Phosphatidylcholine synthesis influences the diacylglycerol homeostasis required for SEC14p-dependent Golgi function and cell growth

Mol Biol Cell. 2001 Mar;12(3):511-20. doi: 10.1091/mbc.12.3.511.

Abstract

Phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine are the most abundant phospholipids in eukaryotic cells and thus have major roles in the formation and maintenance of vesicular membranes. In yeast, diacylglycerol accepts a phosphocholine moiety through a CPT1-derived cholinephosphotransferase activity to directly synthesize phosphatidylcholine. EPT1-derived activity can transfer either phosphocholine or phosphoethanolamine to diacylglcyerol in vitro, but is currently believed to primarily synthesize phosphatidylethanolamine in vivo. In this study we report that CPT1- and EPT1-derived cholinephosphotransferase activities can significantly overlap in vivo such that EPT1 can contribute to 60% of net phosphatidylcholine synthesis via the Kennedy pathway. Alterations in the level of diacylglycerol consumption through alterations in phosphatidylcholine synthesis directly correlated with the level of SEC14-dependent invertase secretion and affected cell viability. Administration of synthetic di8:0 diacylglycerol resulted in a partial rescue of cells from SEC14-mediated cell death. The addition of di8:0 diacylglycerol increased di8:0 diacylglycerol levels 20-40-fold over endogenous long-chain diacylglycerol levels. Di8:0 diacylglcyerol did not alter endogenous phospholipid metabolic pathways, nor was it converted to di8:0 phosphatidic acid.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Carrier Proteins / genetics
  • Carrier Proteins / metabolism*
  • Cell Division
  • Diacylglycerol Cholinephosphotransferase / genetics
  • Diacylglycerol Cholinephosphotransferase / metabolism
  • Diglycerides / metabolism*
  • Ethanolaminephosphotransferase / genetics
  • Ethanolaminephosphotransferase / metabolism
  • Genes, Fungal
  • Golgi Apparatus / metabolism*
  • Homeostasis
  • Membrane Proteins*
  • Phosphatidylcholines / biosynthesis*
  • Phospholipid Transfer Proteins
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / genetics
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / growth & development
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / metabolism
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins*

Substances

  • Carrier Proteins
  • Diglycerides
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Phosphatidylcholines
  • Phospholipid Transfer Proteins
  • SEC14 protein, S cerevisiae
  • SEC24 protein, S cerevisiae
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins
  • Ethanolaminephosphotransferase
  • Diacylglycerol Cholinephosphotransferase