Document Detail


Glucosylceramide synthesis inhibition affects cell cycle progression, membrane trafficking, and stage differentiation in Giardia lamblia.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  20335568     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
Synthesis of glucosylceramide via glucosylceramide synthase (GCS) is a crucial event in higher eukaryotes, both for the production of complex glycosphingolipids and for regulating cellular levels of ceramide, a potent antiproliferative second messenger. In this study, we explored the dependence of the early branching eukaryote Giardia lamblia on GCS activity. Biochemical analyses revealed that the parasite has a GCS located in endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membranes that is active in proliferating and encysting trophozoites. Pharmacological inhibition of GCS induced aberrant cell division, characterized by arrest of cytokinesis, incomplete cleavage furrow formation, and consequent block of replication. Importantly, we showed that increased ceramide levels were responsible for the cytokinesis arrest. In addition, GCS inhibition resulted in prominent ultrastructural abnormalities, including accumulation of cytosolic vesicles, enlarged lysosomes, and clathrin disorganization. Moreover, anterograde trafficking of the encystations-specific protein CWP1 was severely compromised and resulted in inhibition of stage differentiation. Our results reveal novel aspects of lipid metabolism in G. lamblia and specifically highlight the vital role of GCS in regulating cell cycle progression, membrane trafficking events, and stage differentiation in this parasite. In addition, we identified ceramide as a potent bioactive molecule, underscoring the universal conservation of ceramide signaling in eukaryotes.
Authors:
Sasa Stefanić; Cornelia Spycher; Laura Morf; Gemma Fabriàs; Josefina Casas; Elisabeth Schraner; Peter Wild; Adrian B Hehl; Sabrina Sonda
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't     Date:  2010-03-24
Journal Detail:
Title:  Journal of lipid research     Volume:  51     ISSN:  0022-2275     ISO Abbreviation:  J. Lipid Res.     Publication Date:  2010 Sep 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2010-08-12     Completed Date:  2011-02-14     Revised Date:  2011-09-13    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  0376606     Medline TA:  J Lipid Res     Country:  United States    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  2527-45     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Institute of Parasitology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Amino Acid Sequence
Animals
Biological Transport / physiology
Cell Cycle / physiology*
Cell Differentiation / physiology*
Cell Membrane / metabolism*
Ceramides / metabolism,  pharmacology
Clathrin / metabolism
Endoplasmic Reticulum / enzymology
Giardia lamblia / drug effects,  physiology*,  ultrastructure
Glucosylceramides / biosynthesis*
Glucosyltransferases / metabolism
Humans
Lipid Metabolism
Meperidine / analogs & derivatives,  pharmacology
Molecular Sequence Data
Sequence Alignment
Sphingolipids / metabolism
Trophozoites / metabolism
Chemical
Reg. No./Substance:
0/Ceramides; 0/Clathrin; 0/Glucosylceramides; 0/Sphingolipids; 13147-09-6/4-propionyloxy-4-phenyl-N-methylpiperidine; 57-42-1/Meperidine; EC 2.4.1.-/Glucosyltransferases; EC 2.4.1.80/ceramide glucosyltransferase
Comments/Corrections

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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