Tumor suppressor and anti-inflammatory actions of PPARgamma agonists are mediated via upregulation of PTEN.

The PTEN tumor suppressor gene modulates several cellular functions, including cell migration, survival, and proliferation [1] by antagonizing phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI 3-kinase)-mediated signaling cascades. Mechanisms by which the expression of PTEN is regulated are, however, unclear. The ligand-activated nuclear receptor peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma) [2] has been shown to regulate differentiation and/or cell growth in a number of cell types [3, 4, 5], which has led to the suggestion that PPARgamma, like PTEN [1, 6], could act as a tumor suppressor. PPARgamma has also been implicated in anti-inflammatory responses [7, 8], although downstream mediators of these effects are not well defined. Here, we show that the activation of PPARgamma by its selective ligand, rosiglitazone, upregulates PTEN expression in human macrophages, Caco2 colorectal cancer cells, and MCF7 breast cancer cells. This upregulation correlated with decreased PI 3-kinase activity as measured by reduced phosphorylation of protein kinase B. One consequence of this was that rosiglitazone treatment reduced the proliferation rate of Caco2 and MCF7 cells. Antisense-mediated disruption of PPARgamma expression prevented the upregulation of PTEN that normally accompanies monocyte differentiation and reduced the proportion of macrophages undergoing apoptosis, while electrophoretic mobility shift assays showed that PPARgamma is able to bind two response elements in the genomic sequence upstream of PTEN. Our results demonstrate a role for PPARgamma in regulating PI 3-kinase signaling by modulating PTEN expression in inflammatory and tumor-derived cells.

Chemical dissection and reassembly of amyloid fibrils formed by a peptide fragment of transthyretin.

We have examined the chemical dissection and subsequent reassembly of fibrils formed by a ten-residue peptide to probe the forces that drive the formation of amyloid. The peptide, TTR(10-19), encompasses the A strand of the inner beta-sheet structure that lines the thyroid hormone binding site of the human plasma protein transthyretin. When dissolved in water under low pH conditions the peptide readily forms amyloid fibrils. Electron microscopy of these fibrils indicates the presence of long (>1000 nm) rigid structures of uniform diameter (approximately 14 nm). Addition of urea (3 M) to preformed fibrils disrupts these rigid structures. The partially disrupted fibrils form flexible ribbon-like arrays, which are composed of a number of clearly visible protofilaments (3-4 nm diameter). These protofilaments are highly stable, and resist denaturation in 6 M urea at 75 degrees C over a period of hours. High concentrations (>50%, v/v) of 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol also dissociate TTR(10-19) fibrils to the constituent protofilaments, but these slowly dissociate to monomeric, soluble peptides with extensive alpha-helical structure. Dilution of the denaturant or co-solvent at the stage when dissociation to protofilaments has occurred results in the efficient reassembly of fibrils. These results indicate that assembly of fibrils from protofilaments involves relatively weak and predominantly hydrophobic interactions, whereas assembly of peptides into protofilaments involves both electrostatic and hydrophobic forces, resulting in a highly stable and compact structures.

Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2: a potential therapeutic target for atherosclerosis.

Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A(2) (Lp-PLA(2)) is an enzyme that is produced by inflammatory cells, is bound to circulating LDL, and is involved in hydrolyzing polar phospholipids, including those found in oxidized low-density lipoproteins. To date, the biological role of Lp-PLA(2) in atherogenesis has been controversial, with initial reports purporting an atheroprotective effect attributable to the degradation of platelet activating factor and similar molecules. However, more recent studies suggest a proatherogenic role for this enzyme, which is attributed to Lp-PLA(2)-mediated hydrolysis of oxidatively modified low-density lipoproteins that results in the accumulation of proinflammatory products. The liberation of lysophosphatidylcholine and oxidized nonesterified fatty acids from oxidized phospholipids by the action of Lp-PLA(2) results in diverse inflammatory effects on various cell types involved in atherogenesis. This concept is further supported by a number of recently published epidemiology studies suggesting that plasma levels of the enzyme predict future cardiovascular events independent of conventional risk factors. The development of selective inhibitors of Lp-PLA(2) that inhibit enzyme activity in the circulation as well as within human atherosclerotic lesions opens the possibility of therapeutic manipulation of vascular inflammatory processes to reduce residual cardiovascular events in high risk individuals who continue to suffer fatal and nonfatal events despite the current standard of care.

Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2: a potential new risk factor for coronary artery disease and a therapeutic target.

The recognition that atherosclerosis represents an inflammatory disease has begun to shift interest towards novel therapies that could specifically target the underlying inflammatory component of atherogenesis. Like low-density lipoprotein, an ideal new drug target would be a modifiable plasma risk factor that not only reflects the ongoing inflammatory process but also actively promotes it. Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2, also known as platelet-activating factor acetylhydrolase, is a new risk factor that may have the potential to fulfil these requirements.

Cloning and functional characterization of a novel human CC chemokine that binds to the CCR3 receptor and activates human eosinophils.

Eotaxin has been found to bind exclusively to a single chemokine receptor, CCR3. Using expression sequence tag screening of an activated monocyte library, a second chemokine has been identified; it was expressed and purified from a Drosophila cell culture system and appears to only activate CCR3. Eotaxin-2, MPIF-2, or CKbeta-6, is a human CC chemokine with low amino acid sequence identity to other chemokines. Eotaxin-2 promotes chemotaxis and Ca2+ mobilization in human eosinophils but not in neutrophils or monocytes. Cross-desensitization calcium mobilization experiments using purified eosinophils indicate that eotaxin and MCP-4, but not RANTES, MIP-1alpha, or MCP-3, can completely cross-desensitize the calcium response to eotaxin-2 on these cells, indicating that eotaxin-2 shares the same receptor used by eotaxin and MCP-4. Eotaxin-2 was the most potent eosinophil chemoattractant of all the chemokines tested. Eotaxin-2 also displaced 125I-eotaxin bound to the cloned CCR3 stably expressed in CHO cells (CHO-CCR3) and to freshly isolated human eosinophils with affinities similar to eotaxin and MCP-4. 125I-Eotaxin-2 binds with high affinity to eosinophils and both eotaxin and cold eotaxin-2 displace the ligand with equal affinity. Eotaxin and eotaxin-2 promote a Ca2+ transient in RBL-2H3 cells stably transfected with CCR3 (RBL-2H3-CCR3) and both ligands cross-desensitized the response of the other but not the response to LTD4. The data indicate that eotaxin-2 is a potent eosinophil chemotactic chemokine exerting its activity solely through the CCR3 receptor.

Trifluoroethanol induces the self-association of specific amphipathic peptides.

We have examined the effect of trifluoroethanol (TFE) on the solution behaviour of three amphipathic peptides. One of the peptides, containing three heptad repeat units (Ac-YS-(AKEAAKE)3GAR-NH2), remained monomeric under conditions where TFE induced a two-state transition from a random coil to an alpha-helix. In contrast, the TFE-induced alpha-helical formation of two peptides derived from human apolipoproteins C-II and E was accompanied by the formation of discrete dimers and trimers, respectively. The apolipoprotein C-II peptide further aggregated to form beta-sheet at higher concentrations of TFE (50% v/v). The results suggest a class of peptides capable of discrete self-association in the presence of cosolvents which favour intramolecular hydrogen bonding.

Inhibition of lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 diminishes the death-inducing effects of oxidised LDL on human monocyte-macrophages.

The death of macrophages contributes to atheroma formation. Oxidation renders low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cytotoxic to human monocyte-macrophages. Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2), also termed platelet-activating factor acetylhydrolase, hydrolyses oxidised phospholipids. Inhibition of Lp-PLA2 by diisopropyl fluorophosphate or Pefabloc (broad-spectrum serine esterase/protease inhibitors), or SB222657 (a specific inhibitor of Lp-PLA2) did not prevent LDL oxidation, but diminished the ensuing toxicity and apoptosis induction when the LDL was oxidised, and inhibited the rise in lysophosphatidylcholine levels that occurred in the inhibitors' absence. Hydrolysis products of oxidised phospholipids thus account for over a third of the cytotoxic and apoptosis-inducing effects of oxidised LDL on macrophages.

Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A(2), platelet-activating factor acetylhydrolase: a potential new risk factor for coronary artery disease.

A specific and robust immunoassay for the lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A(2) (Lp-PLA(2)), platelet-activating factor acetylhydrolase, is described for the first time. The immunoassay was used to evaluate possible links between plasma Lp-PLA(2) levels and atherosclerosis risk amongst susceptible individuals. Such an investigation was important because Lp-PLA(2) participates in the oxidative modification of low density lipoprotein by cleaving oxidised phosphatidylcholines, generating lysophosphatidylcholine and oxidised free fatty acids. The majority of Lp-PLA(2) was found associated with LDL (approximately 80%) and, as expected, enzyme levels were significantly positively correlated to LDL cholesterol. Plasma Lp-PLA(2) levels were significantly elevated in patients with angiographically proven coronary artery disease (CAD) when compared with age-matched controls, even though LDL cholesterol levels did not differ significantly. Indeed, when included in a general linear model with LDL cholesterol and other risk factors, Lp-PLA(2) appeared to be an independent predictor of disease status. We propose, therefore, that plasma Lp-PLA(2) mass should be viewed as a potential novel risk factor for CAD that provides information related to but additional to traditional lipoprotein measurements.

Total synthesis of the four stereoisomers of dihexadecanoyl phosphatidylinositol and the substrate stereospecificity of human erythrocyte membrane phosphatidylinositol 4-kinase.

A new and convenient method for the preparation of the four stereoisomers of dihexadecanoyl phosphatidylinositol has been developed. An enantiomeric pair of acid-labile, pentaprotected myo-inositol building blocks was synthesized in high yield and coupled with chiral phenyl dihexadecanoylglyceryl phosphates to give the fully protected phosphatidylinositols. These were subsequently deprotected by hydrogenolysis and self-hydrolysis in aqueous ethanol to give the desired pure products. Comparison of these compounds as potential substrates for a partially purified phosphatidylinositol 4-kinase (EC 2.7.1.67) derived from human erythrocyte membranes revealed that the chirality of the inositol ring is crucial for efficient phosphorylation, whereas the chirality of the glycerol moiety is relatively unimportant. Moreover, the similarity in phosphorylation rates of the naturally occurring mammalian phospholipid, I, and its synthetic stereochemical counterpart, compound 10a, suggests that the enzyme is relatively tolerant to changes in fatty acid composition.

Selective binding of the truncated form of the chemokine CKbeta8 (25-99) to CC chemokine receptor 1(CCR1).

Human CC chemokine receptor 1 (CCR1) has been proposed as a receptor for CKbeta8. To obtain conclusive evidence, binding-displacement studies of 125I-CKbeta8 (25-99) were performed on membranes of Chinese hamster ovary cells expressing human CCR1. The Ic50 for displacement of 125I-CKbeta8 (25-99) with CKbeta8 (25-99) was 0.22 nM. The longer forms of CKbeta8 (24-99 and 1-99) also displaced 125I-CKbeta8, with Ic50 values of 6.5 and 16 nM, respectively. Displacement profiles of 125I-CKbeta8 (25-99) on freshly prepared human monocytes indicated that CCR1 was the major receptor for CKbeta8. We conclude that CCR1 is a receptor for different-length CKbeta8 and that CKbeta8 (25-99) has a similar affinity for CCR1 as macrophage inflammatory protein-1alpha (MIP-1alpha). The longer variants of CKbeta8 are significantly less potent than CKbeta8 (25-99) and MIP-1a on CCR1 and monocytes (P < 0.05).

The role of fractalkine in the recruitment of monocytes to the endothelium.

Recombinant fractalkine possesses both chemoattractive and adhesive properties in vitro. Previous studies have demonstrated an upregulation of this molecule on the membranes of activated human endothelial cells and hypothesised that fractalkine plays a role in the recruitment and adherence of monocytes to the activated endothelium. Here we present data analysing both the adhesive and chemoattractive properties of this chemokine expressed by activated human umbilical vein endothelial cells. We demonstrate that both recombinant fractalkine and endogenously produced fractalkine function as adhesion molecules, tethering monocytes to the endothelium. However, our data demonstrate that although recombinant fractalkine has the potential to function as a potent monocyte chemoattractant, the endogenous fractalkine cleaved from activated human umbilical vein endothelial cells is not responsible for the observed chemotaxis in this model. Instead, we show that monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), secreted from the activated human umbilical vein endothelial cells, is responsible for the chemotaxis of these monocytes.

Lipoprotein-associated PLA2 inhibition--a novel, non-lipid lowering strategy for atherosclerosis therapy.

Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) is a serine lipase that is associated with low density lipoprotein (LDL) in human plasma. Substrates include oxidised phosphatidylcholine (PC), which is hydrolysed by Lp-PLA2 to lyso-PC and oxidised fatty acids. Both products are bioactive and proinflammatory, and implicated in monocyte infiltration into the developing plaque, deposition of foam cells, and plaque progression and instability. Lp-PLA2 has recently been shown to be a risk factor for coronary events in previously asymptomatic, hypercholesterolaemic men. A series of azetidinones was designed as potent and selective inhibitors of this enzyme; SB-222657 inhibited release of the chemotactic cleavage products from oxidised LDL, and SB-244323 reduced atherosclerotic plaque development in a 3 month rabbit study. A series of pyrimidones has been designed from a screening hit, and nanomolar inhibitors identified. Oral efficacy in inhibiting plasma Lp-PLA2 in rabbits has been demonstrated with a variety of structural classes.

Oxidatively modified phosphatidylserines on the surface of apoptotic cells are essential phagocytic 'eat-me' signals: cleavage and inhibition of phagocytosis by Lp-PLA2.

Diversified anionic phospholipids, phosphatidylserines (PS), externalized to the surface of apoptotic cells are universal phagocytic signals. However, the role of major PS metabolites, such as peroxidized species of PS (PSox) and lyso-PS, in the clearance of apoptotic cells has not been rigorously evaluated. Here, we demonstrate that H2O2 was equally effective in inducing apoptosis and externalization of PS in naive HL60 cells and in cells enriched with oxidizable polyunsaturated species of PS (supplemented with linoleic acid (LA)). Despite this, the uptake of LA-supplemented cells by RAW264.7 and THP-1 macrophages was more than an order of magnitude more effective than that of naive cells. A similar stimulation of phagocytosis was observed with LA-enriched HL60 cells and Jurkat cells triggered to apoptosis with staurosporine. This was due to the presence of PSox on the surface of apoptotic LA-supplemented cells (but not of naive cells). This enhanced phagocytosis was dependent on activation of the intrinsic apoptotic pathway, as no stimulation of phagocytosis occurred in LA-enriched cells challenged with Fas antibody. Incubation of apoptotic cells with lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2), a secreted enzyme with high specificity towards PSox, hydrolyzed peroxidized PS species in LA-supplemented cells resulting in the suppression of phagocytosis to the levels observed for naive cells. This suppression of phagocytosis by Lp-PLA2 was blocked by a selective inhibitor of Lp-PLA2, SB-435495. Screening of possible receptor candidates revealed the ability of several PS receptors and bridging proteins to recognize both PS and PSox, albeit with diverse selectivity. We conclude that PSox is an effective phagocytic 'eat-me' signal that participates in the engulfment of cells undergoing intrinsic apoptosis.

Modelling amyloid fibril formation kinetics: mechanisms of nucleation and growth.

Amyloid and amyloid-like fibrils are self-assembling protein nanostructures, of interest for their robust material properties and inherent biological compatibility as well as their putative role in a number of debilitating mammalian disorders. Understanding fibril formation is essential to the development of strategies to control, manipulate or prevent fibril growth. As such, this area of research has attracted significant attention over the last half century. This review describes a number of different models that have been formulated to describe the kinetics of fibril assembly. We describe the macroscopic implications of mechanisms in which secondary processes such as secondary nucleation, fragmentation or branching dominate the assembly pathway, compared to mechanisms dominated by the influence of primary nucleation. We further describe how experimental data can be analysed with respect to the predictions of kinetic models.

Granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor affects myo-inositol metabolism in a novel manner. Implications for its priming action on human neutrophils.

Little is known about the signal transduction processes involved in the priming action of granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) on neutrophils. This study has used myo-[3H]inositol-labelled human neutrophils to determine whether preincubation with GM-CSF influences myo-inositol (Ins) metabolism in control cells, or in cells stimulated with the bacterial chemoattractant N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMetLeuPhe). GM-CSF pretreatment did not influence the total cellular 3H radioactivity content, demonstrating that the cytokine had no effect on Ins uptake. However, neutrophils pretreated with GM-CSF showed a dramatic 25-40% fall in the free [3H]Ins content of the cell, which was almost quantitatively recovered in a 2-4-fold increase in radioactivity within PtdIns. The remainder of the 3H radioactivity was found proportionately distributed throughout all other [3H]Ins-containing metabolites. Interestingly, in comparison with controls, the GM-CSF-stimulated increases in [3H]polyphosphoinositide (including 3-phosphorylated lipids) and [3H]Ins polyphosphate contents were consistently higher than that observed with PtdIns. This observation suggests that GM-CSF influences the hormone-sensitive pool of PtdIns, possibly through the activation of a PtdIns synthase which is rate-limiting to subsequent metabolic pathways. This is the first report of an action of GM-CSF on Ins metabolism, and highlights the conversion of Ins to PtdIns as a key regulatory metabolic step.

Thyrotropin-releasing hormone stimulates rapid breakdown of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate and phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate in GH3 pituitary tumor cells.

Thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) induced a rapid breakdown of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PtdIns 4,5P2) and phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate (PtdIns 4P) in GH3 cells labeled to isotopic equilibrium with [3H]inositol. Within 10 sec of the addition of TRH (1 microM), there was a maximal 60% decrease in PtdIns 4,5P2 and 40% decrease in PtdIns 4P. Breakdown of phosphatidylinositol (PtdIns) occurred only after a lag of 30 sec. While the reduced levels of the polyphosphoinositides had almost returned to control values by 5 min, the GH3 cell PtdIns content remained at around 85% of controls for at least 2 hr. Both phosphatidic acid (PA) and 1,2-diacylglycerol levels increased in response to TRH in [32P]PO4- and [3H]glycerol-labeled GH3 cells. 1,2-Diacylglycerol accumulated in a biphasic manner with an early peak 10 sec after addition of the peptide. This early rise in 1,2-diacylglycerol levels coincided in time and was equivalent in lipid mass with the decrease in the polyphosphoinositide content, suggesting the involvement of a phospholipase C-type enzyme. 1,2-Diacylglycerol levels subsequently fell toward control values and, after 3 min of treatment with TRH, rose again to levels 50% above normal. PA levels reached a peak value approximately 2-fold above normal 1 min after the addition of TRH. At all times after TRH addition, the bulk of the inositol phospholipid lost was recovered as 1,2-diacylglycerol. These results suggest that TRH stimulates a cycle of events in which the breakdown of the polyphosphoinositides, PtdIns 4,5P2 and, perhaps, PtdIns 4P by a phospholipase C enzyme could be the initiating event.

myo-inositol metabolites as cellular signals.

The discovery of the second-messenger functions of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate and diacylglycerol, the products of hormone-stimulated inositol phospholipid hydrolysis, marked a turning point in studies of hormone function. This review focuses on the myo-inositol moiety which is involved in an increasingly complex network of metabolic interconversions, myo-Inositol metabolites identified in eukaryotic cells include at least six glycerophospholipid isomers and some 25 distinct inositol phosphates which differ in the number and distribution of phosphate groups around the inositol ring. This apparent complexity can be simplified by assigning groups of myo-inositol metabolites to distinct functional compartments. For example, the phosphatidylinositol 4-kinase pathway functions to generate inositol phospholipids that are substrates for hormone-sensitive forms of inositol-phospholipid phospholipase C, whilst the newly discovered phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase pathway generates lipids that are resistant to such enzymes and may function directly as novel mitogenic signals. Inositol phosphate metabolism functions to terminate the second-messenger activity of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate, to recycle the latter's myo-inositol moiety and, perhaps, to generate additional signal molecules such as inositol 1,3,4,5-tetrakisphosphate, inositol pentakisphosphate and inositol hexakisphosphate. In addition to providing a more complete picture of the pathways of myo-inositol metabolism, recent studies have made rapid progress in understanding the molecular basis underlying hormonal stimulation of inositol-phospholipid-specific phospholipase C and inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate-mediated Ca2+ mobilisation.

Thyrotropin-releasing hormone-stimulated [3H]inositol metabolism in GH3 pituitary tumor cells. Studies with lithium.

GH3 pituitary tumor cells were labeled to isotopic equilibrium with [3H]inositol. Thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH), which has been shown to stimulate inositol phospholipid metabolism in these cells, enhanced the accumulation of [3H]inositol-derived radioactivity in the cell's acid-soluble fraction. Separation of the [3H]inositol metabolites by ion-exchange chromatography revealed that TRH induced a rapid rise in the cellular content of [3H]inositol mono-, bis-, and trisphosphate. The latter two metabolites accumulated in a multiphasic manner with an initial peak 5-10 sec after TRH addition. This was followed by a short-lived decline and a secondary rise which left the metabolite levels elevated for at least 50 min. The GH3 cell [3H]inositol monophosphate and [3H] inositol content also rose in response to TRH, but the latter accumulated with a considerably slower time course than the phosphorylated derivatives. None of these responses could be mimicked by the calcium ionophore A23187. Incubation of GH3 cells with TRH in the presence of lithium led to an enhanced accumulation of [3H]inositol monophosphate and, to a lesser extent, of [3H]inositol bis- and trisphosphate. This accumulation rose in a linear fashion with time for at least 20 min, by which point 50% of the [3H]inositol-containing phospholipids had been depleted. When lithium was added 30 min after TRH, [3H]inositol monophosphate accumulated at the same rate as was found when TRH and lithium were added together, indicating that the TRH-induced phospholipid response in GH3 cells does not desensitize. Under normal conditions, approximately equal amounts of the three [3H]inositol phosphates were formed within 5 sec of TRH addition. However, when TRH was added to cells grown chronically in lithium-containing medium, or to cells incubating at a subphysiological temperature (25 degrees), greater than 90% of the metabolites formed were the bis- or trisphosphates. This indicates that the primary event stimulated by TRH is the breakdown by phospholipase C of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate and, perhaps also, of phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate.

Determination of sedimentation coefficients for small peptides.

Direct fitting of sedimentation velocity data with numerical solutions of the Lamm equations has been exploited to obtain sedimentation coefficients for single solutes under conditions where solvent and solution plateaus are either not available or are transient. The calculated evolution was initialized with the first experimental scan and nonlinear regression was employed to obtain best-fit values for the sedimentation and diffusion coefficients. General properties of the Lamm equations as data analysis tools were examined. This method was applied to study a set of small peptides containing amphipathic heptad repeats with the general structure Ac-YS-(AKEAAKE)nGAR-NH2, n = 2, 3, or 4. Sedimentation velocity analysis indicated single sedimenting species with sedimentation coefficients (s(20,w) values) of 0.37, 0.45, and 0.52 S, respectively, in good agreement with sedimentation coefficients predicted by hydrodynamic theory. The described approach can be applied to synthetic boundary and conventional loading experiments, and can be extended to analyze sedimentation data for both large and small macromolecules in order to define shape, heterogeneity, and state of association.

Mass spectrometry to characterize the binding of a peptide to a lipid surface.

The binding of an amphipathic alpha-helical peptide to small unilamellar lipid vesicles has been examined using chemical derivitization and mass spectrometry. The peptide is derived from the sequence of human apolipoprotein C-II (apoC-II), the protein activator of lipoprotein lipase (LpL). ApoC-II(19-39) forms approximately 60% alpha-helix upon binding to model egg yolk phosphatidylcholine small unilamellar vesicles. Measurement of the affinity of the peptide for lipid by spectrophotometric methods is complicated by the contribution of scattered light to optical signals. Instead, we characterize the binding event using the differential labeling of lysine residues by the lipid- and aqueous-phase cross-linkers, disuccinimidyl suberate (DSS) and bis(sulfosuccinimidyl) suberate (BS(3)), respectively. In aqueous solution, the three lysine residues of the peptide are accessible to both cross-linkers. In the presence of lipid, the C-terminal lysine residue becomes inaccessible to the lipid-phase cross-linker DSS, but remains accessible to the aqueous-phase cross-linker, BS(3). We use mass spectrometry to characterize this binding event and to derive a dissociation constant for the interaction (K(d) = 5 microM). We also provide evidence for the formation of dimeric cross-linked peptide when high densities of peptide are bound to the lipid surface.