Metabolism of phosphatidylcholine and its implications for lipid acyl chain composition in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Phosphatidylcholine (PC) is a very abundant membrane lipid in most eukaryotes including the model organism Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Consequently, the molecular species profile of PC, i.e. the ensemble of PC molecules with acyl chains differing in number of carbon atoms and double bonds, is important in determining the physical properties of eukaryotic membranes, and should be tightly regulated. In this review current insights in the contributions of biosynthesis, turnover, and remodeling by acyl chain exchange to the maintenance of PC homeostasis at the level of the molecular species in yeast are summarized. In addition, the phospholipid class-specific changes in membrane acyl chain composition induced by PC depletion are discussed, which identify PC as key player in a novel regulatory mechanism balancing the proportions of bilayer and nonbilayer lipids in yeast

Nanocapsules: een nieuwe formulering voor platinahoudende medicijnen tegen kanker.

Cisplatine is een reactieve platinaverbinding die succesvol gebruikt wordt als geneesmiddel tegen verschillende vormen van kanker. D e werking is gebaseerd op binding aan het D N A in de celkern. D e gevormde platina-DNA adducten interfereren met de replicatie en transcriptie van het DNA, hetgeen met name in snelgroeiende kankercellen leidt tot apoptose en daarmee tot regressie van de tumor. Helaas gaat chemotherapie met platinaverbindingen gepaard met schadelijke bijwerkingen omdat ook de gezonde lichaamscellen er gevoelig voor zijn. In het algemeen kunnen deze problemen worden tegengegaan door de werkzame stof in te sluiten in liposomen (membraanblaasjes die een waterig compartiment omgeven) die na toediening ophopen in de tumor. Echter cisplatine leent zich slecht voor het insluiten in liposomen vanwege de beperkte oplosbaarheid in water. Recent onderzoek in onze groep heeft een geheel nieuwe formulering van cisplatine opgeleverd, de cisplatine nanocapsules, waarin het cisplatine als nanoprecipitaat, dus in vaste vorm, is verpakt in een membraan. In cytotoxiciteitstesten bleek dat de nanocapsules zo'n 100 keer effectiever waren in het doden van humane carcinomacellen dan vrij cisplatine. De cisplatine nanocapsules zijn daarmee potentieel een veelbelovende formulering voor de behandeling van kanker. In dit artikel beschrijven we de ontdekking, de eigenschappen en de werking van de nanocapsules

Proteome-wide detection of phospholipid-protein interactions in mitochondria by photocrosslinking and click chemistry

Photoactivatable lipid analogues are uniquely suited for the detection of lipid-protein interactions in biological membranes. Based on photocrosslinking, new methodology has been developed for the proteome-wide detection of lipid-protein interactions. Bifunctional lipid analogues containing a tag for click chemistry in addition to the photoactivatable moiety enable the enrichment of the crosslinked proteins that is required for subsequent identification by mass spectrometry. In principle the phospholipid interaction-based membrane protein proteomics approach is applicable to any biomembrane and any lipid. Here, we review the background and the development of the new methodology. Results obtained with photocrosslinking in purified mitochondrial membranes from the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae are summarized and future perspectives discusse

Checks and balances in membrane phospholipid class and acyl chain homeostasis, the yeast perspective

Glycerophospholipids are the most abundant membrane lipid constituents in most eukaryotic cells. As a consequence, phospholipid class and acyl chain homeostasis are crucial for maintaining optimal physical properties of membranes that in turn are crucial for membrane function. The topic of this review is our current understanding of membrane phospholipid homeostasis in the reference eukaryote Saccharomyces cerevisiae. After introducing the physical parameters of the membrane that are kept in optimal range, the properties of the major membrane phospholipids and their contributions to membrane structure and dynamics are summarized. Phospholipid metabolism and known mechanisms of regulation are discussed, including potential sensors for monitoring membrane physical properties. Special attention is paid to processes that maintain the phospholipid class specific molecular species profiles, and to the interplay between phospholipid class and acyl chain composition when yeast membrane lipid homeostasis is challenged. Based on the reviewed studies, molecular species selectivity of the lipid metabolic enzymes, and mass action in acyl-CoA metabolism are put forward as important intrinsic contributors to membrane lipid homeostasis

Lipid map of the mammalian cell

Technological developments, especially in mass spectrometry and bioinformatics, have revealed that living cells contain thousands rather than dozens of different lipids [for classification and nomenclature, see Fahy et al. (Fahy et al., 2009)]. Now, the resulting questions are what is the relevance of each of these unique molecules for the cell and how do cells use lipids for their vital functions? The answer requires an integrative approach – cellular lipidomics – which addresses first the distribution of all lipids between the various organelle membranes and then their local organization within each membrane. To understand lipid homeostasis and its dynamics, one has to study the localized metabolism of lipids, their transport within and between the various membranes, and the sensors and effectors that govern these processes. In terms of function, above all, we need to understand the physical behavior of complex lipid mixtures and their effect on local protein structure, organization and function. Finally, in the course of evolution, many lipids and lipid metabolites have acquired key functions in the signaling networks that wire the cell, by binding to cognate receptors and by recruiting proteins to specific membranes. The accompanying poster describes the lipid content of the various organelle membranes, illustrates lipid localization and dynamics in various subcellular locations, and explains the structure of lipids and their biosynthetic pathways. Below, we highlight additional issues that are important in lipid cell biology, and aim to provide a framework and a timely update for lipid systems biolog

Checks and balances in membrane phospholipid class and acyl chain homeostasis, the yeast perspective

Glycerophospholipids are the most abundant membrane lipid constituents in most eukaryotic cells. As a consequence, phospholipid class and acyl chain homeostasis are crucial for maintaining optimal physical properties of membranes that in turn are crucial for membrane function. The topic of this review is our current understanding of membrane phospholipid homeostasis in the reference eukaryote Saccharomyces cerevisiae. After introducing the physical parameters of the membrane that are kept in optimal range, the properties of the major membrane phospholipids and their contributions to membrane structure and dynamics are summarized. Phospholipid metabolism and known mechanisms of regulation are discussed, including potential sensors for monitoring membrane physical properties. Special attention is paid to processes that maintain the phospholipid class specific molecular species profiles, and to the interplay between phospholipid class and acyl chain composition when yeast membrane lipid homeostasis is challenged. Based on the reviewed studies, molecular species selectivity of the lipid metabolic enzymes, and mass action in acyl-CoA metabolism are put forward as important intrinsic contributors to membrane lipid homeostasis

Phosphatidylcholine is essential for efficient functioning of the mitochondrial glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase Gut2 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Gut2, the mitochondrial glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, was previously shown to become preferentially labelled with photoactivatable phosphatidylcholine (PC), pointing to a functional relation between these molecules. In the present study we analyzed whether Gut2 functioning depends on the PC content of yeast cells, using PC biosynthetic mutants in which the PC content was lowered. PC depletion was found to reduce growth on glycerol and to increase glycerol excretion, both indicating that PC is needed for optimal Gut2 functioning in vivo. Using several in vitro approaches the nature of the dependence of Gut2 functioning on cellular PC contents was investigated. The results of these experiments suggest that it is unlikely that the effects observed in vivo are due to changes in cellular Gut2 content, in specific activity of Gut2 in isolated mitochondria, or in the membrane association of Gut2, upon lowering the PC level. The in vivo effects are more likely an indirect result of PC depletion-induced changes in the cellular context in which Gut2 functions, that are not manifested in the in vitro systems used