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Noda Institute for Scientific Research GRANT
2013 Young Investigator Research Grant

Mechanisms of regulation of membrane phospholipids metabolism and its physiological significanceMotohiro Tani
Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, Kyushu University

terized the mechanism underlying this reduction in PS in
sac1Δ cells.

Research aims
In eukaryotic organisms, a membrane lipid bilayer is primarily composed of two groups of amphiphilic molecules:
Glycerophospholipids and complex sphingolipids. The
structural diversity of these groups, however, is thought tonumber in the thousands. Furthermore, the composition ofthese lipids is tightly regulated in each organelle membrane. This complex diversity and distribution of membrane phospholipid is essential for the maintenance of various cellular events, such as signal transduction, membranetrafficking, and energy metabolism. However, the molecular mechanisms that regulate membrane phospholipid metabolism are largely unknown. Previously, we screened acollection of ~4,800 Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains containing mutations in nonessential genes, to identify mutants
exhibiting increased sensitivity to abnormal metabolism ofcomplex sphingolipids in the membrane.1) We found thatthe double mutation of SAC1 encoding a phosphoinositide(PIP) phosphatase and one of a specific group of non-essential sphingolipid-metabolizing enzyme gene (CSG1, CSG2,IPT1 or SCS7) caused a synthetic growth defect. While thedeletion of SAC1 alone resulted in a reduction in the cellular levels of phosphatidylserine (PS), the restoration of PS
levels by overexpression of PS synthase partly suppressed
the synthetic growth defect. These results indicated that thereduction in PS levels might be the cause of the synthetic
growth defect observed in the SAC1 deletion strain.1) However, the mechanism by which PS levels are decreased in
the sac1Δ cells remained unclear. In this study, we charac-Fig. 1.

Methods
Yeast cells were metabolically labeled with [32P] orthophosphate, and the labeled phospholipids were extracted
and analyzed by thin-layer chromatography (TLC). The
subcellular distribution of PS was observed by expressionof GFP-tagged lactadherin C2 domain (GFP-Lact-C2).2)
Cells expressing GFP-Lact-C2 were visualized by fluorescence microscopy.
Results
The rate of PS biosynthesis is reduced in sac1∆ cells
To determine the rate of PS biosynthesis, wild-type andsac1∆ cells were pulse-labeled with [32P]orthophosphatefor 15, 30, and 60 min. As shown in Fig 1A, the rate of PS
biosynthesis in sac1∆ cells was reduced by approximately
50%, compared to the wild-type control. PS can be converted to phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) by the PS decarboxylases, Psd1 and Psd2.3) To investigate whether the reduction in PS levels in the sac1∆ strain is due to the conversion of PS to PE, the rate of PS biosynthesis was examined in the psd1∆ psd2∆ and psd1∆ psd2∆ sac1∆ strains.
As summarized in Fig. 1B, the rate of PS biosynthesis inthe psd1∆ psd2∆ sac1∆ strain was approximately 50%
lesser than that of the psd1∆ psd2∆ strain, indicating thatthe observed reduction in the PS levels occurs indepen-Pulse radiolabelling of SAC1-deleted cells with [32P] orthophosphate.

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Fig. 2. Effects of SAC1, STT4, and VPS34 mutations on PS and PIP levels.

Fig. 3.

Distribution of GFP–Lact-C2 in sac1Δ cells.

dently of PS decarboxylation. These results suggested thatthe biosynthesis of PS is reduced by the SAC1 deletion.4)
Normal metabolism of PIPs is important for maintenance of cellular PS level
To determine whether the PIP phosphatase activity ofSac1 is necessary for the maintenance of PS levels, SAC1C392S, a catalytic inactive mutant, was introduced into
sac1∆ cells. The mutant, however, was unable to rescue thedefect in PS levels in the sac1∆ strain. Mutation of SAC1
causes marked accumulation of PI(4)P, the bulk of which isgenerated by the PI 4-kinase Stt4.3) Therefore, we investigated whether repression of STT4 could suppress the observed reduction in PS levels in the sac1∆ strain. As depicted in Fig. 2A, the PS levels were reduced by STT4-repression, compared to the control. Moreover, the repressionof STT4 enhanced the reduction in the PS levels caused bythe SAC1 deletion. These results demonstrate that both repression of STT4 and deletion of SAC1 result in a reduction
in PS levels. Sac1 can also dephosphorylate PI(3)P andPI(3,5)P2. The VPS34 gene, which encodes a PI 3-kinase, isresponsible for the production of PI(3)P in yeast, and deletion of this gene results in depletion of PI(3)P and PI(3,5)
P2. As such, we examined the effect of a double mutation inthe VPS34 and SAC1 genes on PS levels. Similar to the results obtained by repression of STT4, deletion of VPS34 re-sulted in a reduction in the PS levels (Fig. 2B). Again, deletion of SAC1 resulted in a reduction in the PS level; however, this reduction was not rescued by the deletion ofVPS34. Collectively, these results indicate that a defect indephosphorylation of PIPs by Sac1, a defect in the synthesis of PIPs by Stt4 and Vps34, or a defect in both the dephosphorylation and the synthesis of PIPs causes the observed reduction in PS levels.4)
Aberrant intracellular distribution of PS in sac1∆ cells
To examine the effects of the SAC1 deletion on the intracellular distribution of PS, GFP-tagged Lact-C2, a PS-specific probe,2) was expressed in wild-type and sac1Δ cells.
While GFP–Lact-C2 was observed predominantly at theplasma membrane of wild-type cells, the intracellular distribution of GFP–Lact-C2 was increased in the sac1Δ cells(Fig. 2A). A large portion of the intracellular GFP–Lact-C2
in the sac1Δ cells localized to vacuolar membranes (Fig.
2B).4)
Conclusion
In this study, we characterized the reduction in PS levels
caused by deletion of SAC1. We found that the apparent
rate of PS biosynthesis in sac1Δ cells was significantly reduced compared to that of wild-type cells. Double mutation

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of SAC1 and STT4 or VPS34 failed to restore the intracellular PS levels, suggesting that both the synthesis and degradation of phosphoinositides are important for the maintenance of PS. Finally, we observed an abnormal PS distribution at vacuolar membranes in sac1∆ cells. Collectively,
these results suggest that Sac1 is involved in mediating anormal rate of biosynthesis and distribution of PS.4)
In yeast, PS is not an essential phospholipid; however, it
contributes to a variety of cellular functions, including vesicular trafficking.5) At present, the physiological significance of Sac1-mediated PS maintenance remains unclear.
Further investigation of the molecular mechanisms underlying the regulation of PS by Sac1, and the functional relationship between PS and Sac1, will provide new insights
into the physiological significance of PS and PIPs.

References
1) Tani M, and Kuge O. (2010) Requirement of a specific group of
sphingolipid-metabolizing enzyme for growth of yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae under impaired metabolism of glycerophospholipids.
Mol Microbiol. 78: 395–413.
2) Yeung, T., Gilbert, G. E., Shi, J., Silvius, J., Kapus, A. and Grinstein,S. (2008) Membrane phosphatidylserine regulates surface chargeand protein localization. Science 319: 210–213.
3) Henry, S. A., Kohlwein, S. D. and Carman, G. M. (2012) Metabolism and regulation of glycerolipids in the yeast Saccharomyces
cerevisiae. Genetics 190: 317–349.
4) Tani M, and Kuge O. (2014) Involvement of Sac1 phosphoinositide
phosphatase in metabolism of phosphatidylserine in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Yeast 31: 145–158.
5) Tani M, and Kuge O. (2012) Involvement of complex sphingolipids
and phosphatidylserine in endosomal trafficking in yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Mol Microbiol. 86: 1262-1280.