Biomedical subjects

P J Sindelar

Publications and source records attributed to P J Sindelar.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2001

Separation and quantitation of phospholipids and their ether analogues by high-performance liquid chromatography.

The common mobile phase hexane/isopropanol/water used for separation of phospholipids on high-performance liquid chromatography silica columns poses several problems, such as incomplete separation and rapid column deterioration. By inclusion of 5 mM ammonium sulfate in the aqueous phase, we were able to substantially improve the chromatographic resolution and obtain complete separation of phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, lysophosphatidylcholine, lysophosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylserine, phosphatidylinositol, cardiolipin, phosphatidylglycerol, and sphingomyelin. In addition, ammonium sulfate prevented column degeneration and greatly improved reproducibility. A new quantitation method for alkenylacyl, alkylacyl, and diacyl forms of phospholipids was also developed based on derivatization with [(3)H]acetic anhydride. Separation and quantitation of the radioactive acetyl diradylglycerols were performed by straight-phase HPLC coupled to a radioactive flow detector and enabled detection of the various ether analogues at the picomole level with high reproducibility. The described methods are mild and nondestructive and can therefore be easily combined with analysis of either molecular species or fatty acid and aldehyde composition of the individual phospholipids.

Aldehydes↗

PubMed2001

A new member of the family of di-iron carboxylate proteins. Coq7 (clk-1), a membrane-bound hydroxylase involved in ubiquinone biosynthesis.

Ubiquinone (UQ) is an essential cofactor for respiratory metabolism. In yeast, mutation of the COQ7 gene results in the absence of UQ biosynthesis and demonstrates a role for this gene in the step leading to the hydroxylation of 5-demethoxyubiquinone. Intriguingly, the disruption of the corresponding gene in Caenorhabditis elegans, clk-1, results in a prolonged life span and a slowing of development. Because of the pleiotropic effect of this disruption, the small size of the protein, and the lack of obvious homology to other known hydroxylases, it has been suggested that Coq7 may be a regulatory or structural component in UQ biosynthesis, rather than acting as the hydroxylase per se. Here we identify Coq7 as belonging to a family of a di-iron containing oxidases/hydroxylases based on a conserved sequence motif for the iron ligands, supporting a direct function of Coq7 as a hydroxylase. We have cloned COQ7 from Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Thiobacillus ferrooxidans and show that indeed this gene complements an Escherichia coli mutant that lacks an unrelated 5-demethoxyubiquinone hydroxylase. Based on the similarities to other well studied di-iron carboxylate proteins, we propose a structural model for Coq7 as an interfacial integral membrane protein.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed2000

Regulation of ubiquinone metabolism.

Interest in ubiquinone (UQ) has increased during recent years, mainly because of its antioxidant function and its use as a dietary supplement. However, our knowledge of the biosynthesis, catabolism, and regulation of this lipid in mammalian tissues is quite limited. UQ exhibits a high rate of turnover in all tissues indicating that cells possess efficient metabolic pathways for handling this compound and controlling its tissue levels. Besides reviewing the generally accepted metabolic pathway, alternative synthetic mechanisms are described. The lack of data concerning catabolism and regulation of this compound is emphasized. Reasons for the rather limited uptake of dietary UQ are discussed and alternative mechanisms for its beneficial effects on organ function are suggested. Since appropriate tissue uptake of dietary UQ probably only occurs in deficient states, the definition of partial UQ deficiency and its consequences is urgently needed. The possibility of raising tissue UQ levels by drug treatment or natural metabolites is raised as a choice of preference for the future.

Aging↗

PubMed1999

The protective role of plasmalogens in iron-induced lipid peroxidation.

The role of plasmalogens in iron-induced lipid peroxidation was investigated in two liposomal systems. The first consisted of total brain phospholipids with and without plasmalogens, and the second of phosphatidylethanolamine/phosphatidylcholine liposomes with either diacyl- or alkenylacyl-phosphatidylethanolamine. By measuring thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, oxygen consumption, fatty acids and aldehydes, we show that plasmalogens effectively protect polyunsaturated fatty acids from oxidative damage, and that the vinyl ether function of plasmalogens is consumed simultaneously. Furthermore, the lack of lag phase, the increased antioxidant efficiency with time, and the experiments with lipid- and water-soluble azo compounds, indicate that plasmalogens probably interfere with the propagation rather than the initiation of lipid peroxidation, and that the antioxidative effect cannot be related to iron chelation.

Azo Compounds↗

PubMed1999

Decrease and structural modifications of phosphatidylethanolamine plasmalogen in the brain with Alzheimer disease.

Several lipid modifications, some of which were attributed to oxidative stress, have been reported in the brains of patients with Alzheimer disease (AD). To evaluate this possibility, all phospholipids and their ether subclasses from the frontal cortex, hippocampus, and the white matter of AD brain were analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography and gas chromatography. The total phospholipid in the frontal cortex and hippocampus decreased on a DNA basis by about 20% and this change was essentially explained by a selective decrease in phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylcholine. The lower content of phosphatidylethanolamine was due to a specific decrease in the plasmalogen subclass. Phosphatidylethanolamine plasmalogen was also the only lipid exhibiting major structural modifications: a significant decrease in polyunsaturated fatty acids and oleic acid as well as a shift of the aldehyde pattern from 18:1 to 18:0. The only modification observed in the other phospholipids was a decrease in oleic acid in diacyl-phosphatidylethanolamine and diacyl-phosphatidylcholine. None of these changes were observed in the white matter. Both the vinyl ether bond of phosphatidylethanolamine plasmalogen and polyunsaturated fatty acids are major targets in oxidative stress; thus, these specific lipid modifications strongly support the involvement of free radicals in the pathogenesis of AD.

Aged↗

PubMed1997

Peroxisomal impairment in Niemann-Pick type C disease.

Niemann-Pick type C disease (NPC) belongs to the group of lysosomal storage diseases characterized by an accumulation of cholesterol and sphingomyelin. Using a mutant mouse strain, enzymatic markers for lysosomes, mitochondria, microsomes, and peroxisomes were investigated in the liver and brain. Aside from lysosomal changes, we found a sizable decrease of peroxisomal beta-oxidation of fatty acids and catalase activity in the brain and liver. Isolated peroxisomes displayed a significant decrease of these enzyme activities. Furthermore, the only phospholipid change in brain was a decreased content of the plasmalogen form of phosphatidylethanolamine, and the dimethylacetal pattern was also modified. The electron microscopical appearance of peroxisomes did not display any large changes. The defect of peroxisomal enzymes was already present 18 days before the onset of the disease. In contrast, the lysosomal marker enzyme increased in activity only 6 days after appearance of the symptoms. The events of the studied process have previously been considered to be elicited by a lysosomal deficiency, but this study demonstrates disturbances similar to those in a number of peroxisomal diseases. It appears that the peroxisomal impairment is an early event in the process and could be a factor in the development of Niemann-Pick type C disease.

Acid Phosphatase↗

PubMed1997

Role of apolipoprotein A-IV in hepatic lipase-catalyzed dolichol acylation and phospholipid hydrolysis.

Hepatic lipase catalyzes the hydrolysis of phospholipids and neutral glycerides as well as transacylation reactions between several of these lipids. We have previously reported that this enzyme also transacylates the sn-I fatty acid of phosphatidylethanolamine to dolichol and that this reaction requires a plasma cofactor. In this study, we have purified the cofactor from the lipoprotein-free fraction of human plasma and present evidence demonstrating that it is identical to apolipoprotein A-IV. The effect of apolipoprotein A-IV on hepatic lipase-catalyzed dolichol acylation and phospholipid hydrolysis was studied in model membranes and compared with the effects of apolipoprotein A-I and E. Apolipoprotein A-IV strongly stimulated dolichol acylation and phosphatidylethanolamine hydrolysis but partly inhibited phosphatidylcholine hydrolysis. Apolipoprotein A-I had only a minor influence on the various activities studied and could not replace apolipoprotein A-IV. Apolipoprotein E stimulated the hydrolysis of both phospholipids but had no effect on dolichol acylation. The effect of apolipoprotein A-IV on hepatic lipase activity was then studied with the gum arabic-stabilized triglyceride emulsion. The apolipoprotein neither stimulated nor inhibited triglyceride hydrolysis in the emulsion. Finally, human high-density lipoprotein-2 and very low-density lipoprotein were also used as substrates. Apolipoprotein A-IV strongly stimulated the hydrolysis of phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine in both lipoproteins, while the hydrolysis of triglycerides was completely inhibited. These results demonstrate that apolipoprotein A-IV is an important cofactor to hepatic lipase affecting both catalytic rates and the substrate specificity of the enzyme. We therefore suggest that apolipoprotein A-IV-rich high-density lipoprotein is the preferred substrate for hepatic lipase.

Acylation↗