Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

S Fleischer

Publications and source records attributed to S Fleischer.

At least 181 records · Page 10Linked to original sources

Glycogen-membrane complexes in denervated human skeletal muscle.

We describe an unusual intracellular complex of glycogen with smooth, cisternal, cytoplasmic membranes (glycogen-membrane complexes, GMC) in denervated human skeletal muscle. Glycogen particles were always intimately associated with these structures, although the staining intensity varied markedly with different fixation conditions. This may account for previous investigations of similar structures in which an association with glycogen was not recognized. Electron micrographs of tannic acid-enhanced specimens, and of freeze-fracture replicas, showed similarities between the GMCs and the terminal cisternae of the sarcoplasmic reticulum: (i) GMCs resembled the terminal cisternae of the sarcoplasmic reticulum in the size and asymmetric distribution of intramembranous particles seen in freeze-fracture replicas; (ii) tannic acid-enhanced thin sections of GMCs showed intense staining of the cisternal contents and irregular staining of the cytoplasmic leaflet, similar to the appearance of the sarcoplasmic reticulum terminal cisternae; and (iii) triad-like junctions were seen between the glycogen-membrane complexes and elements of the transverse tubule system.

Cell Membrane↗

Alterations in the morphology of rabbit skeletal muscle plasma membrane during membrane isolation.

This study describes changes in morphology of plasmalemma from fast skeletal muscle in the course of tissue disruption and isolation. We find that conditions used to solubilize muscle contractile elements, in the isolation of plasmalemma, including the use of 0.6 M KCl or 0.4 M LiBr in the cold (0-4 degrees C), lead to altered plasmalemma morphology. The intramembrane particles, as revealed by freeze-fracture electron microscopy, become aggregated, leaving large domains devoid of particles. The square arrays in the P face and the complementary "pits" in the E face also become aggregated, sometimes forming sizeable aggregates of square arrays. Thin-section electron microscopy using tannic acid enhancement reveals plasma membrane associated components, on both cytoplasmic and extracellular faces, are largely reduced by the salt treatment. Pyrophosphate and magnesium at lower concentrations, sometimes used instead of high salt, also resulted in particle aggregation, although less pronounced than with concentrated salt solutions. The plasma membrane-associated proteins on both plasma membrane surfaces were likewise decreased by this treatment. Pyrophosphate treatment also separated the basal lamina from the plasma membrane. Incubation of muscle in isoosmotic sucrose does not alter the morphology of the plasmalemma with regard to particle aggregation, diminution of membrane associated components, or separation of the basal lamina. Our observations suggest that membrane-associated protein and/or cytoskeleton constrains the mobility of components in the plane of the membrane and that removal of this constraint leads to aggregation of intramembrane particles.

Animals↗

Preparation and morphology of sarcoplasmic reticulum terminal cisternae from rabbit skeletal muscle.

We have developed a procedure to isolate, from skeletal muscle, enriched terminal cisternae of sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR), which retain morphologically intact junctional "feet" structures similar to those observed in situ. The fraction is largely devoid of transverse tubule, plasma membrane, mitochondria, triads (transverse tubules junctionally associated with terminal cisternae), and longitudinal cisternae, as shown by thin-section electron microscopy of representative samples. The terminal cisternae vesicles have distinctive morphological characteristics that differ from the isolated longitudinal cisternae (light SR) obtained from the same gradient. The terminal cisternae consist of two distinct types of membranes, i.e., the junctional face membrane and the Ca2+ pump protein-containing membrane, whereas the longitudinal cisternae contain only the Ca2+ pump protein-containing membrane. The junctional face membrane of the terminal cisternae contains feet structures that extend approximately 12 nm from the membrane surface and can be clearly visualized in thin section through using tannic acid enhancement, by negative staining and by freeze-fracture electron microscopy. Sections of the terminal cisternae, cut tangential to and intersecting the plane of the junctional face, reveal a checkerboardlike lattice of alternating, square-shaped feet structures and spaces each 20 nm square. Structures characteristic of the Ca2+ pump protein are not observed between the feet at the junctional face membrane, either in thin section or by negative staining, even though the Ca2+ pump protein is observed in the nonjunctional membrane on the remainder of the same vesicle. Likewise, freeze-fracture replicas reveal regions of the P face containing ropelike strands instead of the high density of the 7-8-nm particles referable to the Ca2+ pump protein. The intravesicular content of the terminal cisternae, mostly Ca2+-binding protein (calsequestrin), is organized in the form of strands, sometimes appearing paracrystalline, and attached to the inner face of the membrane in the vicinity of the junctional feet. The terminal cisternae preparation is distinct from previously described heavy SR fractions in that it contains the highest percentage of junctional face membrane with morphologically well-preserved junctional feet structures.

Animals↗

Functional characterization of reconstituted sarcoplasmic reticulum vesicles.

A detailed functional characterization of reconstituted sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) vesicles with similar lipid content as normal SR was obtained by studies of ATPase activity and calcium transport in transient state, steady state, and equilibrium conditions. For this purpose, enzyme phosphorylation with ATP, hydrolytic activity, calcium transport, phosphorylation with Pi, and ATP synthesis by reversal of the pump were measured, and utilized to demonstrate function and orientation of catalytic sites. The preparations used in these studies displayed the highest activity reported for reconstituted sarcoplasmic reticulum systems. The rates of phosphoenzyme formation from ATP and hydrolysis as well as steady state levels matched the values obtained with normal SR vesicles. Calcium transport and repeated cycles of ATP synthesis by reversal of the pump were also obtained. However, the efficiency of transport and ATP synthesis from a Ca2+ gradient was approximately three times lower than in native vesicles. This deficiency could not be attributed to passive calcium leak from the reconstituted vesicles but, in part, can be explained by the bidirectional alignment of the calcium pump in reconstituted SR. It is suggested that vectorial transport requires a more complex level of protein structure than that for sustaining simple ATPase activity. Time resolution of the phosphorylation reaction by rapid quench methods can be used to estimate the orientation of the calcium pump in the membrane. Such studies indicate that the calcium pump protein is largely bidirectionally oriented in reconstituted SR vesicles.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗

Modification of arginines in D-beta-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase.

D-beta-Hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase (D-3-hydroxybutyrate: NAD+ oxidoreductase, EC 1.1.1.30) is a lipid-dependent enzyme which has an absolute and specific requirement for phosphatidylcholine for function. Chemical derivatization studies using 1,2-cyclohexanedione, an arginine-specific reagent, have been carried out on the purified enzyme devoid of lipid as well as on the enzyme reactivated with phospholipid. Cyclohexanedione inactivated the active enzyme-phospholipid complex and the lipid-free enzyme was rendered inactivatable by phospholipid. From kinetic studies and by direct chemical derivatization studies with [1-14C]cyclohexanedione, we find that incorporation of a single cyclohexanedione molecule per enzyme monomer resulted in complete loss of enzymic activity. The presence of NADH or NAD+, cofactors for the enzyme, offered no protection for the rate of inactivation. The substrates beta-hydroxybutyrate and acetoacetate with or without coenzyme gave little or no protection. However, 2-methyl malonate, a competitive inhibitor for beta-hydroxybutyrate, strongly protected against inactivation. These studies indicate that: (1) a single arginine serves a vital role and is essential for function; (2) the arginine is located in the proximity of the substrate binding site.

Animals↗

Spontaneous calcium release from sarcoplasmic reticulum. Effect of local anesthetics.

Spontaneous calcium release from purified light sarcoplasmic reticulum has been previously described (Palade, P., Mitchell, R. D., and Fleischer, S. (1983) J. Biol. Chem. 258, 8098-8107) and found to be distinct from several other forms of Ca2+ release. Ca2+ release occurs after a lag period following active Ca2+ preloading and depletion of extravesicular Ca2+. In the present study, we find that local anesthetics inhibit spontaneous Ca2+ release, in a time-dependent manner, varying considerably in the preincubation time required to exert maximal effect. At pH 7.0, hydrophilic and mostly charged local anesthetics, such as procaine, procainamide, and N-(2,6-dimethylphenyl carbamoyl methyl)triethyl ammonium bromide, inhibit Ca2+ release only after long preincubations (hours), whereas more hydrophobic local anesthetics are effective after only a short incubation (minutes) with sarcoplasmic reticulum. The more hydrophobic anesthetics take somewhat longer to reach equilibrium, as studied by inhibition of unidirectional Ca2+ efflux, and there is a direct relationship between hydrophobic partition coefficient and half-time to reach equilibrium. Agents known to inhibit permeability pathways for monovalent cations i.e. K+ channel blockers (decamethonium and n-dodecane-1, 12-N,N,N,N',N',N'-hexamethyl-bis-ammonium) or the anion blocker (4,4'-diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid), do not inhibit spontaneous Ca2+ release. Carbonyl cyanide m-fluorophenylhydrazone, a protonophore, and gramicidin D, a monovalent cation ionophore, have no effect on Ca2+ release whether local anesthetics are present or not, while the Ca2+ ionophore A23187 relieves inhibition of Ca2+ release by local anesthetics. Ruthenium red does not inhibit spontaneous Ca2+ release. These findings suggest that the binding site(s) for local anesthetics is located on the inner face of the sarcoplasmic reticulum membrane and that local anesthetics interact directly with a Ca2+ channel rather than with other permeability pathways which might indirectly influence Ca2+ channel gating.

Amines↗

Subcellular distribution of cholic acid:coenzyme a ligase and deoxycholic acid:Coenzyme a ligase activities in rat liver.

Cholic acid:CoA ligase (EC 6.2.1.7, choloyl-CoA synthetase) and deoxycholic acid:CoA ligase catalyze the synthesis of choloyl-CoA and deoxycholoyl-CoA from their respective bile acids in rat liver. A modification of the phase partition assay was introduced which yields significantly (3-fold) higher specific activities for cholic acid:CoA ligase than previously reported. An independent method of separating choloyl-CoA from the substrates by high-pressure liquid chromatography was also developed and validates the modification. Both enzymic activities were found to be localized predominantly in the endoplasmic reticulum of rat liver. The level of either ligase in other purified, active subcellular fractions is consistent with the level of contamination by endoplasmic reticulum, estimated by using marker enzymes. Hence, the ligase assay can be used as a sensitive enzymic marker for endoplasmic reticulum in rat liver. The kinetic parameters of both enzymic activities were determined by using purified rough endoplasmic reticulum from rat liver. While the apparent maximal velocities for the two substrates are similar, the Michaelis constant for deoxycholate is significantly lower than that for cholate. Taurocholate and deoxycholate are shown to be competitive inhibitors of cholic acid:CoA ligase. The inhibition constant of deoxycholate is similar to its Michaelis constant for the deoxycholoyl-CoA-synthesizing reaction, suggesting that the same enzyme is responsible for both ligase activities.

Animals↗

Determination of the oligomeric structure of the Ca2+ pump protein in canine cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum membranes using radiation inactivation analysis.

The size of the Ca2+ pump protein in canine cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) membranes was determined using target theory analysis of radiation-inactivation data. Samples of cardiac SR were irradiated in the frozen state with increasing doses of high energy electrons from a Van de Graaff accelerator. The loss of Ca2+-dependent ATPase activity and of ATP-dependent, oxalate-facilitated Ca2+ uptake (loading) with increasing irradiation dosage paralleled one another. Also, the loss of staining intensity of the predominant polypeptide (Mr = 110,000) in sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis correlated with the loss of ATPase and loading activities. The target size by all three measurements varied between 213,000 and 229,000 Da. We conclude that the Ca2+ pump protein in canine cardiac SR is a dimer.

Animals↗

Biochemical characterization, integrity, and sidedness of purified skeletal muscle triads.

The release of Ca2+ from the terminal cisternae of sarcoplasmic reticulum in muscle fiber triggers muscle contraction. The signal for Ca2+ release is mediated via the triad junction, i.e. the junctional association of terminal cisternae and transverse tubule. Recently, highly purified morphologically intact triads were isolated from rabbit skeletal muscle (Mitchell, R. D., Palade, P., and Fleischer, S. (1983) J. Cell Biol. 96, 1008-1016). In this study, biochemical characterization of two variants of purified triad preparations (Pyrophosphate and Standard) is provided. Terminal cisternae of triads sequester Ca2+ at rates comparable to those of purified heavy sarcoplasmic reticulum which is referable to terminal cisternae (Meissner, G. (1975) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 389, 51-68). The permeability for calcium ions, as reflected by a 2-3-fold stimulation of (Ca2+, Mg2+)-ATPase activity in the presence of the Ca2+ ionophore A23187, and by the Ca2+ leak rate, is comparable in triads and heavy sarcoplasmic reticulum. Several transverse tubule characteristics are present in triads. Four of them, i.e. cholesterol content, ouabain binding, dihydroalprenolol binding (beta-adrenergic receptor), and ouabain-sensitive (Na+, K+)-ATPase activity, are comparably enriched in the Pyrophosphate triads and therefore appear to be quantitative indices of the amount of transverse tubule. Adenylate cyclase and basal ATPase are unreliable in this regard. Methodology for analyzing membrane integrity and sidedness was applied (adenylate cyclase activity) and modified (ouabain-sensitive (Na+, K+)-ATPase activity) to characterize the transverse tubule of the triad. In addition, a new method was developed making use of ouabain binding to study sidedness. These studies show that the transverse tubule is largely sealed and inside out in orientation, i.e. with the cytoplasmic face exposed. This report indicates that the t-tubule and sarcoplasmic reticulum components of the triads possess transport capability and retain permeability barriers for ions. Therefore, the isolated triads appear to be suitable for studying the physiological Ca2+ release process in vitro.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗

Influence of diabetes on rat liver mitochondria: decreased unsaturation of phospholipid and D-beta-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase activity.

Liver mitochondria and submitochondrial vesicles have been prepared from rats made diabetic by treatment with streptozotocin (diabetic membranes). The membranes were characterized in terms of phospholipid and fatty acid composition, electron transport functions, and D-beta-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase activity and compared with mitochondria and submitochondrial vesicles prepared from control animals (control membranes). No change in the phospholipid composition (44% lecithin, 35% phosphatidylethanolamine, and 21% diphosphatidylglycerol) was found, but a marked alteration in fatty acid composition of both the total phospholipid and lecithin occurred within 3 weeks after streptozotozin treatment and persisted thereafter. In lecithin, the 18:1/18:0 ratio decreases approximately 33% and the 20:4/18:2 ratio decreases approximately 55%. D-beta-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase is a lipid-requiring enzyme which has a specific requirement of lecithin for function. In diabetic membranes, there is a progressive decrease in D-beta-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase activity with time after streptozotocin treatment to about 40% of control value at 15 weeks. In contrast, succinate oxidase and succinate- or NADH-cytochrome c reductase activities remain essentially unaltered. Further, the Arrhenius plot characteristics differ for D-beta-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase in diabetic membranes as compared with control membranes, in that the break point of the biphasic plot increases from 20 +/- 1 degree C in controls to 29 +/- 1 degree C in samples from diabetic animals. The change occurs about 3 weeks after streptozotocin treatment and is correlatable with the increased saturation of the fatty acid moiety of the phospholipids. The observed changes in D-beta-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase function and phospholipid composition were prevented by administration of insulin to the diabetic animals and are therefore referable to insulin insufficiency.

Animals↗

Basis for decreased D-beta-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase activity in liver mitochondria from diabetic rats.

Liver mitochondria from rats made diabetic with streptozotocin have a reduced level of D-beta-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase (BDH) activity and decreased ratios of oleic/stearic and arachidonic/linoleic acids in the phospholipids of the mitochondrial membrane. This altered activity and lipid environment result from insulin deprivation since maintenance of the diabetic rats on insulin leads to normal characteristics (J.C. Vidal, J.O. McIntyre, P.F. Churchill, and S. Fleischer (1983) Arch. Biochem, Biophys. 224, 643-658). In the present study, the basis for the reduced enzymatic activity of this lipid-requiring enzyme was analyzed using three approaches: (i) Purified D-beta-hydroxybutyrate, dehydrogenase was inserted into membranes from mitochondria, submitochondrial vesicles, and mitochondrial lipids extracted therefrom. The activation was the same and optimal irrespective of whether the preparations were derived from normal or diabetic rat liver. Therefore, the decreased activity does not appear to be referable to an altered lipid composition. (ii) BDH activity can be released from the mitochondria by phospholipase A2 digestion. The released activity was proportional to the endogenous activity in the submitochondrial vesicles from normal and diabetic membranes. (iii) The BDH activity in submitochondrial vesicles was titrated by inhibition with specific antiserum. Less enzyme was found in mitochondria from diabetic rats as compared with those from normal animals. Hence, the lowered enzymatic activity is due to decreased enzyme in the mitochondrial inner membrane and not to the modified lipid environment.

Animals↗

Spontaneous calcium release from sarcoplasmic reticulum. General description and effects of calcium.

A form of spontaneous calcium release from purified sarcoplasmic reticulum isolated from rabbit skeletal muscle is described. The conditions utilized for eliciting spontaneous release rely on preloading the vesicles with calcium in the presence of phosphate. Under the conditions of assay, spontaneous release begins only after a time delay following depletion of calcium ions from the extravesicular space. Release rates as high as 10-20 mumol/mg . min have been observed, but only a portion of the calcium accumulated is released. Released calcium is reaccumulated, and successive spontaneous releases of smaller amounts of calcium are observed under some conditions. Release occurs as a consequence primarily of an increase in unidirectional Ca2+ efflux and, secondarily, a decrease in unidirectional Ca2+ influx. Unidirectional efflux is enhanced by calcium preloading, enhanced by low (0.01-0.1 microM) and reduced by moderate (1-10 microM) extravesicular free calcium levels. Spontaneous Ca2+ release is favored by much lower free calcium concentrations than Ca2+-induced Ca2+ release. The inhibition of unidirectional efflux by calcium appears to involve active calcium uptake. Release is not mediated by a reversal of the calcium pump. The temperature dependence of the release process is steep, comparable with that of energized Ca2+ uptake. This may reflect a process involved in the gating of a hypothetical calcium channel in the sarcoplasmic reticulum membrane.

Animals↗

Isolation and characterization of canine cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum with improved Ca2+ transport properties.

A procedure has been developed for isolating canine cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum with considerably improved Ca2+ transport properties and stability. Contamination by mitochondria and sarcolemma is low, and the preparation is at least 85% pure sarcoplasmic reticulum. The preparation exhibits efficient, high activity ATP-dependent, oxalate-facilitated Ca2+ accumulation. At 13-16 microM ionized Ca2+, loading at 37 degrees C is 2.55 +/- 0.08 mumol of Ca2+/mg of protein in 1 min and reaches 9.08 +/- 0.64 mumol of Ca2+/mg of protein. Approximately 1 mol of Ca2+ is transported per mol of ATP hydrolyzed. Ca2+-insensitive ATPase is low. The Ca2+ loading rate and the Ca2+/ATP efficiency are increased by addition of ryanodine. At 1.2 microM ionized Ca2+, where the control rate is significantly higher than values previously reported, the Ca2+ transport rate is further increased 64% by calmodulin, 2.3-fold by cAMP plus cAMP-dependent protein kinase, and 2.5-fold by the combination of these components. The preparation is stable for 24 h at room temperature and for 48 hr at 0 degrees C and can be stored at -70 degrees C with retention of function for more than 1 month. The preparation is further characterized by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, by phospholipid analysis, and by thin section, freeze-fracture, and negative staining electron microscopy. The analyses indicate that the orientation and turnover number of the cardiac Ca2+ pump protein are similar to those of the skeletal muscle enzyme, and that the major factor in the lower Ca2+ transport rate of cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum is a lower density of Ca2+ pump polypeptides in the membrane.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

The determination of the separate Ca2+ pump protein and phospholipid profile structures within reconstituted sarcoplasmic reticulum membranes via X-ray and neutron diffraction.

We have previously compared the electron density profiles for several highly-functional reconstituted sarcoplasmic reticulum membranes with that for the isolated sarcoplasmic reticulum membrane (Herbette, L., Scarpa, A., Blasie, J.K., Wang, C.T., Saito, A. and Fleischer, S. (1981) Biophys. J. 36, 47-72). In this paper, we compare the separate calcium pump protein profile within these reconstituted sarcoplasmic reticulum membranes, as derived by X-ray and neutron diffraction methods, with that within isolated sarcoplasmic reticulum membranes. In addition, the time-average perturbation of the lipid bilayer by the incorporated calcium pump protein within these reconstituted sarcoplasmic reticulum membranes has been determined in some detail.

Animals↗

Alteration of synaptic membrane cholesterol/phospholipid ratio using a lipid transfer protein. Effect on gamma-aminobutyric acid uptake.

A procedure was developed to vary the cholesterol-to-phospholipid (Ch/PL) ratio of synaptic plasma membranes and synaptosomes using a nonspecific lipid transfer protein so that membrane lipid composition could be correlated with presynaptic function. In synaptic plasma membranes, Ch/PL molar ratios from 0.21 to 1.19 were produced from a normal value of 0.52 +/- 0.01 by incubation with the transfer protein and an excess of either phosphatidylcholine or cholesterol/phosphatidylcholine liposomes for 60 min at 32 degrees C. In synaptosomes, Ch/PL ratios from 0.16 to 0.81 were similarly produced from a normal value of 0.38 +/- 0.04. Cholesterol loading or depletion of the membranes was accompanied by a decrease or increase, respectively in the phospholipid-to-protein ratio. The fluidity of the synaptic plasma membrane, as estimated by 1,6-diphenylhexatriene anisotropy measurements, was increased by lowering the Ch/PL ratio and decreased by raising the Ch/PL ratio. Decreasing the Ch/PL ratio of synaptosomes and synaptic plasma membrane vesicles resulted in loss of sodium-dependent gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) uptake (70-100% loss at Ch/PL ratios decreased to 40% of normal) and reduction in the number of accessible GABA-binding sites. Choline uptake was not affected in these same preparations. GABA uptake was restored by reinserting cholesterol into the membrane. Synaptosomal membrane potential and synaptic plasma membrane sodium permeability were not affected by changing the Ch/PL ratio. Increase in the Ch/PL ratio above normal had no effect on either choline or GABA uptake. Both the decrease in the Ch/PL ratio and the increase in the lipid-to-protein ratio increase membrane "fluidity," lipid-to-protein ratio increase membrane "fluidity," which may modulate the vertical displacement and motional characteristics of the GABA transporter.

Animals↗

Target size of D-beta-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase. Functional and structural molecular weight based on radiation inactivation.

D-beta-Hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase is a lipid-requiring enzyme which is localized on the inner face of the mitochondrial inner membrane. The apoenzyme has been purified to homogeneity from beef heart; it is devoid of lipid and inactive. It can be functionally reconstituted with lecithin or phospholipid mixtures containing lecithin. The active form of the enzyme is the enzyme-phospholipid complex. Classical target analysis of radiation-inactivation data has now been used to determine the molecular size of the enzyme both in the native membrane (submitochondrial vesicles) and in the reconstituted enzyme inserted into phospholipid vesicles containing lecithin. For both forms of the enzyme, we find the same molecular size, approximately 110,00 daltons. This size is consistent with a tetramer. Radiation results in fragmentation of the polypeptide and the destruction of the polypeptide correlates with loss of enzymic function. A similar size is obtained when purified D-beta-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase is inserted into a nonactivating mixture of phospholipid (i.e. in the absence of lecithin). We conclude that: 1) the native enzyme in submitochondrial vesicles and the purified active enzyme in phospholipid vesicles are the same size, approximating a tetramer; 2) radiation of D-beta-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase results in loss of activity and fragmentation of the polypeptide; and 3) the role of lecithin in activation of D-beta-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase is unrelated to determining oligomeric size of the enzymes since both active and nonactive forms exhibit the same structural size.

Animals↗

Activation of D-beta-hydroxybutyrate apodehydrogenase using molecular species of mixed fatty acyl phospholipids.

D-beta-Hydroxybutyrate apodehydrogenase is a lipid-requiring enzyme with a specific requirement of lecithin for enzymatic function. The purified enzyme which is devoid of lipid can be reactivated with lecithin or mixtures of natural phospholipid-containing lecithin. However, it is mitochondrial phospholipid which activates the enzyme optimally and with kinetic parameters similar to that of the native membrane-bound enzyme. Mitochondrial phospholipid consists of three classes of phospholipid (lecithin:phosphatidylethanolamine:diphosphatidylglycerol in a ratio of approximately 2:2:1 by phosphorus); each class consists of a multiplicity of different molecular species due to diversity in the fatty acyl substituents. In this study, we have synthesized defined molecular species of mixed fatty acyl phospholipids to evaluate whether multiplicity of phospholipid molecular species are essential for optimal reactivation. We find that: 1) ternary mixtures of single molecular species of phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, and phosphatidylpropan-1,3-diol in the liquid crystalline state mimic the optimal reactivation of the enzyme obtained with mitochondrial phospholipids; 2) although some negatively charged phospholipid appears necessary for optimizing the efficiency of activation, diphosphatidylglycerol can be replaced by phosphatidylpropan-1,3-diol, another negatively charged phospholipid; and 3) biphasic Arrhenius plots can be correlated with the liquid crystalline and gel states of the phospholipid.

Animals↗