Phospholipases and

Figure 3.1 Schematic representation of a generic excitatory synapse in the brain. The presynaptic terminal releases the transmitter glutamate by fusion of transmitter vesicles with the nerve terminal membrane. Glutamate diffuses rapidly across the synaptic cleft to bind to and activate AMPA and NMDA receptors. In addition, glutamate may bind to metabotropic G-protein-coupled glutamate receptors located perisynaptically to cause initiation of intracellular signalling via the G-protein, Gq, to activate the enzyme phospholipase and hence produce inositol triphosphate (IP3) which can release Ca from intracellular calcium stores...

Almost all receptor-mediated neutrophil functions are mediated via GTP-binding proteins (G-proteins), which provide the link between occupancy of plasma membrane receptors and the activation of intracellular enzymes, such as phospholipases and protein kinases. There are two groups of G-proteins those that are heterotrimeric and those with low molecular weight. 

The G-protein that has been termed Gp, and that is linked to phospholipase C activation, may in fact be Gaj 2 or Gc. 3. Ga is designated as the G-protein responsible for activation of phospholipase A2, which results in arachidonic acid release. Some experimental evidence indicates that, at least in HL-60 cells, different agonists can preferentially activate different phospholipases, and some of these are responsible for the activation of secretion. In neutrophils, the two pertussis-toxin-sensitive Ga-proteins (Gaj-2 and G j 3) have been identified by peptide mapping of proteolytic digests of the proteins, by peptide sequencing and by immunoblotting. Complementary-DNA clones for the mRNA of these two molecules have also been isolated from an HL-60 cDNA library. Gai-2 is five to ten times more abundant than Gai.3, the former component comprising 3% of the total plasma membrane proteins. It is possible that these two different Ga-subunits are coupled to different phospholipases (e.g. phospholipases C and D). Pertussis toxin inhibits the secretion of O2 after stimulation of neutrophils by fMet-Leu-Phe, but pertussis-toxin-insensitive G-proteins are also present in neutrophils. These may be members of the Gq family and may be involved in the activation of phospholipase Cp (see 6.3.1). 

A colorimetric assay for lecithin and choline was described by Kotsira and Klonis (1998) using two enzymes (phospholipase and choline oxidase) and an indicator dye conjugate (bromothymol blue-glutathione) co-immobilised on a glutaraldehyde-activated polyacrylamide transparent gel. The change of the... 

Methods used to demonstrate the existence of membrane phospholipid asymmetry, such as chemical labelling and susceptibility to hydrolysis or modification by phospholipases and other enzymes, are rmsuitable for dynamic studies because the rates of chemical and biochemical reactions are of a different order compared to the transmembrane translocahon of the phospholipids. Indirect methods have therefore been developed to measure the translocation rate which are consequent on the loss of membrane phospholipid asymmetry. Thus time scales appropriate to rates of lipid scrambling under resting conditions or when the forces preserving the asymmetric phospholipid distribution are disturbed can be monitored. Generally the methods rely on detecting the appearance of phosphatidylserine on the surface of cells. Methods of demonstrating Upid translocation in mammalian cells has been the subject of a recent review (Bevers etal., 1999). 

Verkleij, A.J., Zwaal, R.F., Roelofsen, B., Comfurius, P., KasteUjn, D. and van Deenen, L.L.M., 1973, The asymmetric distribution ofphosphoUpids in the human red cell membrane. A combined study using phospholipases and freeze-etch electron microscopy. 

The weak base chloroquine (30-300 pM, 30 minutes, either in the presence or absence of serum) increases the endosomal pH (83) within a few minutes (45), leading to pH values close to 6.3 in both endosomes and lysosomes and therefore preventing lysosomal degradation. As a mechanism of action, a direct inhibition of lysosomal hydrolases (cathepsin B1 and some phospholipases and lysophospholipases) is reported (82). In Kupffer cells, effects are tolerated at concentrations of 40 pM or less for up to four hours and are irreversible within two hours after medium replacement (82). 

Toxins that Attack the Cell Membrane Phospholipases and Pore-Forming Toxins 150... 

Chronic changes in the type of fat in the diet can change the type of polyunsaturated fatty acids in the phospholipids that are components of membranes and hence change fluidity of the membrane. This might change the activity of the phospholipase and/or the type of eicosanoid produced from... 

Zl. Zakim, D., Regulation of microsomal enzymes by phospholipids. I. The effect of phospholipases and phospholipids on glucose 6-phosphatase. J. Biol. Chem. 245, 4953-4961 (1970). 

Toxicity is most likely in tissues that interact with the drug. For example, gentamicin is polycationic and binds to anionic phospholipids in the cell membranes of renal proximal tubular cells, where it inhibits phospholipases and damages intracellular organelles. 

Norepinephrine is released into the synapse from vesicles [(1) in Fig. 2.7] amphetamine facilitates this release. Norepinephrine acts in the CNS at two different types of noradrenergic receptors, the a and the P [see (2a), (2b) and (3) in Fig. 2.7]. a-Adrenergic receptors can be subdivided into receptors (coupled to phospholipase and located postsynaptically) and tt2 receptors (coupled to Gj and located primarily presynapti-cally) (Insel, 1996). P-Adrenergic receptors in the CNS are predominantly of the P subtype (3 in Fig. 2.7). P receptors are coupled to and lead to an increase in cAMP. Cyclic AMP triggers a variety of events mediated by protein kinases, including phosphorylation of the P receptor itself and regulation of gene expression via phosphorylation of transcription factors. 

Natural fats and oils can be used directly in products, either individually or as mixtures. In many cases, however, it is necessary to modify their properties, particularly their melting characteristics, to make them suitable for particular applications. Therefore, the oils and fats industry has developed several modification processes using enzyme technology. In particular, lipases (and lately cutinases), phospholipases and pectinases can be used for interesterification processes, ester syntheses and in olive-oil extraction. 

The structural integrity of the cell membrane is irreversibly damaged by the process of membrane lipid peroxidation. The damaged membrane becomes leaky and extracellular calcium enters the cell. This in turn activates calcium-dependent phospholipases and protein kinases, subsequently leading to fatty acid cleavage and other biochemical alterations within the cell. Ultimately this leads to damage or death of the cell. 

Fig. 5.24 Classification of the phospholipases and the reaction of phospholipase C. a) Cleavage specificity of phospholipases Al, A2, C and D. b) Cleavage of inositol-containing phosphohpids by phospholipase C. In a reaction of particnlar importance for signal transduction, phosphohpase C (PL-C) catalyzes the cleavage of phosphatidyl inositol-4,5-bisphosphate (PtdIns(4,5)P2) into the messenger substances diacylglycerol and inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate (Ins(l,4,5)P3).

However, two events occur as a result, which diminish initially the pathological consequences. These are that the phosphate combines with Ca2+ to form insoluble salt, so limiting any rise in cytosolic free Ca2+, and the drop in pH limits the activity of hydrolytic enzymes such as phospholipase and the mitochondrial permeability transition. These events will be discussed later in this chapter. 

This chapter (9) provides advanced knowledge about phospholipases and the hydrolysis of phospholipids. 

Most important for the regulation of the membrane architecture are membrane potential, intracellular Ca2+ concentration, pH, changes in lipid composition due to the action of phospholipases and cell-cell coupling as well as the coupling of the membrane to the cytoskeleton and the extracellular matrix. Membrane architecture is additionally modulated by ions, lipo- and amphiphilic hormones, metabolites, drugs, lipid-binding peptide hormones, and amphitropic proteins [44]. 

The EFA stored in the phospholipids of cell membranes are released by phospholipases, and then undergo oxidative transformation by the cyclooxygenase (COX) pathway to prostanoids and by the lipoxygenase pathway to hydroxy fatty acids and leukotrienes. The metabolism to prostanoids is catalyzed by two isoenzymes of COX, a constitutive (COX-1) and an inducible form (COX-2). The main products of COX metabolism of AA are prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), PGI A, and PGD2. In addition, A A is converted via 15-lipoxygenase to 15-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (15-HETE) and lipoxins, by... 

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