Lysophosphatidic Acyltransferase Activity Research Articles

Increase in lysophosphatidate acyltransferase activity in oilseed rape (Brassica napus) increases seed triacylglycerol content despite its low intrinsic flux control coefficient.

Summary Lysophosphatidate acyltransferase (LPAAT) catalyses the second step of the Kennedy pathway for triacylglycerol (TAG) synthesis. In this study we expressed Trapaeolum majus LPAAT in Brassica napus (B. napus) cv 12075 to evaluate the effects on lipid synthesis and estimate the flux control coefficient for LPAAT.We estimated the flux control coefficient of LPAAT in a whole plant context by deriving a relationship between it and overall lipid accumulation, given that this process is a exponential.Increasing LPAAT activity resulted in greater TAG accumulation in seeds of between 25% and 29%; altered fatty acid distributions in seed lipids (particularly those of the Kennedy pathway); and a redistribution of label from 14C‐glycerol between phosphoglycerides.Greater LPAAT activity in seeds led to an increase in TAG content despite its low intrinsic flux control coefficient on account of the exponential nature of lipid accumulation that amplifies the effect of the small flux increment achieved by increasing its activity. We have also developed a novel application of metabolic control analysis likely to have broad application as it determines the in planta flux control that a single component has upon accumulation of storage products.

Characterization of a lysophospholipid acyltransferase involved in membrane remodeling in Candida albicans

Phospholipid remodeling involves phospholipase activity to remove acyl chains and acyltransferases to replace acyl chains. We here describe the characterization of a lysophospholipid acyltransferase in the opportunistic fungal pathogen, Candida albicans. Expression of this gene, C.a. LPT1, complemented the lysophospholipid acyltransferase defect in Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains lacking the homologous LPT1 gene. In vitro, lysophospholipid acyltransferase activity in these strains showed acyl-CoA substrate specificity, as measured by apparent Vmax/Km ratios, to be linolenoyl-CoA>oleoyl-CoA>linoleoyl-CoA>stearoyl-CoA. To address the physiological importance of C.a. LPT1, homozygous deletion strains were generated. Lysophospholipid acyltransferase activity with amine containing lysophospholipids was dramatically reduced while lysophosphatidylinositol and lysophosphatidic acid esterification was not significantly lowered. However, C.a. LPT1 over-expression yielded an increased amount of lysophosphatidic acyltransferase activity, suggesting a role in de novo phospholipid synthesis. LPT1 deletion strains showed slightly slowed growth in standard liquid media but no phenotype in media containing three antifungals that target sterols. To assess the role of C.a. Lpt1 in phospholipid remodeling, an in vivo, pulse–chase assay utilizing polysorbitan palmitate and mass spectrometry was developed. Cellular phospholipid composition became atypical with the provision of palmitate and gradually returned to the typical distribution when palmitate was removed. Deletion of C.a. LPT1 showed a modest yet significant effect on remodeling under these conditions.

The multigene family of lysophosphatidate acyltransferase (LPAT)-related enzymes in Ricinus communis. Cloning and molecular characterization of two LPAT genes that are expressed in castor seeds

The multigene family encoding proteins related to lysophosphatidyl-acyltransferases (LPATs) has been analyzed in the castor plant Ricinus communis. Among them, two genes designated RcLPAT2 and RcLPATB, encoding proteins with LPAT activity and expressed in the developing seed, have been cloned and characterized in some detail. RcLPAT2 groups with well characterized members of the so-called A-class LPATs and it shows a generalized expression pattern in the plant and along seed development. Enzymatic assays of RcLPAT2 indicate a preference for ricinoleoyl-CoA over other fatty acid thioesters when ricinoleoyl-LPA is used as the acyl acceptor, while oleoyl-CoA is the preferred substrate when oleoyl-LPA is employed. RcLPATB groups with B-class LPAT enzymes described as seed specific and selective for unusual fatty acids. However, RcLPATB exhibit a broad specificity on the acyl-CoAs, with saturated fatty acids (12:0–16:0) being the preferred substrates. RcLPATB is upregulated coinciding with seed triacylglycerol accumulation, but its expression is not restricted to the seed. These results are discussed in the light of a possible role for LPAT isoenzymes in the channelling of ricinoleic acid into castor bean triacylglycerol.

Effect of Insulin and Prolactin on Acyltransferase Activities in MAC-T Bovine Mammary Cells

The enzymatic activities of sn-glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase and lysophosphatidate acyltransferase were investigated in microsomal fractions prepared from MAC-T cells from bovine mammary gland and from FTO-2B cells from rat liver. In both cell lines, sn-glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase exhibited similar rates of palmitate and oleate incorporation. However, lysophosphatidate acyltransferase activity in MAC-T cells had a 2.8-fold greater rate of palmitate incorporation than of oleate incorporation. In FTO-2B cells, there was a 1.4-fold greater rate of oleate incorporation than of palmitate incorporation. FTO-2B and MAC-T cells displayed acyltransferase activities that were consistent with liver and mammary tissues, respectively. The acyltransferases were examined from FTO-2B and MAC-T cells that were treated with insulin and prolactin. Insulin suppressed both acyltransferase activities in FTO-2B cells, and prolactin had a stimulatory effect; however, these effects were very small. In contrast, insulin and prolactin had a stimulatory effect on both acyltransferase activities in MAC-T cells; prolactin elicited the largest effect. Treatment of MAC-T cells with cycloheximide inhibited the stimulatory effect of prolactin on acyltransferase activities.

Membrane lipid metabolism in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii 137 + and y-1: : II. Cytochemical localization of acyltransferase activities

We have cytochemically localized the acyltransferase activities in the alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. Glycerol 3-phosphate (G3P) acyltransferase and lysophosphatidate (LPA) acyltransferase activities were cytochemically assayed utilizing biochemically optimized reaction conditions (Jelsema et al., 1982). The cytochemical assays clearly demonstrate that in the wild-type cells (137+) and the y-1 mutant, both enzymes were present in the photosynthetic membranes, envelope, and pyrenoid tubules of the chloroplast. Activity was also localized to the Golgi apparatus and its associated vesicles. Additionally, LPA acyltransferase activity was found associated with the outer mitochondrial membranes. The cytochemical data from this study confirm the biochemical data obtained using purified chloroplast membranes (Jelsema et al., 1982) and establishes the presence of these glycerolipid-synthesizing enzymes in the photosynthetic membranes of the chloroplast. These findings support the earlier reports of the presence and activity of lipid-synthesizing enzymes in the chloroplast, and also is in agreement with the postulated role of the pyrenoid tubules in the synthesis of the thylakoid membranes. This report differs in that these lipid-synthesizing enzymes have been localized to the chloroplast photosynthetic membranes themselves as well as exhibiting significant levels of activity for both enzymes in the Golgi apparatus. During light-induced chloroplast biogenesis in the yellow mutant of C. reinhardtii (y-1), the photosynthetic membranes appear to be the primary site of acyltransferase activity, suggesting that in situ synthesis of the membrane lipids during this period of rapid membrane formation is the primary mode for the synthesis of the thylakoid lipids. That these intrinsic thylakoid enzyme activities are not exclusively a function of the growth phase of the cell, but are found in mature chloroplast of the 137+ cells as well, further supports the conclusion that the photosynthetic membranes of the chloroplast have the capacity for synthesis of their own membrane lipids.

Glycerol 3-phosphate analogues as metabolic inhibitors in Escherichia coli 3-hydroxy-4-oxobutyl-1-phosphonate, a drug that interferes with normal phosphoglyceride metabolism

3-Hydroxy-4-oxobutyl-1-phosphonate, the phosphonic acid analogue of glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate, enters Escherichia coli via the glycerol 3-phosphate transport system. There is no differential effect upon the accumulation of deoxyribonucleic acid, ribonucleic acid, or phosphoglycerides, although the accumulation of proteins was less effected. Examination of the phospholipids revealed that phosphatidylglycerol accumulation was most severely inhibited and cardiolipin accumulation was least affected. Concentrations of glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate and its phosphonic acid analogue that markedly inhibit macromolecular and phosphoglyceride biosynthesis have no effect upon the intracellular nucleoside triphosphate pool size. The phosphonate is a competitive inhibitor of sn-glycerol 3-phosphate in reactions catalyzed by acyl coenzyme A: sn-glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase and CDP-diacylglycerol: sn-glycerol-3-phosphate phosphatidyltransferase. A K m mutant for the former enzyme was susceptible to the phosphonate. The phosphonate did not affect acyl coenzyme A:lysophosphatidate acyltransferase activity. Studies with mutant strains ruled out the aerobic glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, glycerol-3-phosphate synthase, and fructose-1,6-biphosphate aldolase as the primary sites of action.

L -Glyceraldehyde 3-Phosphate, a Bactericidal Agent

At a concentration of 2.5 mM, dl-glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate has a bactericidal effect upon Escherichia coli. The glycerol 3-phosphate transport system is required for the entry of the biologically active l-enantiomer. l-Glyceraldehyde must be phosphorylated by the cell to exert its full effect upon growth. The addition of dl-glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate to a culture of E. coli caused no preferential inhibition of the accumulation of deoxyribonucleic acid, ribonucleic acid, or phosphoglycerides, although protein accumulation was less affected. Studies with mutant strains ruled out catabolic glycerol 3-phosphate dehydrogenase, anabolic nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (phosphate):sn-glycerol 3-phosphate oxidoreductase, and fructose 1,6-diphosphate aldolase as the primary sites of action. l-Glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate is a competitive inhibitor of sn-glycerol 3-phosphate in the reactions catalyzed by acyl coenzyme A:sn-glycerol 3-phosphate acyltransferase (K(i) of 1.8 mM) and cytidine 5'-diphosphate-diglyceride:sn-glycerol 3-phosphate phosphatidyltransferase (K(i) of 2.7 mM). A K(m) mutant for the former enzyme was susceptible to the inhibitor. l-Glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate does not affect acyl coenzyme A:lysophosphatidate acyltransferase activity. In vivo, phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylglycerol accumulation are inhibited to the same extent by the addition of dl-glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate to a culture of E. coli.