral CDase (nCDase) in S1P generation and inflammatory bowel disease. To this end, we established nCDase expression is increased in patients with ulcerative colitis. Using the dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis model, we determined nCDase activity increased in colon epithelium, but not submucosa, in wild-type (WT) mice. Following DSS, ceramide levels were elevated in colon epithelium from WT and nCDase(-/-) mice, while S1P levels were significantly elevated only in the epithelium of nCDase(-/-) mice. Similarly, cyclooxygenase-2 (Cox-2) levels were significantly elevated only in the epithelium of nCDase(-/-) mice. Neutral CDase(-/-) mice also exhibited higher endotoxin levels in circulation, as well as higher circulating levels of S1P. This increase in S1P in nCDase(-/-) mice was accompanied by a marked leukocytosis, most notably circulating neutrophils and lymphocytes. Taken together these data demonstrate that loss of nCDase results in an unexpected increase in S1P generation in inflammation, and suggests that nCDase may actually protect against inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley J Snider
- Ralph H Johnson VA Medical Center, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29401, United States
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Zhou Y, Lin XW, Yang Q, Zhang YR, Yuan JQ, Lin XD, Xu R, Cheng J, Mao C, Zhu ZR. Molecular cloning and characterization of neutral ceramidase homologue from the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum. Biochimie 2011; 93:1124-31. [PMID: 21457750 DOI: 10.1016/j.biochi.2011.03.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2010] [Accepted: 03/22/2011] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Ceramidase plays an important role in regulating the metabolism of sphingolipids, such as ceramide, sphingosine (SPH), and sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P), by controlling the hydrolysis of ceramide. Here we report the cloning and biochemical characterization of a neutral ceramidase from the red flour beetle Tribolium castaneum which is an important storage pest. The Tribolium castaneum neutral ceramidase (Tncer) is a protein of 696 amino acids. It shares a high degree of similarity in protein sequence to neutral ceramidases from various species. Tncer mRNA levels are higher in the adult stage than in pre-adult stages, and they are higher in the reproductive organs than in head, thorax, and midgut. The mature ovary has higher mRNA levels than the immature ovary. Tncer is localized to the plasma membrane. It uses various ceramides (D-erythro-C(6), C(12), C(16), C(18:1), and C(24:1)-ceramide) as substrates and has an abroad pH optimum for its in vitro activity. Tncer has an optimal temperature of 37 °C for its in vitro activity. Its activity is inhibited by Fe(2+). These results suggest that Tncer has distinct biochemical properties from neutral ceramidases from other species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, and Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, The Ministry of Agriculture of China
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Yu X, Wang X, Huang X, Buchenauer H, Han Q, Guo J, Zhao J, Qu Z, Huang L, Kang Z. Cloning and characterization of a wheat neutral ceramidase gene Ta-CDase. Mol Biol Rep 2010; 38:3447-54. [PMID: 21088901 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-010-0454-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2010] [Accepted: 11/08/2010] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Ceramidases are key enzymes in the regulation of the cellular levels of ceramide, sphingosine and sphingosine-1-phosphate. This study first reports on the molecular cloning, sequencing and expression profile of the gene encoding the wheat neutral ceramidase designated as Ta-CDase. A full length wheat Ta-CDase gene is obtained by rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) based on the sequence of the WSRC36 fragment from an incompatible suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH) cDNA library of wheat leaves infected by Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici. The open reading frame (ORF) of 2,839 nucleotides encodes a polypeptide of 785 amino acids with a predicted isoelectric point (pI) of 6.398. The protein conserved domain search indicates that the polypeptide contains the signature of ceramidase, signal peptide sequence and transmembrane region. A phylogenetic analysis reveals that a high degree of relatedness exists among wheat Ta-CDase and ceramidases from other plant species at the amino acid level, while its relationship to that of animals and pathogens is more distant. The expression profile of the Ta-CDase shows a very strong expression of transcripts only at 48 h post inoculation (hpi), while expression level is low at other time points. Southern blot analyses showed that Ta-CDase is a multi-copy gene and located on wheat chromosome 4D and 5A.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiumei Yu
- College of Plant Protection and Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Agriculture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, People's Republic of China
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Inoue T, Okino N, Kakuta Y, Hijikata A, Okano H, Goda HM, Tani M, Sueyoshi N, Kambayashi K, Matsumura H, Kai Y, Ito M. Mechanistic insights into the hydrolysis and synthesis of ceramide by neutral ceramidase. J Biol Chem 2009; 284:9566-77. [PMID: 19088069 PMCID: PMC2666609 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m808232200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2008] [Revised: 12/08/2008] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Ceramidase (CDase; EC 3.5.1.23) hydrolyzes ceramide to generate sphingosine and fatty acid. The enzyme plays a regulatory role in a variety of physiological events in eukaryotes and also functions as an exotoxin in particular bacteria. The crystal structures of neutral CDase from Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PaCD) in the C2-ceramide-bound and -unbound forms were determined at 2.2 and 1.4 A resolutions, respectively. PaCD consists of two domains, and the Zn(2+)- and Mg(2+)/Ca(2+)-binding sites are found within the center of the N-terminal domain and the interface between the domains, respectively. The structural comparison between the C2-ceramide-bound and unbound forms revealed an open-closed conformational change occurring to loop I upon binding of C2-ceramide. In the closed state, this loop sits above the Zn(2+) coordination site and over the opening to the substrate binding site. Mutational analyses of residues surrounding the Zn(2+) of PaCD and rat neutral CDase revealed that the cleavage or creation of the N-acyl linkage of ceramide follows a similar mechanism as observed for the Zn(2+)-dependent carboxypeptidases. The results provide an understanding of the molecular mechanism of hydrolysis and synthesis of ceramide by the enzyme. Furthermore, insights into the actions of PaCD and eukaryotic neutral CDases as an exotoxin and mediators of sphingolipid signaling are also revealed, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tsuyoshi Inoue
- Department of Applied Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, 2-1 Yamada-Oka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan.
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