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Comparison of spontaneous phospholipid transfer between phospholipid vesicles and between phospholipid-bile salt mixed micelles.

Fluorescent-labeled N-(7-nitro-2,1,3-benzoxadiazol-4-yl)phosphatidylethanolamine was used to compare the spontaneous rates of phospholipid transfer between phospholipid vesicles and between phospholipid-bile salt micelles. The half times for transfer between the mixed micelles are 200 to 6,000 times faster than between vesicles, depending on the acyl chain length of the N-(7-nitro-2,1,3-benzoxadiazol-4-yl)phosphatidylethanolamine and the total lipid concentration. A kinetic analysis of the rates of phospholipid transfer between vesicles indicated that transfer occurs predominantly as soluble monomers moving through the water phase. Transfer between mixed micelles was found to occur by the same aqueous diffusion mechanism at low lipid concentrations, but at high lipid concentrations, transfer occurs predominantly during transient micelle collisions. The faster rate of transfer between mixed micelles relative to vesicles results both from the collision-dependent transfer and from an increase in the rate-limiting step for aqueous diffusion-phospholipid dissociation from the micelle surface. The relative contribution of collision-dependent transfer to the overall transfer rate increases with phospholipid acyl chain length and total lipid concentration. For the phospholipid species and mixed micelle concentrations normally found in the biliary tract, the predominant mode of transfer is predicted to occur by the collision-dependent mechanism.

Bile Acids and Salts↗

A method for the modulation of membrane fluidity: homogeneous catalytic hydrogenation of phospholipids and phospholipids and phospholipid-water model biomembranes.

The fatty acids associated with phospholipids of cell membranes, and particularly their degree of unsaturation, contribute to the fluidity of their structure and hance determine many of their biological properties. We describe a technique for modulating membrane fluidity which consists of hydrogenating the unsaturated double bonds of membrane phospholipids. This has been accomplished using a homogeneous catalyst. The process has been applied to phospholipids in organic solvents, to phospholipids dispersed as multibilayers in aqueous systems, and also to sonicated preparations of phospholipids arranged as single bilayer vesicles. Preliminary experiments have also been performed with biological membranes. These results indicate that the process of homogeneous catalysis for the modulation of lipid fluidity of biological cell membranes may have considerable future biological and biochemical application.

Catalysis↗

Anti-phospholipid antibodies in HIV infection and SLE with or without anti-phospholipid syndrome: comparisons of phospholipid specificity, avidity and reactivity with beta2-GPI.

Increased prevalence of anti-phospholipid antibodies (aPL) and increased levels of lipid peroxidation have been described in patients with HIV infection. To assess the binding specificity and avidity of aPL antibodies in HIV infection, sera from 44 HIV-1 infected patients were evaluated for antibodies to cardiolipin (aCL), phosphatidyl serine (aPS), phosphatidyl inositol (aPI) and phosphatidyl choline (aPC) using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) methods. Sera from 30 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), but without features of anti-phospholipid syndrome (APS) (SLE/non APS), six with SLE and secondary APS, (SLE/APS) and 11 with primary APS (PAPS) were also evaluated as controls. The resistance of the aPL antibody binding to dissociating agents was evaluated by treating the ELISA wells, after serum incubation with 2 M urea or 0.6 M NaCl for 10 min. An anti-beta2-glycoprotein-I (beta2-GPI) ELISA was used to assess serum reactivity against beta2-GPI, a plasma protein considered as the true antigen of aCL antibodies occurring in APS and SLE patients. The prevalence of aCL, aPS, aPI and aPC antibodies in HIV-1 infection was 36%, 56%, 34% and 43% respectively, which was comparable to that found in SLE/APS and PAPS patients and significantly higher than that observed in SLE/non-APS patients. Anti-beta2-GPI antibodies occurred in 5% of HIV-1 infected vs. 17% in SLE/non-APS (P=0.11), 50% in SLE/APS (P=0.009) and 70% in PAPS patients (P=0.0014). A significant decrease of aPL binding after urea and NaCl treatment was observed in the sera of HIV-1-infected, compared to that of APS patients, indicating that aPL antibodies from HIV-1 infected individuals have low resistance to dissociating agents. In conclusion, aPL antibodies (1) occur in HIV-1 infection; (2) tend to recognize various phospholipids but not beta2-GPI; and (3) are of low resistance to dissociating agents-a finding probably reflecting low antibody avidity. Finally, these, like the autoimmune-type aCL antibodies, tend to recognize the oxidized CL-a finding probably indicating autoantibody generation as a result of neoepitope formation by oxidized PLs.

Adult↗

Membrane phospholipid bilayer assembly: phospholipid biosynthetic enzymes and phospholipid transporters.

Assembly of the phospholipid bilayer of cellular membranes is a fundamental aspect of cell growth and proliferation. Phospholipids are concomitantly synthesized and inserted at the cytoplasmic surface of the endoplasmic reticulum. Following this asymmetric assembly, transmembrane movement to the lumenal leaflet of the endoplasmic reticulum must occur in order to ensure coordinated growth of the bilayer. For phosphatidylcholine, the predominant phospholipid of eukaryotic membranes, this latter process appears to be facilitated by a specific transport protein.

Animals↗

Effects of polyethyleneglycol chain length and phospholipid acyl chain composition on the interaction of polyethyleneglycol-phospholipid conjugates with phospholipid: implications in liposomal drug delivery.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate polyethyleneglycol(PEG)-phosphatidylethanolamine(PE) conjugate interaction with phospholipid bilayers, in an attempt to explain the dependence of liposome circulation time on formulation. METHODS: Differential scanning calorimetry, electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering and NMR were the major methods used in the study. RESULTS: Mixtures of PEG-phospholipid conjugates and phosphatidylcholine existed in three different physical states: a lamellar phase with components exhibiting some miscibility, a lamellar phase with components phase separated, and mixed micelles. Beyond 7 mol-percent of PEG(1,000-3,000)-dipalmitoyl phosphatidylethanolamine (DPPE), and 11 mol% PEG(5,000)-DPPE in dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine (DPPC), a strong tendency towards mixed micelle formation was observed. All concentrations of PEG(12,000)-DPPE and PEG(5,000)-DPPE beyond 8 mol% formed phase separated lamellae with phosphatidylcholine. Decreasing the acyl chain length from C(16:0) to C(14:0) caused a decrease in tendency towards micelle formation and phase separation. These tendencies increased upon increasing acyl chain length to C(18:0). Phase separation was at least partly due to PEG chain-chain interaction. This was supported by an increased fraction of PEG chains exhibiting a fast NMR transverse relaxation in DPPC/PEG(5,000)-DPPE mixtures as compared to that in distearoyl phosphatidylcholine (DSPC)/PEG(5,000)-dioleoyl-PE (DOPE). CONCLUSIONS: These phenomena are discussed in relation to both bilayer and steric stabilization of liposomes, and the lack of prolonged circulation with certain formulations is discussed.

Calorimetry, Differential Scanning↗

Local anesthetic-phospholipid interactions. Effects of ionic strength, temperature, and phospholipid mixtures on the binding of dibucaine to phospholipids.

The nature of the interaction of amphipathic drugs, such as dibucaine, with phospholipid bilayer membranes was investigated using equilibrium dialysis. Profiles for the binding of cationic dibucaine to unilamellar vesicles were obtained at different temperature and ionic strengths, and for mixtures of neutral phospholipid dimyristylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC) with negatively charged dimyristylphosphatidylglycerol (DMPG). The degree of binding of the cationic drug at pH 5 was found to be higher at temperatures above the Tm of DMPC (24 degrees C) than below Tm. Also enhanced drug binding was found to occur as the concentration of monovalent salt was increased (0.01-0.85 M) and as the percentage of DMPG was increased. Using the Stern and Guoy-Chapman model, which takes into consideration electrostatic effects, we were able to simultaneously fit all our binding data with a minimum of fitting parameters. These parameters (for data at 45 degrees C) are an association constant, K, of 330 M-1, a maximum possible number of drug molecules absorbed per unit surface of vesicle, sigma m+, of 1.70 x 10(-2) A2, and a surface area per bound drug, gamma D, of 48 A2. The data were fitted equally well by an alternate model in which binding of the drug is described as a partitioning equilibrium, with factors included for electrostatic effects and surface expansion caused by drug intercalation between the fatty acid chains.

Data Interpretation, Statistical↗

Comparative study of phospholipid transfer activities mediated by cholesteryl ester transfer protein and phospholipid transfer protein.

In the present study, a sequential procedure was set up to separate simultaneously cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP), phospholipid transfer protein (PTP), and lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) from human plasma. Subsequently, phospholipid transfer activities of purified lipid transfer proteins, deprived of LCAT activity, were compared and potential interactions between the two proteins were studied. Phospholipid transfer (PT) activity was determined by using three independent assays that measured the transfer of radiolabeled phosphatidylcholine ([14C]PC) either from phospholipid liposomes to high density lipoproteins-3 (PTliposome-->HDL3), from high density lipoproteins-3 to phospholipid liposomes (PTHDL3-->liposome), or from HDL3 to low density lipoproteins (PTHDL3-->LDL). Comparative study of CETP and PTP pointed out several differences in the ability of the two proteins to transfer phospholipids. i) Whereas both CETP and PTP were able to mediate phospholipid transfers from [14C]PC-HDL3 to LDL, only PTP facilitated phospholipid transfers from [14C]PC-liposomes to HDL3. ii) As PTP did not promote the transfer of phospholipids from [14C]PC-HDL3 to liposomes, it was concluded that it functions as a phospholipid transfer protein rather than a phospholipid exchange protein. This latter point was confirmed by the ability of purified PTP to induce the net mass transfer of phospholipids from PC-liposomes to HDL3. iii) While PTP presented no intrinsic cholesteryl ester transfer activity, it was able to significantly increase CETP-mediated cholesteryl ester transfers from HDL3 to LDL. iv) CETP did not influence the PTliposome-->HDL3 activity induced by PTP. v) Oleic acid was able to significantly increase the cholesteryl ester transfer activity of CETP, but not the PTliposome-->HDL3 activity of PTP. vi) PTHDL3-->LDL activity of purified CETP was explained, for a large part, by the copurification of nonesterified fatty acids. Taken together, data of the present report suggest that phospholipid transfer activity of CETP and PTP could occur through distinct processes. Since, in human plasma, PTP is not only responsible for the major part of phospholipid net mass transfer but is also able in vitro to modulate the CETP-mediated transfer of cholesteryl esters between various plasma lipoprotein fractions, it could play a determinant role in lipoprotein remodeling in vivo.

Carrier Proteins↗

Plasma phospholipid transfer protein enhances transfer and exchange of phospholipids between very low density lipoproteins and high density lipoproteins during lipolysis.

In order to determine the effects of a plasma phospholipid transfer protein on the transfer of phospholipids from very low density lipoproteins (VLDL) to high density lipoproteins (HDL) during lipolysis, biosynthetically labeled rat 32P-labeled VLDL was incubated with human HDL3 and bovine milk lipoprotein lipase (LPL) in the presence of the plasma d greater than 1.21 g/ml fraction or a partially purified human plasma phospholipid transfer protein (PTP). The addition of either the PTP or the d greater than 1.21 g/ml fraction resulted in a 2- to 3-fold stimulation of the transfer of phospholipid radioactivity from VLDL into HDL during lipolysis. In the absence of LPL, the PTP caused a less marked stimulation of transfer of phospholipid radioactivity. Both the d greater than 1.21 g/ml fraction and the PTP enhanced the transfer of VLDL phospholipid mass into HDL, but the percentage transfer of phospholipid radioactivity was greater than that of phospholipid mass, suggesting stimulation of both transfer and exchange processes. Stimulation of phospholipid exchange was confirmed in experiments where PTP was found to augment transfer of [14C]phosphatidylcholine radioactivity from HDL to VLDL during lipolysis. In experiments performed with human VLDL and human HDL3, both the d greater than 1.21 g/ml fraction and the PTP were found to stimulate phospholipid mass transfer from VLDL into HDL during lipolysis. Analysis of HDL by non-denaturing polyacrylamide gradient gel electrophoresis showed that enhanced lipid transfer was associated with only a slight increase in particle size, suggesting incorporation of lipid by formation of new HDL particles. In conclusion, the plasma d greater than 1.21 g/ml fraction and a plasma PTP enhance the net transfer of VLDL phospholipids into HDL and also exchange of the phospholipids of VLDL and HDL. Both the transfer and exchange activities of PTP are stimulated by lipolysis.

Animals↗

The administration of pig brain phospholipids versus soybean phospholipids in the diet during the period of brain development in the rat results in greater increments of brain docosahexaenoic acid.

Dietary porcine brain phospholipids are much more efficient than soybean phospholipids for ensuring a normal (optimal obtained with lab chow diet) level of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in tissues and brain subcellular fractions (brain myelin and nerve endings). Two weeks before mating, rats were divided into two groups (one group was subdivided into subgroups, fed with varying amounts of porcine brain phospholipids; the other group was divided into subgroups fed varying amounts of soybean phospholipids). Pups were killed when 21 days old. DHA (22:6(n-3)) increased up to normal levels in parallel with increasing amounts of (n-3) fatty acids (omega-3 fatty acids) in the diet, up to 60 mg with dietary porcine brain phospholipids and up to 200 mg with soybean phospholipids. Thus a smaller amount of dietary brain phospholipids resulted in the same level of DHA in tissues as a larger amount of dietary soybean phospholipids. In contrast, 22:5(n-6) declined when (n-3) fatty acids in the diet increased. It stabilized at 60 mg of (n-3) fatty acids/100 g diet with brain phospholipids, and approximately 200 mg/100 g diet with soybean phospholipids. As 22:5(n-6) replaced DHA in tissue when (n-3) fatty acids were not sufficient in the diet, this result shows that the recovery of a normal (and minimal) amount of 22:5(n-6) was obtained with lower dietary levels of brain phospholipids compared with soybean phospholipids.

Animals↗

Modifying hepatic phospholipid synthesis associates with biliary phospholipid secretion rate in a transporter-independent manner in rats: relation to canalicular membrane fluidity.

Biliary phospholipid secretion is mediated by a multidrug resistance gene product, and its molecular subselection occurs at the site of secretion to modulates bile metastability. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of modifying hepatic phospholipid synthesis on canalicular phospholipid transporter expression and membrane fluidity. Bile-duct cannulation was performed in male Sprague-Dawley rats pretreated with or without intravenous infusion of dimethylethanolamine, an intermediate phospholipid metabolite along the pathway of phosphatidylcholine synthesis of phosphatidylethanolamine N-methylation (0.01 mg/min/100 g body wt) for 15 hr, followed by sodium taurocholate infusion (50 nmol/min/100 g body wt) with or without sulfobromophthalein (50 nmol/min/100 g body wt). Dimethylethanolamine enhanced biliary phospholipid secretion in association with a decrease in biliary phospholipid hydrophobicity. Dimethylethanolamine also increased canalicular membrane fluidity defined by 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene fluorescence depolarization, whereas the expression of multidrug resistance gene product and multidrug resistance associated protein was unchanged. In contrast, a disproportionate reduction of biliary phospholipid secretion caused by sulfobromophthalein (uncoupling) was enhanced by under the treatment with dimethylethanolamine. In conclusion, the increase in biliary phospholipid secretion and canalicular membrane fluidity without a drastic change of its canalicular transporter by dimethylethanolamine suggests that such a canalicular membrane fluidity facilitates the transporter activity and/or phospholipid molecular movement from the canalicular outer membrane into the bile. A more drastic reduction in phospholipid secretion under sulfobromophthalein-caused uncoupling indicates the possibility of a preferential distribution of relatively hydrophilic phosphatidylcholine molecules to bile salt micelles since sulfobromophthalein is known to reduce the micellar capacity to extract membrane lipids for biliary secretion.

Animals↗

Bovine seminal plasma phospholipid-binding proteins stimulate phospholipid efflux from epididymal sperm.

Several studies have shown that sperm capacitation was accompanied by a change in the lipid composition of the sperm membrane. In cattle, the major proteins of (bovine)seminal plasma (BSP proteins: BSP-A1/A2, BSP-A3, and BSP-30-kDa) potentiate sperm capacitation induced by high-density lipoprotein (HDL). Our recent studies indicate that these proteins and HDL stimulate sperm cholesterol efflux during capacitation. In order to gain more insight into the mechanisms of BSP-mediated sperm capacitation, we studied whether or not BSP proteins induce phospholipid efflux from epididymal sperm membrane. By direct determination of choline phospholipids on unlabeled epididymal sperm, the results show that sperm incubated in the presence of BSP-A1/A2 protein lost 34.4% of their choline phospholipids compared with the control (11.5%). Similar results were obtained using labeled epididymal sperm. Labeling was carried out by incubating washed epididymal sperm for 1 h with medium containing [(3)H]palmitic acid. The majority of the label was incorporated into sperm phosphatidylcholine. Studies of sperm phospholipid efflux were done by incubating the labeled sperm with purified BSP proteins, delipidated BSA, or bovine seminal ribonuclease (RNase, control protein). When labeled ([(3)H]phospholipid) epididymal sperm were incubated with BSP proteins (20-120 microg/ml) for 8 h, the sperm lost [(3)H]phospholipid in a dose-dependent manner (maximum efflux of approximately 30%). After the incubation with BSP proteins, the efflux particles were fractionated by size-exclusion chromatography. Analysis of the fractions obtained showed that the [(3)H]phospholipid was associated with BSP proteins. BSA (6 mg/ml) stimulated a specific phospholipid efflux of approximately 22%. In contrast, bovine RNase (120 microg/ml) did not stimulate phospholipid efflux. These results indicate that BSP proteins participate in the sperm cholesterol and phospholipid efflux that occurs during capacitation.

Animals↗

Antibodies against phospholipids other than cardiolipin: potential roles for both phospholipid and protein.

Autoantibodies to phospholipids other than cardiolipin have received less attention, to date, than anti-cardiolipin antibodies. This review focuses on these antibodies and potential roles for both phospholipid and protein in their reactivity. We review data in the literature indicating that antibodies to phosphatidylethanolamine and some lupus anticoagulant antibodies recognize phospholipid-binding proteins in association with phospholipid. Kininogens appear to be involved in the binding of antibodies to phosphatidylethanolamine, while phosphatidylserine-binding proteins, such as prothrombin and annexin V, have been implicated in lupus anticoagulant antibody recognition. These proteins bind to phospholipids that normally reside in the inner monolayer of the cell membrane, suggesting that exposure of these lipids is necessary for protein binding and antibody recognition to occur. In contrast, other autoantibodies, in particular those reactive with erythrocytes, appear to be directed at phospholipids that normally occur in the outer membrane leaflet, such as phosphatidylcholine. In summary, there is clearly accumulating evidence that antibodies to phospholipids other than cardiolipin recognize epitopes on phospholipid-binding proteins. It is not clear whether recognition of these epitopes is due to an increase in antigen density or a change in the protein or phospholipid structure, but it is likely that both protein and phospholipid structure play an important role in the in vivo interactions of these antibodies.

Annexin A5↗

Composition of phospholipids and of phospholipid fatty acids of human plasma.

The composition of the phospholipids and of the total phospholipid fatty acids was determined in the plasma of 10 normal subjects. In addition the fatty acid composition of the plasma phosphatidyl ethanolamine, phosphatidyl serine, lecithin, sphingomyelin, and lysolecithin of 6 of the subjects was measured. A wide array of fatty acids was found in the plasma total phospholipid similar to that found previously in red cell total phospholipid. The fatty acid composition in the plasma phospholipids of a given subject reflected that in his red cell phospholipids. Each individual phospholipid displayed a distinctive fatty acid pattern, which was generally similar to that of the corresponding phospholipid of red cells, although some marked differences in individual fatty acid levels between the corresponding phospholipids of plasma and red cells were evident. The high percentage of unsaturated fatty acids found in plasma lysolecithin suggests that this phospholipid did not arise entirely through the enzymatic cleavage of the -fatty acid of lecithin.

Adult↗

Structural requirements of the phospholipid substrate for phospholipid N-methylation in rat liver.

The role of endogenous phospholipid substrates for phospholipid methylation was investigated in rat liver microsomes. The amount of phosphatidylethanolamine could be drastically reduced by treatment of microsomes with an amino group-blocking compound, methylacetimidate. Simultaneously, the formation of labelled phospholipids from S-adenosyl[Me-3H]methionine decreased, indicating that the amount of endogenous substrate influenced the reaction rate. Phosphatidylmonomethylethanolamine, phosphatidyldimethylethanolamine and phosphatidylmonoethylethanolamine added as dispersions to untreated or treated microsomes stimulated phospholipid methylation, whereas several other phospholipids were inactive. In other experiments the role of phospholipid substrates in intact cells was studied. Cultured rat hepatocytes were enriched in different phospholipids by preincubation with different amino alcohols, and the effects of phospholipid methylation was measured by incubation with [Me-14C]methionine. Phospholipid methylation was significantly stimulated after preincubation with ethanolamine, monomethylethanolamine, monoethylethanolamine and 2-aminobutanol. The results show that both the number and chain length of N-alkyl substituents on phosphatidylethanolamine, as well as other changes in the ethanolamine moiety, will affect the ability of different phospholipids to act as methyl acceptors.

Animals↗

Plasma phospholipid mass transfer rate: relationship to plasma phospholipid and cholesteryl ester transfer activities and lipid parameters.

Human plasma phospholipid transfer protein (PLTP) has been shown to facilitate the transfer of phospholipid from liposomes or isolated very low and low density lipoproteins to high density lipoproteins. Its activity in plasma and its physiological function are presently unknown. To elucidate the role of PLTP in lipoprotein metabolism and to delineate factors that may affect the rate of phospholipid transfer between lipoproteins, we determined the plasma phospholipid mass transfer rate (PLTR) in 16 healthy adult volunteers and assessed its relationship to plasma lipid levels, and to phospholipid transfer activity (PLTA) and cholesteryl ester transfer activity (CETA) measured by radioassays. The plasma PLTR in these subjects was 27.2 +/- 11.8 nmol/ml per h at 37 degrees C (mean +/- S.D.), and their PLTA and CETA were 13.0 +/- 1.7 mumol/ml per h and 72.8 +/- 15.7 nmol/ml per h, respectively. Plasma PLTR was correlated directly with total, non-HDL, and HDL triglyceride (rs = 0.76, P < 0.001), total and non-HDL phospholipid (rs > 0.53, P < 0.05), and inversely with HDL free cholesterol (rs = -0.54, P < 0.05), but not with plasma PLTA and CETA. When 85% to 96% of the PLTA in plasma was removed by polyclonal antibodies against recombinant human PLTP, phospholipid mass transfer from VLDL and LDL to HDL was reduced by 50% to 72%, but 80% to 100% of CETA could still be detected. These studies demonstrate that PLTP plays a major role in facilitating the transfer of phospholipid between lipoproteins, and suggest that triglyceride is a significant modulator of intravascular phospholipid transport. Furthermore, most of the PLTP and CETP in human plasma is associated with different particles. Plasma PLTA and CETA were also measured in mouse, rat, hamster, guinea pig, rabbit, dog, pig, and monkey. Compared to human, PLTA in rat and mouse was significantly higher and in rabbit and guinea pig was significantly lower while the remaining animal species had PLTA similar to humans. No correlation between PLTA and CETA was observed among animal species.

Adult↗

Increased phospholipid transfer protein activity in Aspergillus oryzae grown on various industrial phospholipid sources.

The effect of industrial carbon sources on phospholipid transfer protein production was investigated. Phospholipid fractions of different composition were prepared from various plant oils (i.e., soybean, rapeseed, and sunflower) according to the Lucas Meyer extraction and purification process. The effect of these fractions on phospholipid transfer protein activity of cell extracts from Aspergillus oryzae grown on medium containing these phospholipids as sole carbon source was studied. It was shown that phospholipid transfer activity was markedly increased by extracts containing a particular phospholipid composition. However, this stimulation depends mainly upon the phospholipid composition of the fraction used as fermentation substrate. Fractions enriched mainly in phosphatidylinositol (Epikuron 110), at the expense of phosphatidylcholine, were the most efficient sources for phospholipid transfer protein production by A. oryzae. Maximal phospholipid transfer activity, as well as biomass production, were increased 4.1- and 9.7-fold, respectively, when cultures were supplemented with Epikuron 110 prepared from sunflower lecithin, as compared to glucose-control cultures.

Aspergillus oryzae↗

Retrograde intrabiliary injection of amphipathic materials causes phospholipid secretion into bile. Taurocholate causes phosphatidylcholine secretion, 3-[(3-cholamidopropyl)dimethylammonio]-propane-1-sulphonate (CHAPS) causes mixed phospholipid secretion.

The control of biliary phospholipid and cholesterol secretions by bile acid was studied by using the technique of retrograde intrabiliary injection. Taurocholate (TC), a moderately hydrophobic bile acid, taurodehydrocholate (TDHC), a hydrophilic non-micelle-forming bile acid, and 3-[(3-cholamidopropyl)-dimethylammonio]propane-1-sulphonate (CHAPS), a detergent, were individually administered by retrograde intrabiliary injection (RII) into the biliary tree, and bile acids, phospholipids and cholesterol subsequently appearing in the bile were measured. TC (1.3 mumol; 45 microliters) injected retrogradely provoked a 3.5-fold increase in biliary phospholipid output for 40 min, as compared with the saline control. Injection of 2.7 mumol of TC (90 microliters) caused a 7.5-fold increase in phospholipid output, which reached a peak at 12 min after RII, and phospholipid output continued for 40 min. Cholesterol output was also elicited under these conditions, showing both dose-dependency and extended secretion. Injection of 1.8 mumol of TDHC caused very little increase in either biliary phospholipid or cholesterol. Injection of 0.9 mumol of CHAPS (45 microliters) provoked a single substantial peak of phospholipid output in the 3 min bile sample. T.l.c. analysis of the phospholipid extracts of the bile collected after each compound showed, for TC, a single compound which co-migrated with the phosphatidylcholine standard, whereas for CHAPS substantial amounts of other phospholipids were present.

Animals↗

Effect of modification of membrane phospholipid composition on phospholipid methylation in aggregating cell culture.

The effect of the presence of nitrogenous bases in the growth medium of fetal rat brain aggregating cell cultures was investigated. The presence of either N-methylethanolamine (MME) or N,N-dimethylethanolamine (DME) in the growth medium resulted in significant increase of the corresponding phospholipid, phosphatidyl-N-monomethylethanolamine (PMME) or phosphatidyl-N,N-dimethylethanolamine (PDME). They represented 28% and 32% of the total phospholipids, respectively. The presence of the new phospholipids was accompanied by a significant decrease of phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) and phosphatidylcholine (PC). Cells grown in the presence of ethanolamine or choline had only barely detectable amounts of PMME and PDME. Intact cells previously grown with the bases were incubated with [methyl-3H]methionine. Incubation of cells previously grown in presence of the bases MME and DME resulted in a marked increase of radioactivity in the corresponding phospholipids possessing one additional methyl group, PDME and PC respectively. The incorporation of S-adenosyl[methyl-3H]methionine (AdoMet) was examined in cell homogenates incubated in presence or absence of either PMME or PDME acceptors. The addition of these exogenous phospholipids caused a three-or fourfold stimulation of radioactivity incorporated into the total phospholipids of cells grown in the absence of nitrogen bases. The cells grown in presence of either MME or DME in the culture medium did not show an increased incorporation of methyl groups from AdoMet into the total phospholipids after addition of exogenous acceptors. This work suggests that MME and DME incorporated into the corresponding phospholipids function as effective substrates for phospholipid-N-methylation.

Animals↗