Saposins utilize two strategies for lipid transfer and CD1 antigen presentation

Funding: We are grateful to A.N. Odyniec, M. Brigl, G.F.M. Watts, and T.Y. Cheng for suggestions and excellent technical assistance. This work was supported by National Institutes of Health (NIH) Grants AI028973 and AI063428 (to M.B.B.), DK36729 and NS36681 (to G.A.G.), and AR048632 and AI049313 (to D.B.M. and A.K.); a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Gilliam Fellowship (to L.L.); the Burroughs Wellcome Fund (D.B.M. and A.K.); a Personal Research Chair from Mr. James Bardrick (to V.B., N.V., and G.S.B.); a Royal Society Wolfson Research Merit Award (to V.B., N.V., and G.S.B.); the Medical Research Council (V.B., N.V., and G.S.B.); Wellcome Trust Grant 084923/B/08/Z (to V.B., N.V., and G.S.B.); and a Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research Grant (to A.J.M.Transferring lipid antigens from membranes into CD1 antigen-presenting proteins represents a major molecular hurdle necessary for T-cell recognition. Saposins facilitate this process, but the mechanisms used are not well understood. We found that saposin B forms soluble saposin protein-lipid complexes detected by native gel electrophoresis that can directly load CD1 proteins. Because saposin B must bind lipids directly to function, we found it could not accommodate long acyl chain containing lipids. In contrast, saposin C facilitates CD1 lipid loading in a different way. It uses a stable, membrane-associated topology and was capable of loading lipid antigens without forming soluble saposin-lipid antigen complexes. These findings reveal how saposins use different strategies to facilitate transfer of structurally diverse lipid antigens.publishersversionpublishe

Identification of an α(1→6) mannopyranosyltransferase (MptA), involved in Corynebacterium glutamicum lipomanann biosynthesis, and identification of its orthologue in Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Corynebacterium glutamicum and Mycobacterium tuberculosis share a similar cell wall architecture, and the availability of their genome sequences has enabled the utilization of C. glutamicum as a model for the identification and study of, otherwise essential, mycobacterial genes involved in lipomannan (LM) and lipoarabinomannan (LAM) biosynthesis. We selected the putative glycosyltransferase-Rv2174 from M. tuberculosis and deleted its orthologue NCgl2093 from C. glutamicum. This resulted in the formation of a novel truncated lipomannan (Cg-t-LM) and a complete ablation of LM/LAM biosynthesis. Purification and characterization of Cg-t-LM revealed an overall decrease in molecular mass, a reduction of α(1→6) and α(1→2) glycosidic linkages illustrating a reduced degree of branching compared with wild-type LM. The deletion mutant's biochemical phenotype was fully complemented by either NCgl2093 or Rv2174. Furthermore, the use of a synthetic neoglycolipid acceptor in an in vitro cell-free assay utilizing the sugar donor β-d-mannopyranosyl-1-monophosphoryl-decaprenol together with the neoglycolipid acceptor α-d-Manp-(1→6)-α-d-Manp-O-C8 as a substrate, confirmed NCgl2093 and Rv2174 as an α(1→6) mannopyranosyltransferase (MptA), involved in the latter stages of the biosynthesis of the α(1→6) mannan core of LM. Altogether, these studies have identified a new mannosyltransferase, MptA, and they shed further light on the biosynthesis of LM/LAM in Corynebacterianeae

Human autoreactive T cells recognize CD1b and phospholipids

In contrast with the common detection of T cells that recognize MHC, CD1a, CD1c, or CD1d proteins, CD1b autoreactive T cells have been difficult to isolate in humans. Here we report the development of polyvalent complexes of CD1b proteins and carbohydrate backbones (dextramers) and their use in identifying CD1b autoreactive T cells from human donors. Activation is mediated by αβ T-cell receptors (TCRs) binding to CD1b-phospholipid complexes, which is sufficient to activate autoreactive responses to CD1b-expressing cells. Using mass spectrometry and T-cell responses to scan through the major classes of phospholipids, we identified phosphatidylglycerol (PG) as the immunodominant lipid antigen. T cells did not discriminate the chemical differences that distinguish mammalian PG from bacterial PG. Whereas most models of T-cell recognition emphasize TCR discrimination of differing self and foreign structures, CD1b autoreactive T cells recognize lipids with dual self and foreign origin. PG is rare in the cellular membranes that carry CD1b proteins. However, bacteria and mitochondria are rich in PG, so these data point to a more general mechanism of immune detection of infection- or stress-associated lipids

Activation of iNKT cells by a distinct constituent of the endogenous glucosylceramide fraction

Invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells are a specialized T-cell subset that recognizes lipids as antigens, contributing to immune responses in diverse disease processes. Experimental data suggests that iNKT cells can recognize both microbial and endogenous lipid antigens. Several candidate endogenous lipid antigens have been proposed, although the contextual role of specific antigens during immune responses remains largely unknown. We have previously reported that mammalian glucosylceramides (GlcCers) activate iNKT cells. GlcCers are found in most mammalian tissues, and exist in variable molecular forms that differ mainly in N-acyl fatty acid chain use. In this report, we purified, characterized, and tested the GlcCer fractions from multiple animal species. Although activity was broadly identified in these GlcCer fractions from mammalian sources, we also found activity properties that could not be reconciled by differences in fatty acid chain use. Enzymatic digestion of β-GlcCer and a chromatographic separation method demonstrated that the activity in the GlcCer fraction was limited to a rare component of this fraction, and was not contained within the bulk of β-GlcCer molecular species. Our data suggest that a minor lipid species that copurifies with β-GlcCer in mammals functions as a lipid self antigen for iNKT cells

Lipoglycan profiles of , , Δ and Δ Lipoglycans were analysed using SDS-PAGE and visualized using a Pro-Q emerald glycoprotein stain (Invitrogen) specific for carbohydrates

<p><b>Copyright information:</b></p><p>Taken from "Identification of an α(1→6) mannopyranosyltransferase (MptA), involved in lipomanann biosynthesis, and identification of its orthologue in "</p><p></p><p>Molecular Microbiology 2007;65(6):1503-1517.</p><p>Published online Jan 2007</p><p>PMCID:PMC2157549.</p><p>© 2007 The Authors; Journal compilation © 2007 Blackwell Publishing Ltd</p> The three major bands represented by Cg-LAM, Cg-LM and Cg-t-LM are indicated. The STD lane contains CandyCane glycoprotein molecular weight standards (Invitrogen). The four major bands represent glycoproteins of 180, 82, 42 and 18 kDa respectively

Α(1→6)-Mannosyltransferase activity in membranes prepared from , Δ, Δ pVWEx-Cg- and Δ pVWEx-Mt

<p><b>Copyright information:</b></p><p>Taken from "Identification of an α(1→6) mannopyranosyltransferase (MptA), involved in lipomanann biosynthesis, and identification of its orthologue in "</p><p></p><p>Molecular Microbiology 2007;65(6):1503-1517.</p><p>Published online Jan 2007</p><p>PMCID:PMC2157549.</p><p>© 2007 The Authors; Journal compilation © 2007 Blackwell Publishing Ltd</p> A. Biosynthetic reaction scheme of products formed in the α(1→6)-mannosyltransferase assay utilizing α--Man-(1→6)-α--Man-C and C-PP[C]M. B. α(1→6)-Mannosyltransferase activity determined using the synthetic α--Man-(1→6)-α--Man-C neoglycolipid acceptor in a cell-free assay using 1 mg of membrane protein as described previously (). The products of the assay were re-suspended in -butanol before scintillation counting. The incorporation of [C]Man was determined by subtracting counts present in control assays (incubations in the absence of acceptor), which were typically less than 100 cpm per assay. The remaining labelled material was subjected to TLC using silica gel plates (5735 silca gel 60F, Merck) developed in CHCl/CHOH/HO/NHOH (65:25:3.6:0.5, v/v/v/v) and the products visualized by phosphorimaging (Kodak K Screen). The results represent triplicate assays in two independent experiments

Activation of iNKT cells by a distinct constituent of the endogenous glucosylceramide fraction

Invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells are a specialized T-cell subset that recognizes lipids as antigens, contributing to immune responses in diverse disease processes. Experimental data suggests that iNKT cells can recognize both microbial and endogenous lipid antigens. Several candidate endogenous lipid antigens have been proposed, although the contextual role of specific antigens during immune responses remains largely unknown. We have previously reported that mammalian glucosylceramides (GlcCers) activate iNKT cells. GlcCers are found in most mammalian tissues, and exist in variable molecular forms that differ mainly in N-acyl fatty acid chain use. In this report, we purified, characterized, and tested the GlcCer fractions from multiple animal species. Although activity was broadly identified in these GlcCer fractions from mammalian sources, we also found activity properties that could not be reconciled by differences in fatty acid chain use. Enzymatic digestion of β-GlcCer and a chromatographic separation method demonstrated that the activity in the GlcCer fraction was limited to a rare component of this fraction, and was not contained within the bulk of β-GlcCer molecular species. Our data suggest that a minor lipid species that copurifies with β-GlcCer in mammals functions as a lipid self antigen for iNKT cells.</p

Identification of a potent microbial lipid antigen for diverse NKT cells

Invariant Natural Killer T (iNKT) cells are a well-characterized CD1d-restricted T cell subset. The availability of potent antigens and tetramers for iNKT cells has allowed this population to be extensively studied and has revealed their central roles in infection, autoimmunity, and tumor immunity. In contrast, diverse Natural Killer T (dNKT) cells are poorly understood because the lipid antigens they recognize are largely unknown. We sought to identify dNKT cell lipid antigen(s) by interrogating a panel of dNKT mouse cell hybridomas with lipid extracts from the pathogen Listeria monocytogenes. We identified Listeria phosphatidylglycerol (PG) as a microbial antigen that was significantly more potent than a previously characterized dNKT cell antigen, mammalian PG. Further, while mammalian PG loaded CD1d tetramers did not stain dNKT cells, the Listeria-derived PG loaded tetramers did. The structure of Listeria PG was distinct from mammalian PG since it contained shorter, fully-saturated anteiso fatty acid lipid tails. CD1d binding lipid displacement studies revealed that the microbial PG antigen binds significantly better to CD1d than counterparts with the same headgroup. These data reveal a highly-potent microbial lipid antigen for a subset of dNKT cells and provide an explanation for its increased antigen potency compared to the mammalian counterpart

Human autoreactive T cells recognize CD1b and phospholipids

In contrast with the common detection of T cells that recognize MHC, CD1a, CD1c, or CD1d proteins, CD1b autoreactive T cells have been difficult to isolate in humans. Here we report the development of polyvalent complexes of CD1b proteins and carbohydrate backbones (dextramers) and their use in identifying CD1b autoreactive T cells from human donors. Activation is mediated by αβ T-cell receptors (TCRs) binding to CD1b-phospholipid complexes, which is sufficient to activate autoreactive responses to CD1b-expressing cells. Using mass spectrometry and T-cell responses to scan through the major classes of phospholipids, we identified phosphatidylglycerol (PG) as the immunodominant lipid antigen. T cells did not discriminate the chemical differences that distinguish mammalian PG from bacterial PG. Whereas most models of T-cell recognition emphasize TCR discrimination of differing self and foreign structures, CD1b autoreactive T cells recognize lipids with dual self and foreign origin. PG is rare in the cellular membranes that carry CD1b proteins. However, bacteria and mitochondria are rich in PG, so these data point to a more general mechanism of immune detection of infection- or stress-associated lipids