Article

Mutations in the yeast LCB1 and LCB2 genes, including those corresponding to the hereditary sensory neuropathy type I mutations, dominantly inactivate serine palmitoyltransferase.

Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland 20184, USA.
Journal of Biological Chemistry (impact factor: 4.77). 04/2002; 277(12):10194-200. DOI:10.1074/jbc.M107873200 pp.10194-200
Source: PubMed

ABSTRACT It was recently demonstrated that mutations in the human SPTLC1 gene, encoding the Lcb1p subunit of serine palmitoyltransferase (SPT), cause hereditary sensory neuropathy type I . As a member of the subfamily of pyridoxal 5'-phosphate enzymes known as the alpha-oxoamine synthases, serine palmitoyltransferase catalyzes the committed step of sphingolipid synthesis. The residues that are mutated to cause hereditary sensory neuropathy type I reside in a highly conserved region of Lcb1p that is predicted to be a catalytic domain of Lcb1p on the basis of alignments with other members of the alpha-oxoamine synthase family. We found that the corresponding mutations in the LCB1 gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae reduce serine palmitoyltransferase activity. These mutations are dominant and decrease serine palmitoyltransferase activity by 50% when the wild-type and mutant LCB1 alleles are coexpressed. We also show that serine palmitoyltransferase is an Lcb1p small middle dotLcb2p heterodimer and that the mutated Lcb1p proteins retain their ability to interact with Lcb2p. Modeling studies suggest that serine palmitoyltransferase is likely to have a single active site that lies at the Lcb1p small middle dotLcb2p interface and that the mutations in Lcb1p reside near the lysine in Lcb2p that is expected to form the Schiff's base with the pyridoxal 5'-phosphate cofactor. Furthermore, mutations in this lysine and in a histidine residue that is also predicted to be important for pyridoxal 5'-phosphate binding to Lcb2p also dominantly inactivate SPT similar to the hereditary sensory neuropathy type 1-like mutations in Lcb1p.

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    Article: Hereditary sensory neuropathy type I.
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    ABSTRACT: Hereditary sensory neuropathy type I (HSN I) is a slowly progressive neurological disorder characterised by prominent predominantly distal sensory loss, autonomic disturbances, autosomal dominant inheritance, and juvenile or adulthood disease onset. The exact prevalence is unknown, but is estimated as very low. Disease onset varies between the 2nd and 5th decade of life. The main clinical feature of HSN I is the reduction of sensation sense mainly distributed to the distal parts of the upper and lower limbs. Variable distal muscle weakness and wasting, and chronic skin ulcers are characteristic. Autonomic features (usually sweating disturbances) are invariably observed. Serious and common complications are spontaneous fractures, osteomyelitis and necrosis, as well as neuropathic arthropathy which may even necessitate amputations. Some patients suffer from severe pain attacks. Hypacusis or deafness, or cough and gastrooesophageal reflux have been observed in rare cases. HSN I is a genetically heterogenous condition with three loci and mutations in two genes (SPTLC1 and RAB7) identified so far. Diagnosis is based on the clinical observation and is supported by a family history. Nerve conduction studies confirm a sensory and motor neuropathy predominantly affecting the lower limbs. Radiological studies, including magnetic resonance imaging, are useful when bone infections or necrosis are suspected. Definitive diagnosis is based on the detection of mutations by direct sequencing of the SPTLC1 and RAB7 genes. Correct clinical assessment and genetic confirmation of the diagnosis are important for appropriate genetic counselling and prognosis. Differential diagnosis includes the other hereditary sensory and autonomic neuropathies (HSAN), especially HSAN II, as well as diabetic foot syndrome, alcoholic neuropathy, neuropathies caused by other neurotoxins/drugs, immune mediated neuropathy, amyloidosis, spinal cord diseases, tabes dorsalis, lepra neuropathy, or decaying skin tumours like amelanotic melanoma. Management of HSN I follows the guidelines given for diabetic foot care (removal of pressure to the ulcer and eradication of infection, followed by the use of specific protective footwear) and starts with early and accurate counselling of patients about risk factors for developing foot ulcerations. The disorder is slowly progressive and does not influence life expectancy but is often severely disabling after a long duration of the disease.
    Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases 02/2008; 3:7. · 5.83 Impact Factor
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    Article: Activity of partially inhibited serine palmitoyltransferase is sufficient for normal sphingolipid metabolism and viability of HSN1 patient cells.
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    ABSTRACT: Hereditary sensory neuropathy type I (HSN1) is a common degenerative disorder of peripheral sensory neurons. HSN1 is caused by mutations in the gene, encoding the long chain base 1 of serine palmitoyltransferase (SPT) [Nat. Genet. 27 (2001) 309]. Here, we show a 44% reduction of SPT activity in transformed lymphocytes from HSN1 patients with mutation T399G in the SPTLC1 gene. However, the decrease in SPT activity had no effect on de novo sphingolipid biosynthesis, cellular sphingolipid content, cell proliferation and death (apoptosis and necrosis). The removal of extracellular sphingolipids did not affect viability of HSN1 cells. We also found no significant difference in whole blood counts, viability, and permeability to Triton X-100 of primary lymphocytes from HSN1 patients. These results suggest that, despite the inhibition of mutant allele, the activity of nonmutant allele of STP may be sufficient for adequate sphingolipid biosynthesis and cell viability. Therefore, the neurodegeneration in HSN1 is likely to be caused by subtler and rather long-term effect(s) of these mutations such as loss of a cell-type selective facet of sphingolipid metabolism and/or function, or perhaps accumulation of toxic species, including abnormal protein(s) as in other neurodegenerations.
    Biochimica et Biophysica Acta 04/2004; 1688(2):168-75. · 4.66 Impact Factor
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    Article: Hypoxia causes aggregation of serine palmitoyltransferase followed by non-apoptotic death of human lymphocytes.
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    ABSTRACT: In the central nervous system chronic hypoxia has been suggested to cause neurodegenerations and protein aggregation, as in Alzheimer's disease. Here we have shown protein aggregation during acute hypoxia in human primary cells. Clinically relevant acute hypoxia (pO(2) = 25 mmHg) was produced by incubation of venous blood in vitro, where 18-hour incubation resulted in raise of pCO(2) to 90 mmHg, accumulation of lactate and acidosis (pH 7.06). In hypoxic samples the number of necrotic, but not apoptotic, white blood cells increased to 9.6%. Viable cells displayed hypoxia-related changes such as a drop of mitochondrial membrane potential and changes in the plasma membrane. These changes coincided with the 2.6-fold increase in immunoreactivity of serine palmitoyltransferase subunit 1 (SPT1), which is the enzyme involved in HSN1-type neurodegeneration. SPT1 immunoreactivity was presented as large cytosolic aggregates, which appeared in viable hypoxic cells and remained in dead cells. SPT-positive aggregates were also found in cell nuclei. This data suggests that SPT1 aggregation preceded cell death in hypoxia and represents the first evidence of acute protein aggregation during hypoxia.
    Cell cycle (Georgetown, Tex.) 11/2004; 3(10):1271-7. · 5.36 Impact Factor

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Keywords

alpha-oxoamine synthase family
 
alpha-oxoamine synthases
 
committed step
 
conserved region
 
decrease serine palmitoyltransferase activity
 
histidine residue
 
human SPTLC1 gene
 
LCB1 gene
 
Lcb1p small middle dotLcb2p heterodimer
 
Lcb1p small middle dotLcb2p interface
 
mutant LCB1 alleles
 
mutated Lcb1p proteins
 
pyridoxal 5'-phosphate binding
 
pyridoxal 5'-phosphate cofactor
 
pyridoxal 5'-phosphate enzymes
 
residues
 
serine palmitoyltransferase
 
serine palmitoyltransferase activity
 
single active site
 
sphingolipid synthesis
 

Ken Gable