Biomedical subjects

W Stoffel

Publications and source records attributed to W Stoffel.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMed1997

Myelin glycolipids and their functions.

During myelination, oligodendrocytes in the CNS and Schwann cells in the PNS synthesise myelin-specific proteins and lipids for the assembly of the axon myelin sheath. A dominant class of lipids in the myelin bilayer are the glycolipids, which include galactocerebroside (GalC), galactosulfatide (sGalC) and galactodiglyceride (GalDG). A promising approach for unravelling the roles played by various lipids in the myelin membrane involves knocking out the genes encoding important enzymes in lipid biosynthesis. The recent ablation of the ceramide galactosyltransferase ( cgt) gene in mice is the first example. The cgt gene encodes a key enzyme in glycolipid biosynthesis. Its absence causes glycolipid deficiency in the lipid bilayer, breakdown of axon insulation and loss of saltatory conduction. Additional knock-out studies should provide important insights into the various functions of glycolipids in myelinogenesis and myelin structure.

Animals↗

PubMed1997

Inhibition of the high-affinity brain glutamate transporter GLAST-1 via direct phosphorylation.

Neurotransmission at excitatory glutamatergic synapses is terminated by the reuptake of the neurotransmitter by high-affinity transporters, which keep the extracellular glutamate concentration below excitotoxic levels. The amino acid sequence of the recently isolated and cloned brain-specific glutamate/aspartate transporter (GLAST-1) of the rat reveals three consensus sequences of putative phosphorylation sites for protein kinase C (PKC). The PKC activator phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) decreased glutamate transport activity in Xenopus oocytes and human embryonic kidney cells (HEK293) expressing the cloned GLAST-1 cDNA, within 20 min, to 25% of the initial transport activity. This downregulation was blocked by the PKC inhibitor staurosporine. GLAST-1 transport activity remains unimpaired by phorbol 12-monomyristate. Removal of all putative PKC sites of wild-type GLAST-1 by site-directed mutagenesis did not abolish inhibition of glutamate transport. [32P]Phosphate-labeled wild-type and mutant transport proteins devoid of all predicted PKC sites were detected by immunoprecipitation after stimulation with PMA. Immunoprecipitation of [35S]methionine-labeled transporter molecules indicates a similar stability of phosphorylated and nonphosphorylated GLAST-1 protein. Immunofluorescence staining did not differentiate surface staining of HEK293 cells expressing GLAST-1 with and without PMA treatment. These data suggest that the neurotransmitter transporter activity of GLAST-1 is inhibited by phosphorylation at a non-PKC consensus site.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

PubMed1997

Light and electron microscopic analysis of the central and peripheral nervous systems of acid sphingomyelinase-deficient mice resulting from gene targeting.

The acid sphingomyelinase (aSmase)-deficient mouse line recently generated by gene targeting (Otterbach and Stoffel, 1995) develops a lethal storage disease which is phenotypically comparable to the neurovisceral form of the human sphingomyelinosis, Niemann-Pick disease type A (NPA). This report describes the progressive accumulation of uncatabolized lipid substrates at the cellular and ultrastructural level in different regions of the nervous system of homozygous aSmase-/- mice, including cerebrum, cerebellum, spinal cord, optic nerve and peripheral nerves. We saw a cytoplasmic accumulation of pleomorphic lysosomal structures in cells of all regions under study, most extensively in macrophages, vascular endothelial cells, and also in neuronal perikarya. The complete and early degeneration of Purkinje cells was particularly striking. Moreover, we found a storage material in the cytoplasm of Schwann cells and to a minor extent in oligodendrocytes. In most advanced stages of the disorder, we detected an axonal dystrophy in both the central nervous system (CNS) and peripheral nervous system (PNS), without signs of dysmyelination or demyelination. The morphological changes of the central and peripheral nervous systems in the homozygous aSmase-/- mouse line closely resemble those in human NPA.

Animals↗

PubMed1996

Functional analysis of the glycosylation of murine acid sphingomyelinase.

Glycosylation plays a crucial role in glycoprotein stability and its correct folding. Murine acid sphingomyelinase (ASM) is a lysosomal glycoprotein. We studied the functional role of its individual N-linked oligosaccharides needed to maintain enzymatic activity and protein stability. Mutagenized cDNA constructs were heterologously expressed. All six potential N-glycosylation sites were modified. Incomplete glycosylation of the most distant C-terminal site resulted in two isoforms. Oligosaccharides at N-84, N-173, and N-611 were found to be of minor importance for enzymatic activity. The glycosylation defect at N-333 or N-393 reduced the enzymatic activity to 40% and at N-518 to less than 20%. These mutations did not effect the Km value. Glycosylation at N-333 and N-393 mainly contributed to the enzyme stability and prevented degradation at lysosomal acidic pH, whereas the low residual enzymatic activity of mutant ASM deficient in glycosylation at N-518 was caused by protein misfolding. The mutant protein was also prone to proteolysis when trapped in the endoplasmic reticulum/cis-Golgi after brefeldin A application. Insufficiently glycosylated ASM formed a stable complex with BiP, an immunoglobulin heavy chain-binding protein, and thus remained in the endoplasmic reticulum. 32PO4 labeling revealed that the glycosylation mutants of ASM were phosphorylated predominantly at mannose residues of oligosaccharides linked to N-84, N-333, and N-393.

Animals↗

PubMed1996

Functional breakdown of the lipid bilayer of the myelin membrane in central and peripheral nervous system by disrupted galactocerebroside synthesis.

The lipid bilayer of the myelin membrane of the central nervous system (CNS) and the peripheral nervous system (PNS) contains the oligodendrocyte- and Schwann cell-specific glycosphingolipids galactocerebrosides (GalC) and GalC-derived sulfatides (sGalC). We have generated a UDP-galactose ceramide galactosyltransferase (CGT) null mutant mouse (cgt-/-) with CNS and PNS myelin completely depleted of GalC and derived sGalC. Oligodendrocytes and Schwann cells are unable to restore the structure and function of these galactosphingolipids to maintain the insulator function of the membrane bilayer. The velocity of nerve conduction of homozygous cgt-/- mice is reduced to that of unmyelinated axons. This indicates a severely altered ion permeability of the lipid bilayer. GalC and sGalC are essential for the unperturbed lipid bilayer of the myelin membrane of CNS and PNS. The severe dysmyelinosis leads to death of the cgt-/- mouse at the end of the myelination period.

Animals↗

PubMed1996

Myelin structure in proteolipid protein (PLP)-null mouse spinal cord.

Fixed preparations of proteolipid protein (PLP)-null mouse spinal cord show myelin sheaths which in some regions consist of typical alternating major dense lines (MDLs) and intermediate lines (ILs) with a repeat period of 10.3 nm. More commonly, the lamellar structure consists of what appears to be a single population of dense lines, having a repeat period of 5.2 nm. These apparently equivalent lines are, however, sometimes distinguishable as MDLs or ILs based on continuity with cytoplasmic or extracellular regions. Focal separations of lamellae at the intermediate line are common. MDLs too may be replaced focally by cytoplasmic pockets, sometimes in the same quadrant over several lamellae, resembling Schmidt-Lanterman clefts. Occasional densities reminiscent of the "radial component" can be seen. Otherwise, this structure, which is prominent in wild-type myelin, is conspicuously absent. Redundant folding of some lamellae but not others may occur in the same sheath. These observations conform to those made previously on the isolated myelin segments that occur in the myelin-deficient rat central nervous system (CNS), which also lacks PLP. Thus, a compact lamellar structure can be seen in fixed PLP-null myelin, but defects in the apposition of both the extracellular and the cytoplasmic surfaces of the myelin membranes are common. The abnormalities seen suggest a lack of firm intermembrane bonding, resulting in structural instability. PLP-null myelin may therefore be more susceptible than normal myelin to disruption by mechanical or osmotic stresses. Although PLP is not essential for the formation of either major dense lines or intermediate lines, it may play a role in stabilizing the compact structure.

Animals↗

PubMed1996

Molecular cloning and characterization of the mouse CGT gene encoding UDP-galactose ceramide-galactosyltransferase (cerebroside synthetase).

UDP-galactose ceramide galactosyltransferase, CGT, EC 2.4.1.45, is the key enzyme in the biosynthesis of cerebrosides and sulfatides, which are the most abundant glycosphingolipids in the myelin of the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system. The cell-specific and highly time-regulated expression of the CGT gene is thought to play an important role in oligodendrocyte and Schwann cell differentiation. Three genomic clones encoding the mouse CGT gene were isolated and characterized. The gene is distributed over >42 kb, and the coding sequence is distributed over five exons ranging from 77 to 822 bp. Putative transcription start sites were determined by primer extension experiments. The CGT gene locus is highly conserved during evolution.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1996

Human high affinity, Na(+)-dependent L-glutamate/L-aspartate transporter GLAST-1 (EAAT-1): gene structure and localization to chromosome 5p11-p12.

The gene of the human L-glutamate transporter hGLAST-1 (EAAT-1) has been isolated and characterized. The 1626 bp cDNA open reading frame (542 aa) is distributed over ten exons and at least 85 kb on chromosome 5p11-p12. The gene is unrelated to any other previously described neurotransmitter transporter gene family, but its exon/intron structure corresponds largely to that of the Na(+)-dependent neutral amino acid transporter ASCT-1. GLAST-1, ASCT-1 and the glutamate transporters GLT-1 and EAAC-1 have strongly similar amino acid sequences. The L-glutamate transporter gene structures might help to understand the correlation of L-glutamate reuptake in neurodegenerative disorders.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1996

The human gene CGT encoding the UDP-galactose ceramide galactosyl transferase (cerebroside synthase): cloning, characterization, and assignment to human chromosome 4, band q26.

We have previously cloned the human UDP-galactose ceramide galactosyltransferase (CGT, E.C. 2.4.1.45) cDNA. Its open reading frame encodes the key enzyme in the biosynthesis of the glycosphingolipids, cerebrosides and sulfatides, essential constituents of the myelin membrane of the central nervous system (CNS) and PNS. Expression of the CGT gene and of the myelin-specific proteins in the terminal differentiated oligodendrocyte of CNS and in Schwann cells of PNS is cell-specific and highly time-regulated. The CGT gene therefore is important in the differentiation program of the oligodendrocyte lineage. Here we report the structural organization and the chromosomal localization of the human CGT gene. The coding sequence is separated into five exons, which are distributed over >40 kb. The CGT locus was mapped to the distal region of human chromosome 4, band q26. The organization of the CGT gene and of the UGT (uridylglucuronosyltransferases) gene family suggests a correlation to functional domains of the encoded proteins.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1996

Construction and functional characterization of recombinant fusion proteins of human lipoprotein lipase and apolipoprotein CII.

The hydrolysis of triacylglycerols of chylomicrons and very low density lipoproteins by lipoprotein lipase (LPL) requires the presence of apolipoprotein (apo) CII as a cofactor. To obtain further information on the interaction of apo CII and LPL, we generated two fusion proteins consisting of the complete LPL molecule and the mature form of apo CII. The cDNAs of both proteins were either connected directly or by a segment encoding a 16-amino-acid linker peptide. The fused cDNAs were stably expressed in human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293 cells and the enzymic properties of the recombinant proteins were examined. The fusion proteins hydrolysed both emulsified long-chain (lipase) triacyglycerol substrate and a water-soluble short-chain (esterase) fatty acid ester substrate (p-nitrophenylbutyrate), regardless of whether or not they contained the linker peptide. In the absence of exogenous apo CII, the fusion proteins had up to 3.5-times higher basal activity than wild-type LPL. Similar to wild-type LPL, the fusion proteins were inhibited by 1 M NaCl, however less than wild-type LPL. A polyclonal antibody specific for apo CII impaired their ability to hydrolyse triacylglycerol emulsions. A similar effect was seen when the tetrapeptide KGEE was used as inhibitor, which corresponds to the carboxy-terminal four amino acids of apo CII.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1996

Membrane topology of the high-affinity L-glutamate transporter (GLAST-1) of the central nervous system.

The membrane topology of the high affinity, Na(+)-coupled L-glutamate/L-aspartate transporter (GLAST-1) of the central nervous system has been determined. Truncated GLAST-1 cDNA constructs encoding protein fragments with an increasing number of hydrophobic regions were fused to a cDNA encoding a reporter peptide with two N-glycosylation sites. The respective cRNA chimeras were translated in vitro and in vivo in Xenopus oocytes. Posttranslational N-glycosylation of the two reporter consensus sites monitors the number, size, and orientation of membrane-spanning domains. The results of our experiments suggest a novel 10-transmembrane domain topology of GLAST-1, a representative of the L-glutamate neurotransmitter transporter family, with its NH2 and COOH termini on the cytoplasmic side, six NH2-terminal hydrophobic transmembrane alpha-helices, and four COOH-terminal short hydrophobic domains spanning the bilayer predicted as beta-sheets.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1996

Quantification of gangliosides by microbore high performance liquid chromatography.

A highly sensitive analytical method was developed that allows the separation of ganglioside mixtures and quantification of individual non-derivatized gangliosides in the concentration range between 2 pmol and 1 nmol. Gangliosides were separated with a gradient of acetonitrile/phosphate buffer on a 1 mm diameter microbore HPLC column packed with Spherisorb-NH2. They eluted according to their number of sialic acid residues with increasing phosphate and decreasing acetonitrile concentrations. The separation of different gangliosides with equal sialic acid content is also described. The column effluent was monitored at the maximum of absorption at 197 nm. The sensitivity is higher than resorcinol staining of fractionated gangliosides by thin layer chromatography, previously the standard method for ganglioside analysis. The separated gangliosides can be analyzed by further methods. The HPLC method described here has been applied to the analysis of serum and oligodendroglioma specimens.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid↗

PubMed1995

UDP galactose:ceramide galactosyltransferase and glutamate/aspartate transporter. Copurification, separation and characterization of the two glycoproteins.

The oligodendrocyte-specific UDP-galactose:ceramide galactosyltransferase (CGT) is the key enzyme involved in the biosynthesis of the oligodendrocyte- and myelin-specific cerebrosides. The galactosyltransferase was isolated and purified to homogeneity from Triton-X-100-solubilized rat brain microsomes by ion exchange, dye ligand and lectin affinity chromatography as a 64-kDa protein homogenous in SDS/PAGE. It copurified with the brain-specific Na(+)-dependent high-affinity L-glutamate/aspartate neurotransmitter transporter (GLAST-1) of the central nervous system. Differential lentil lectin affinity chromatography led to the separation of two glycoproteins with very similar physical properties. CGT was identified as a high-mannose glycoprotein and GLAST-1 as a hybrid glycoprotein, both with a molecular mass of 64 kDa. Deglycosylation reduced the molecular mass of the two proteins to 59 kDa. A 70-kDa isoform of GLAST-1 was isolated from whole brain by wheat germ lectin affinity chromatography. Deglycosylation again reduced the molecular mass to 59 kDa. Therefore the 70-kDa isoform differs only in the degree of glycosylation from the 64-kDa GLAST-1 isoform. The two isoproteins form homodimers of 130 and 140 kDa, respectively. They were isolated and characterized with protein-chemical and immunological methods. Oligonucleotides derived from respective peptide sequences of CGT and GLAST-1 were successfully applied to the cloning of CGT and the first high-affinity glutamate neurotransmitter transporter (GLAST-1) in glia of the central nervous system as well.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1995

Functional analysis of the high affinity, Na(+)-dependent glutamate transporter GLAST-1 by site-directed mutagenesis.

The reuptake of excitatory amino acids, such as glutamate, terminates excitatory signals and prevents the persistence of excitotoxic levels of glutamate in the synaptic cleft. The L-glutamate/L-aspartate transporter (GLAST-1) is the first member of the recently discovered glutamate transporter family, which includes GLT-1 and EAAC1. The neutral amino acid carrier ASCT1 is structurally closely related to this new family of membrane proteins. Transmembrane transport of neutral amino acids is expected to differ in its binding site from that of the acidic excitatory amino acids glutamate and aspartate. Three positively charged amino acid residues, Arg-122, Arg-280, Arg-479, and one polar Tyr-405 are conserved in all glutamate transporters. They are replaced by apolar amino acid residues in the ASCT1 sequence. We exchanged these residues in the GLAST-1-specific cDNA by site-directed mutagenesis. cRNAs of these mutants were expressed in the Xenopus oocyte system. The functional characterization of the mutants R122I and R280V and the double mutant R122I, R280V revealed that the mutations have no influence on the intrinsic properties and kinetics of glutamate transport but alter the Km-values for L-aspartate and the competitive inhibitor D,L-threo-3-hydroxy aspartate. Substitutions of Tyr-405 by Phe (Y405F) and Arg-479 (R479T) by Thr completely inactivate the glutamate transporter. Immunoprecipitations of [35S]methionine-labeled transporter molecules indicate similar expression levels of wild-type and mutant transporters. Immunostaining of oocyte sections clearly proves the correct targeting to and integration of the mutant GLAST-1 proteins in the plasma membrane. Our results suggest the pivotal function of the hydroxy group of the highly conserved Tyr-405 and the positively charged Arg-479 in the binding of the negatively charged acidic neurotransmitter glutamate.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1995

Decompaction of CNS myelin leads to a reduction of the conduction velocity of action potentials in optic nerve.

The conduction velocity of action potentials in nerve fibres is proportional to degree of myelination. Here we studied the influence of myelin ultrastructure on the compound action potential conduction velocity in optic nerves of the proteolipid protein (PLP)-deficient mouse model, which displays loose myelination in central fibres. We show that a myelin decompaction leads to a suboptimal conduction velocity. The significance of myelin ultrastructure for conduction of action potential in the optic nerve is discussed.

Action Potentials↗

PubMed1995

Acid sphingomyelinase-deficient mice mimic the neurovisceral form of human lysosomal storage disease (Niemann-Pick disease).

We have generated an acid sphingomyelinase (aSMase)-deficient mouse line by gene targeting. This novel strain of mutant mouse mimics the lethal, neurovisceral form of the human sphingomyelin storage disease, known as Niemann-Pick disease. Homozygous mice accumulate sphingomyelin extensively in the reticuloendothelial system of liver, spleen, bone marrow, and lung, and in the brain. Most strikingly, the ganglionic cell layer of Purkinje cells of the cerebellum degenerates completely, leading to severe impairment of neuromotor coordination. The Niemann-Pick mouse might facilitate studies on the function of aSMase in the generation of ceramide as proposed second messenger in the intracellular signaling pathways and across the plasma membrane. Furthermore, it provides a suitable model for the development of strategies for somatic gene therapy.

Animals↗

PubMed1995

Localization of N-glycosylation sites and functional role of the carbohydrate units of GLAST-1, a cloned rat brain L-glutamate/L-aspartate transporter.

The L-glutamate transporter GLAST-1 belongs to the newly discovered family of Na(+)-dependent, high-affinity glutamate transporters, which are involved in the regulation of synaptic excitatory neurotransmitter concentration in mammalian brain. The members of this family have a similar topological organisation with at least six transmembrane helices (TMHs) and two putative N-glycosylation sites located in the extracellular loop connecting TMH 3 and TMH 4. Besides these two conserved N-glycosylation motifs at Asn206 and Asn216, GLAST-1 possesses an additional one at Asn35. The putative N-glycosylation consensus motifs (Asn-Xaa-Ser/Thr) were deleted by replacement of Asn206 and/or Asn216 by Thr using site-directed mutagenesis (mutants N206T, N216T and N206,216T). The cDNAs encoding wild-type GLAST-1 and the three glycosylation-defective transport proteins were expressed in the Xenopus laevis oocyte system. Immunoprecipitation of the [35S]methionine-labeled and glycopeptidase-F-treated transporter molecules indicates that GLAST-1 is glycosylated at Asn206 and Asn216, whereas Asn35 remains unglycosylated. To assess a possible functional role of the two glycosylation sites wild-type and glycosylation-deficient GLAST-1 were expressed in Xenopus oocytes and characterized functionally by using the whole-cell voltage-clamp technique. The results prove that N-glycosylation has no impact on the transport activity of GLAST-1.

Amino Acid Transport System X-AG↗

PubMed1995

Enoyl-CoA hydratase and isomerase form a superfamily with a common active-site glutamate residue.

Mitochondrial 2-enoyl-CoA hydratase (mECH) and 3,2-trans-enoyl-CoA isomerase (mECI), two enzymes which catalyze totally different reactions in fatty acid beta-oxidation, belong to the low-similarity hydratase/isomerase enzyme superfamily. Their substrates and reaction mechanisms are similar [Müller-Newen, G. & Stoffel, W. (1993) Biochemistry 32, 11,405-11,412]. Glu164 of mECH is the only amino acid with a protic side chain that is conserved in these monofunctional and polyfunctional enzymes with 2-enoyl-CoA hydratase and 3,2-trans-enoyl-CoA isomerase activities. We tested our hypothesis that Glu164 of mECH is the putative active-site amino acid responsible for the base-catalyzed alpha-deprotonation in the hydratase/dehydrase and isomerase reaction. We functionally expressed rat liver mECH wild-type and [E164Q] mutant enzymes in Escherichia coli. Characterization of the purified wild-type and mutant enzymes revealed that the replacement of Glu164 by Gln lowers the kcat value more than 100,000-fold, whereas the Km value is only moderately affected. We have demonstrated in a previous study that Glu165 is indispensable for the 3,2-trans-enoyl-CoA isomerase activity. Taking these results together, we conclude that the conserved glutamic acid is the essential basic group in the active sites of 2-enoyl-CoA hydratase (Glu164) and 3,2-trans-enoyl-CoA isomerase (Glu165), and that these enzymes are not only evolutionarily but also functionally and mechanistically related.

Amino Acid Sequence↗