Characterization of acyl-coenzyme A: diacylglycerol acyltransferase (DGAT) enzyme of human small intestine

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Acyl-coenzyme A:diacylglycerol acyltransferase (DGAT) enzyme plays a significant role in dietary triacylglycerol (TAG) absorption in the small intestine. However, the characteristics of human intestinal DGAT enzyme have not been examined in detail. The aim of our study was to characterize the human intestinal DGAT enzyme by examining acyl-CoA specificity, temperature dependency, and selectivity for 1,2-diacylglycerol (DAG) or 1,3-DAG. We detected DGAT activity of human intestinal microsome and found that the acyl-CoA specificity and temperature dependency of intestinal DGAT coincided with those of recombinant human DGAT1. To elucidate the selectivity of human intestinal DGAT to 1,2-DAG or 1,3-DAG, we conducted acyl-coenzyme A:monoacylglycerol acyltransferase assays using 1- or 2-monoacylglycerol (MAG) as substrates. When 2-MAG was used as acyl acceptor, both 1,2-DAG and TAG were generated; however, when 1-MAG was used, 1,3-DAG was predominantly observed and little TAG was detected. These findings suggest that human small intestinal DGAT, which is mainly encoded by DGAT1, utilizes 1,2-DAG as the substrate to form TAG. This study will contribute to understand the lipid absorption profile in the small intestine (AU)

Long-chain fatty acyl-coenzyme A-induced inhibition of glucokinase in pancreatic islets from rats depleted in long-chain polyunsaturated omega3 fatty acids.

The metabolism of D-glucose was recently reported to be impaired in pancreatic islets from second generation rats depleted in long-chain polyunsaturated omega3 fatty acids. Considering the increased clearance of circulating non-esterified fatty acids prevailing in these rats, a possible inhibition of glucokinase in insulin-producing cells by endogenous long-chain fatty acyl-CoA was considered. The present study was mainly aimed at assessing the validity of the latter proposal. The activity of glucokinase in islet homogenates, as judged from the increase in D-glucose phosphorylation rate in response to a rise in the concentration of the hexose represented, in the omega3-depleted rats, was only 81.8 +/- 4.8% (n = 11; p < 0.005) of the paired value recorded in control animals. This coincided with the fact that the inclusion of D-glucose 6-phosphate (3.0 mM) and D-fructose 1-phosphate (1.0 mM) in the assay medium resulted in a lesser fractional decrease of D-glucose phosphorylation in omega3-depleted rats than in control animals. Moreover, whereas palmitoyl-CoA (50 microM) decreased the activity of glucokinase by 38.0 +/- 6.0% (n = 4; p < 0.01) in islet homogenates from normal rats, the CoA ester failed to affect significantly the activity of glucokinase in islet homogenates from omega3-depleted rats. These findings afford direct support for the view that glucokinase is indeed inhibited by endogenous long-chain fatty acyl-CoA in islets from omega3-depleted rats, such an inhibition probably participating to the alteration of D-glucose catabolism prevailing in these islets.

Occurrence and expression of tricarboxylate synthases in Ralstonia eutropha.

2-Methylcitrate synthase (2-MCS1) and citrate synthase (CS) of Ralstonia eutropha strain H16 were separated by affinity chromatography and analyzed for their substrate specificities. 2-MCS1 used not only the primary substrate propionyl-CoA but also acetyl-CoA and, at a low rate, even butyryl-CoA and valeryl-CoA for condensation with oxaloacetate. The KM values for propionyl-CoA and acetyl-CoA were 0.061 or 0.35 mM, respectively. This enzyme is therefore a competitor for acetyl-CoA during biosynthesis of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) and has to be taken into account if metabolic fluxes are calculated for PHB biosynthesis. In contrast, CS could not use propionyl-CoA as a substrate. The gene-encoding CS (cisY) of R. eutropha was cloned and encodes for a protein consisting of 433 amino acids with a calculated molecular weight of 48,600 Da; it is not truncated in the N-terminal region. Furthermore, a gene encoding a second functionally active 2-methylcitrate synthase (2-MCS2, prpC2) was identified in the genome of R. eutropha. The latter was localized in a gene cluster with genes for an NAD(H)-dependent malate dehydrogenase and a putative citrate lyase. RT-PCR analysis of R. eutropha growing on different carbon sources revealed the transcription of prpC2. In addition, cells of recombinant Escherichia coli strains harboring prpC2 of R. eutropha exhibited high 2-MCS activity of 0.544 U mg-1. A prpC2 knockout mutant of R. eutropha exhibited an identical phenotype as the wild type if grown on different media. 2-MCS2 seems to be dispensable, and a function could not be revealed for this enzyme.

Alpha-synuclein gene deletion decreases brain palmitate uptake and alters the palmitate metabolism in the absence of alpha-synuclein palmitate binding.

Alpha-synuclein is an abundant protein in the central nervous system that is associated with a number of neurodegenerative disorders, including Parkinson's disease. Its physiological function is poorly understood, although recently it was proposed to function as a fatty acid binding protein. To better define a role for alpha-synuclein in brain fatty acid uptake and metabolism, we infused awake, wild-type, or alpha-synuclein gene-ablated mice with [1-(14)C]palmitic acid (16:0) and assessed fatty acid uptake and turnover kinetics in brain phospholipids. Alpha-synuclein deficiency decreased brain 16:0 uptake 35% and reduced its targeting to the organic fraction. The incorporation coefficient for 16:0 entering the brain acyl-CoA pool was significantly decreased 36% in alpha-synuclein gene-ablated mice. Because incorporation coefficients alone are not predictive of fatty acid turnover in individual phospholipid classes, we calculated kinetic values for 16:0 entering brain phospholipid pools. Alpha-synuclein deficiency decreased the incorporation rate and fractional turnover of 16:0 in a number of phospholipid classes, but also increased the incorporation rate and fractional turnover of 16:0 in the choline glycerophospholipids. No differences in incorporation rate or turnover were observed in liver phospholipids, confirming that these changes in lipid metabolism were brain specific. Using titration microcalorimetry, we observed no binding of 16:0 or oleic acid to alpha-synuclein in vitro. Thus, alpha-synuclein has effects on 16:0 uptake and metabolism similar to those of an FABP, but unlike FABP, it does not directly bind 16:0; hence, the mechanism underlying these effects is different from that of a classical FABP.

Probing substrate-induced conformational alterations in adrenoleukodystrophy protein by proteolysis.

The adrenoleukodystrophy protein (ALDP) is a half-ABC (ATP-binding cassette) transporter localized in the peroxisomal membrane. Dysfunction of this protein is the cause of the human genetic disorder X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy (X-ALD), which is characterized by accumulation of saturated, very-long-chain fatty acids (VLCFAs). This observation suggests that ALDP is involved in the metabolism of these compounds. Whether ALDP transports VLCFAs or their derivatives across the peroxisomal membrane or some cofactors essential for the efficient peroxisomal beta-oxidation of these fatty acids is still unknown. In this work, we used a protease-based approach to search for substrate-induced conformational alterations on ALDP. Our results suggest that ALDP is directly involved in the transport of long- and very-long-chain acyl-CoAs across the peroxisomal membrane.

Pheophorbide A-methyl ester, Acyl-CoA: cholesterol acyltransferase inhibitor from Diospyros kaki.

In the course of our search for Acyl-CoA: cholesterol acyltransferase (ACAT) inhibitors from natural sources, a new type of ACAT inhibitor was isolated from a methanol extract of Diospyros kaki. On the basis of spectral and structural evidence, the compound was identified as pheophorbide A-methyl ester. Pheophorbide A-methyl ester inhibited ACAT activity in a dose dependent manner with an IC50 value of 1.85 microg/mL.

Characterization of Type I and Type II myristoyl-CoA:protein N-myristoyltransferases with the Acyl-CoAs found on heterogeneously acylated retinal proteins.

Protein myristoylation occurs when the 14 carbon fatty acid, myristic acid, is covalently attached by amide linkage to a protein's N -terminal glycine by an N -terminal myristoyltransferase (NMT). A variation of this called heterogeneous acylation occurs in vivo only in retina when specific proteins are modified by myristic acid (14:0), tetradecenoic acid (14:1 n-9), tetradecadienoic acid (14:2n -6), and lauric acid (12:0). Myristic and lauric acids are relatively rare, comprising approximately 1% of the fatty acids in the retina. The unsaturated fatty acids 14:1 n-9 and 14:2 n-6 are less abundant, but can be synthesized in retina by retroconversion of 18:1 n-9 and 18:2 n-6 fatty acids, respectively. A previous quantitative study of acyl-CoA pools in bovine retina, heart, and liver found comparable levels of acyl-CoAs in each tissue, indicating that heterogeneous acylation is not due to limiting amounts of myristoyl-CoA in retina. In this current study the authors have characterized a panel of purified recombinant Type I and II NMTs found in retina and liver by assessing their utilization of the four acyl-CoAs used in vivo to acylate retina proteins. Acceptor peptides used in these assays were derived from the N -termini of src which is only myristoylated in vivo, and the cAMP dependent kinase A catalytic subunit which is heterogeneously acylated in retina, but myristoylated in other tissues. The authors have tested the ability of unlabelled acyl-CoAs to compete with [(3)H] myristoyl-CoA transfer, the efficacy of an NMT inhibitory protein (NIP(71)), and acyl-CoA affinity chromatography was used to isolate endogenous NMT inhibitory factor(s) from bovine heart and retina tissue homogenates. These results provide a basis of kinetic parameters and enzymatic characterization for Type I and Type II NMTs with two acceptor peptides and the four physiologically relevant fatty acid-CoAs found on retinal proteins, but do not indicate that heterogeneous acylation is a specialized function of any of the enzymes tested in this study.

Medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase- and enoyl-CoA hydratase-dependent bioactivation of 5,6-dichloro-4-thia-5-hexenoyl-CoA.

5,6-Dichloro-4-thia-5-hexenoic acid (DCTH) is a potent hepato- and nephrotoxin that induces mitochondrial dysfunction in rat liver and kidney. Previous studies indicate that DCTH undergoes fatty acid beta-oxidation-dependent bioactivation. The objectives of the present experiments were to elaborate the bioactivation mechanism of DCTH and to examine the interaction of the coenzyme A thioester of DCTH (DCTH-CoA) with the medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase. In the presence of the terminal electron acceptor ferricenium hexafluorophosphate (FcPF6), DCTH-CoA was oxidized by the medium-chain actyl-CoA dehydrogenase to give 5,6-dichloro-4-thia-trans-2,5-hexadienoyl-CoA. Enoyl-CoA hydratase catalyzed the conversion of 5,6-dichloro-4-thia-trans-2,5-hexadienoyl-CoA to 5,6-dichloro-4-thia-3-hydroxy-5-hexenoyl-CoA, which eliminated 1,2-dichloroethenethiol and gave malonyl-CoA semialdehyde as a product. Chloroacetic acid was detected as a terminal product derived from 1,2-dichloroethenethiol. Incubation of DCTH-CoA with the medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase in the absence of FcPF6 gave 3-hydroxypropionyl-CoA as the major product and resulted in the irreversible inactivation of the enzyme. Under these conditions, DCTH-CoA apparently undergoes a beta-elimination reaction to give 1,2-dichloroethenethiol and acryloyl-CoA, which is hydrated to give 3-hydroxypropionyl-CoA as the terminal product. The beta-elimination product 1,2-dichloroethenethiol may yield reactive intermediates that inactivate the dehydrogenase. Enzyme inactivation was rapid, DCTH-CoA concentration-dependent, and blocked by octanoyl-CoA, but not by glutathione. The medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase was not inactivated by acryloyl-CoA, and little inactivation was observed in the presence of FcPF6. These results show that DCTH-CoA is bioactivated by the mitochondrial fatty acid beta-oxidation system to reactive intermediates. This bioactivation mechanism may account for the observed toxicity of DCTH in vivo and in vitro.