Degradation of FATTY ACID EXPORT PROTEIN1 by RHOMBOID-LIKE PROTEASE11 contributes to cold tolerance in Arabidopsis.

Plants need to acclimate to different stresses to optimize growth under unfavorable conditions. In Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana), the abundance of the chloroplast envelope protein FATTY ACID EXPORT PROTEIN1 (FAX1) decreases after the onset of low temperatures. However, how FAX1 degradation occurs and whether altered FAX1 abundance contributes to cold tolerance in plants remains unclear. The rapid cold-induced increase in RHOMBOID-LIKE PROTEASE11 (RBL11) transcript levels, the physical interaction of RBL11 with FAX1, the specific FAX1 degradation after RBL11 expression, and the absence of cold-induced FAX1 degradation in rbl11 loss-of-function mutants suggest that this enzyme is responsible for FAX1 degradation. Proteomic analyses showed that rbl11 mutants have higher levels of FAX1 and other proteins involved in membrane lipid homeostasis, suggesting that RBL11 is a key element in the remodeling of membrane properties during cold conditions. Consequently, in the cold, rbl11 mutants show a shift in lipid biosynthesis toward the eukaryotic pathway, which coincides with impaired cold tolerance. To test whether cold sensitivity is due to increased FAX1 levels, we analyzed FAX1 overexpressors. The rbl11 mutants and FAX1 overexpressor lines show superimposable phenotypic defects upon exposure to cold temperatures. Our re-sults show that the cold-induced degradation of FAX1 by RBL11 is critical for Arabidop-sis to survive cold and freezing periods.

Cytidine diphosphate diacylglycerol synthase is essential for mitochondrial structure and energy production in Arabidopsis thaliana.

Cytidine diphosphate diacylglycerol (CDP-DAG), an important intermediate for glycerolipid biosynthesis, is synthesized under the catalytic activity of CDP-DAG synthase (CDS) to produce anionic phosphoglycerolipids such as phosphatidylglycerol (PG) and cardiolipin (CL). Previous studies showed that Arabidopsis CDSs are encoded by a small gene family, termed CDS1-CDS5, the members of which are integral membrane proteins in endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and in plastids. However, the details on how CDP-DAG is provided for mitochondrial membrane-specific phosphoglycerolipids are missing. Here we present the identification of a mitochondrion-specific CDS, designated CDS6. Enzymatic activity of CDS6 was demonstrated by the complementation of CL synthesis in the yeast CDS-deficient tam41Δ mutant. The Arabidopsis cds6 mutant lacking CDS6 activity showed decreased mitochondrial PG and CL biosynthesis capacity, a severe growth deficiency finally leading to plant death. These defects were rescued partly by complementation with CDS6 or supplementation with PG and CL. The ultrastructure of mitochondria in cds6 was abnormal, missing the structures of cristae. The degradation of triacylglycerol (TAG) in lipid droplets and starch in chloroplasts in the cds6 mutant was impaired. The expression of most differentially expressed genes involved in the mitochondrial electron transport chain was upregulated, suggesting an energy-demanding stage in cds6. Furthermore, the contents of polar glycerolipids in cds6 were dramatically altered. In addition, cds6 seedlings lost the capacity for cell proliferation and showed a higher oxidase activity. Thus, CDS6 is indispensable for the biosynthesis of PG and CL in mitochondria, which is critical for establishing mitochondrial structure, TAG degradation, energy production and seedling development.

2-Hydroxy-phytanoyl-CoA lyase (AtHPCL) is involved in phytol metabolism in Arabidopsis.

During chlorophyll degradation, large amounts of the isoprenoid alcohol phytol are released. The pathway of phytol catabolism has been studied in humans, because chlorophyll is part of the human diet, but little is known for plants. In humans, phytanoyl-CoA derived from phytol is degraded via α-oxidation by phytanoyl-CoA hydroxylase (PAHX) and 2-hydroxy-phytanoyl-CoA lyase (HPCL). Arabidopsis contains two sequences homologous to the human proteins AtPAHX and AtHPCL. Insertional mutants of Arabidopsis (pahx, hpcl) were grown under N deprivation to stimulate chlorophyll breakdown or supplemented with phytol to increase the endogenous amount of phytol. During N deprivation, chlorophyll, phytol, phytenal, upstream metabolites of phytol breakdown, and tocopherol and fatty acid phytyl esters, alternative phytol-derived lipids, accumulated in pahx and hpcl mutants, in line with the scenario that the mutations interfere with phytol degradation. AtHPCL was localized to the peroxisomes. Expression analysis of the AtHPCL sequence in the yeast Δpxp1 or Δmpo1 mutants followed by supplementation with 2-hydroxy-palmitic acid and enzyme assays of peroxisomal proteins from Col-0 and hpcl plants with 2-hydroxy-stearoyl-CoA revealed that AtHPCL harbors 2-hydroxy-acyl-CoA lyase activity. The α-dioxygenases αDOX1 and αDOX2 are involved in α-oxidation of fatty acids and could be involved in an alternative pathway of phytol degradation. However, phytol-related lipids in the αdox1, αdox2, or αdox1 αdox2 mutants were not altered compared with Col-0, indicating that αDOX1 and αDOX2 are not involved in phytol degradation. These results demonstrate that phytol degradation in Arabidopsis involves α-oxidation by AtPAHX and AtHPCL, but that it is independent of αDOX1/αDOX2.

Triacylglycerol and phytyl ester synthesis in Synechocystis sp. PCC6803.

Cyanobacteria are unicellular prokaryotic algae that perform oxygenic photosynthesis, similar to plants. The cells harbor thylakoid membranes composed of lipids related to those of chloroplasts in plants to accommodate the complexes of photosynthesis. The occurrence of storage lipids, including triacylglycerol or wax esters, which are found in plants, animals, and some bacteria, nevertheless remained unclear in cyanobacteria. We show here that the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC6803 accumulates both triacylglycerol and wax esters (fatty acid phytyl esters). Phytyl esters accumulate in higher levels under abiotic stress conditions. The analysis of an insertional mutant revealed that the acyltransferase slr2103, with sequence similarity to plant esterase/lipase/thioesterase (ELT) proteins, is essential for triacylglycerol and phytyl ester synthesis in Synechocystis The recombinant slr2103 enzyme showed acyltransferase activity with phytol and diacylglycerol, thus producing phytyl esters and triacylglycerol. Acyl-CoA thioesters were the preferred acyl donors, while acyl-ACP (acyl carrier protein), free fatty acids, or galactolipid-bound fatty acids were poor substrates. The slr2103 protein sequence is unrelated to acyltransferases from bacteria (AtfA) or plants (DGAT1, DGAT2, PDAT), and therefore establishes an independent group of bacterial acyltransferases involved in triacylglycerol and wax ester synthesis. The identification of the gene slr2103 responsible for triacylglycerol synthesis in cyanobacteria opens the possibility of using prokaryotic photosynthetic cells in biotechnological applications.

Phytol derived from chlorophyll hydrolysis in plants is metabolized via phytenal.

Phytol is the isoprenoid alcohol bound in ester linkage to chlorophyll, the most abundant photosynthetic pigment in plants. During leaf senescence, large amounts of phytol are released by chlorophyll degradation. However, the pathway of phytol catabolism in plants is unknown. We hypothesized that phytol degradation in plants might involve its oxidation into the long-chain aldehyde phytenal. Using GC-MS for aldehyde quantification after derivatization with methylhydroxylamine, phytenal was identified in leaves, whereas other long-chain aldehydes (phytanal and pristanal) were barely detectable. We found that phytenal accumulates during chlorotic stresses, for example, salt stress, dark-induced senescence, and nitrogen deprivation. The increase in the phytenal content is mediated at least in part independently of enzyme activities, and it is independent of light. Characterization of phytenal accumulation in the pao1 mutant affected in chlorophyll degradation revealed that phytenal is an authentic phytol metabolite derived from chlorophyll breakdown. The increase in phytenal was even stronger in mutants affected in the production of other phytol metabolites including vte5-2 (tocopherol deficient) and pes1 pes2 (fatty acid phytyl ester deficient). Therefore, phytenal accumulation is controlled by competing, alternative pathways of phosphorylation (leading to tocopherol production) or esterification (fatty acid phytyl ester production). As a consequence, the content of phytenal is maintained at low levels, presumably to minimize its toxic effects caused by its highly reactive aldehyde group that can form covalent bonds with and inactivate the amino groups of proteins.

Surface wax esters contribute to drought tolerance in Arabidopsis.

Waxes are components of the cuticle covering the aerial organs of plants. Accumulation of waxes has previously been associated with protection against water loss, therefore contributing to drought tolerance. However, not much information is known about the function of individual wax components during water deficit. We studied the role of wax ester synthesis during drought. The wax ester load on Arabidopsis leaves and stems was increased during water deficiency. Expression of three genes, WSD1, WSD6 and WSD7 of the wax ester synthase/diacylglycerol acyltransferase (WS/DGAT or WSD) family was induced during drought, salt stress and abscisic acid treatment. WSD1 has previously been identified as the major wax ester synthase of stems. wsd1 mutants have shown reduced wax ester coverage on leaves and stems during normal or drought condition, while wax ester loads of wsd6, wsd7 and of the wsd6wsd7 double mutant were unchanged. The growth and relative water content of wsd1 plants were compromised during drought, while leaf water loss of wsd1 was increased. Enzyme assays with recombinant proteins expressed in insect cells revealed that WSD6 and WSD7 contain wax ester synthase activity, albeit with different substrate specificity compared with WSD1. WSD6 and WSD7 localize to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER)/Golgi. These results demonstrated that WSD1 is involved in the accumulation of wax esters during drought, while WSD6 and WSD7 might play other specific roles in wax ester metabolism during stress.

Identification and characterization of a plastidial phosphatidylglycerophosphate phosphatase in Arabidopsis thaliana.

Phosphatidylglycerol (PG) is the only phospholipid in the thylakoid membranes of chloroplasts of plants, and it is also found in extraplastidial membranes including mitochondria and the endoplasmic reticulum. Previous studies showed that lack of PG in the pgp1-2 mutant of Arabidopsis deficient in phosphatidylglycerophosphate (PGP) synthase strongly affects thylakoid biogenesis and photosynthetic activity. In the present study, the gene encoding the enzyme for the second step of PG synthesis, PGP phosphatase, was isolated based on sequence similarity to the yeast GEP4 and Chlamydomonas PGPP1 genes. The Arabidopsis AtPGPP1 protein localizes to chloroplasts and harbors PGP phosphatase activity with alkaline pH optimum and divalent cation requirement. Arabidopsis pgpp1-1 mutant plants contain reduced amounts of chlorophyll, but photosynthetic quantum yield remains unchanged. The absolute content of plastidial PG (34:4; total number of acyl carbons:number of double bonds) is reduced by about 1/3, demonstrating that AtPGPP1 is involved in the synthesis of plastidial PG. PGP 34:3, PGP 34:2 and PGP 34:1 lacking 16:1 accumulate in pgpp1-1, indicating that the desaturation of 16:0 to 16:1 by the FAD4 desaturase in the chloroplasts only occurs after PGP dephosphorylation.

A pair of nonspecific phospholipases C, NPC2 and NPC6, are involved in gametophyte development and glycerolipid metabolism in Arabidopsis.

Phospholipases play crucial roles in plant membrane lipid homeostasis. Nonspecific phospholipase C (NPCs) establish a unique class of phospholipases found only in plants and certain bacteria. Here, we show that two previously uncharacterized NPC isoforms, NPC2 and NPC6, are required for male and female gametophyte development in Arabidopsis. Double mutant plants of npc2-1 npc6-2 could not be retrieved because npc2-1 npc6-2 ovule and pollen development is affected. Genetic complementation, reciprocal crossing and microscope observation of npc2-1/- npc6-2/+ and npc2-1/+ npc6-2/- plants suggest that NPC2 and NPC6 are redundant and are required for normal gametophyte development. Both NPC2 and NPC6 proteins are localized to the plastids. Promoter-GUS assays in transgenic Arabidopsis revealed that NPC2 and NPC6 are preferentially expressed in floral organs rather than in leaves. In vitro enzyme assays showed that NPC2 and NPC6 hydrolyze phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine, but not phosphatidate, being consistent with the reported substrate selectivity of NPCs. The amounts of phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylglycerol were increased in buds but not in flowers of npc2-1/- npc6-2/+ and npc2-1/+ npc6-2/- plants, presumably due to reduced phospholipid hydrolysis activity in developing flowers. Our results demonstrate that NPC2 and NPC6 play crucial roles in gametogenesis during flower development.

Acyl-CoA:Lysophosphatidylethanolamine Acyltransferase Activity Regulates Growth of Arabidopsis.

Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) contains two enzymes (encoded by the At1g80950 and At2g45670 genes) preferentially acylating lysophosphatidylethanolamine (LPE) with acyl-coenzyme A (CoA), designated LYSOPHOSPHATIDYLETHANOLAMINE ACYLTRANSFERASE1 (LPEAT1) and LPEAT2. The transfer DNA insertion mutant lpeat2 and the double mutant lpeat1 lpeat2 showed impaired growth, smaller leaves, shorter roots, less seed setting, and reduced lipid content per fresh weight in roots and seeds and large increases in LPE and lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) contents in leaves. Microsomal preparations from leaves of these mutants showed around 70% decrease in acylation activity of LPE with 16:0-CoA compared with wild-type membranes, whereas the acylation with 18:1-CoA was much less affected, demonstrating that other lysophospholipid acyltransferases than the two LPEATs could acylate LPE The above-mentioned effects were less pronounced in the single lpeat1 mutant. Overexpression of either LPEAT1 or LPEAT2 under the control of the 35S promotor led to morphological changes opposite to what was seen in the transfer DNA mutants. Acyl specificity studies showed that LPEAT1 utilized 16:0-CoA at the highest rate of 11 tested acyl-CoAs, whereas LPEAT2 utilized 20:0-CoA as the best acyl donor. Both LPEATs could acylate either sn position of ether analogs of LPC The data show that the activities of LPEAT1 and LPEAT2 are, in a complementary way, involved in growth regulation in Arabidopsis. It is shown that LPEAT activity (especially LPEAT2) is essential for maintaining adequate levels of phosphatidylethanolamine, LPE, and LPC in the cells.

Low-Phosphate Induction of Plastidal Stromules Is Dependent on Strigolactones But Not on the Canonical Strigolactone Signaling Component MAX2.

Stromules are highly dynamic protrusions of the plastids in plants. Several factors, such as drought and light conditions, influence the stromule frequency (SF) in a positive or negative way. A relatively recently discovered class of plant hormones are the strigolactones; strigolactones inhibit branching of the shoots and promote beneficial interactions between roots and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. Here, we investigate the link between the formation of stromules and strigolactones. This research shows a strong link between strigolactones and the formation of stromules: SF correlates with strigolactone levels in the wild type and strigolactone mutants (max2-1 max3-9), and SF is stimulated by strigolactone GR24 and reduced by strigolactone inhibitor D2.

Molecular species composition of plant cardiolipin determined by liquid chromatography mass spectrometry.

Cardiolipin (CL), an anionic phospholipid of the inner mitochondrial membrane, provides essential functions for stabilizing respiratory complexes and is involved in mitochondrial morphogenesis and programmed cell death in animals. The role of CL and its metabolism in plants are less well understood. The measurement of CL in plants, including its molecular species composition, is hampered by the fact that CL is of extremely low abundance, and that plants contain large amounts of interfering compounds including galactolipids, neutral lipids, and pigments. We used solid phase extraction by anion exchange chromatography to purify CL from crude plant lipid extracts. LC/MS was used to determine the content and molecular species composition of CL. Thus, up to 23 different molecular species of CL were detected in different plant species, including Arabidopsis, mung bean, spinach, barley, and tobacco. Similar to animals, plant CL is dominated by highly unsaturated species, mostly containing linoleic and linolenic acid. During phosphate deprivation or exposure to an extended dark period, the amount of CL decreased in Arabidopsis, accompanied with an increased degree in unsaturation. The mechanism of CL remodeling during stress, and the function of highly unsaturated CL molecular species, remains to be defined.

A Shoot-Specific Hypoxic Response of Arabidopsis Sheds Light on the Role of the Phosphate-Responsive Transcription Factor PHOSPHATE STARVATION RESPONSE1.

Plant responses to biotic and abiotic stresses are often very specific, but signal transduction pathways can partially or completely overlap. Here, we demonstrate that in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana), the transcriptional responses to phosphate starvation and oxygen deficiency stress comprise a set of commonly induced genes. While the phosphate deficiency response is systemic, under oxygen deficiency, most of the commonly induced genes are found only in illuminated shoots. This jointly induced response to the two stresses is under control of the transcription factor PHOSPHATE STARVATION RESPONSE1 (PHR1), but not of the oxygen-sensing N-end rule pathway, and includes genes encoding proteins for the synthesis of galactolipids, which replace phospholipids in plant membranes under phosphate starvation. Despite the induction of galactolipid synthesis genes, total galactolipid content and plant survival are not severely affected by the up-regulation of galactolipid gene expression in illuminated leaves during hypoxia. However, changes in galactolipid molecular species composition point to an adaptation of lipid fluxes through the endoplasmic reticulum and chloroplast pathways during hypoxia. PHR1-mediated signaling of phosphate deprivation was also light dependent. Because a photoreceptor-mediated PHR1 activation was not detectable under hypoxia, our data suggest that a chloroplast-derived retrograde signal, potentially arising from metabolic changes, regulates PHR1 activity under both oxygen and phosphate deficiency.

Extraplastidial cytidinediphosphate diacylglycerol synthase activity is required for vegetative development in Arabidopsis thaliana.

Cytidinediphosphate diacylglycerol synthase (CDS) catalyzes the activation of phosphatidic acid to cytidinediphosphate (CDP)-diacylglycerol, a central intermediate in glycerolipid biosynthesis in prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms. Cytidinediphosphate-diacylglycerol is the precursor to phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylglycerol (PG) and cardiolipin of eukaryotic phospholipids that are essential for various cellular functions. Isoforms of CDS are located in plastids, mitochondria and the endomembrane system of plants and are encoded by five genes in Arabidopsis. Two genes have previously been shown to code for the plastidial isoforms which are indispensable for the biosynthesis of plastidial PG, and thus biogenesis and function of thylakoid membranes. Here we have focused on the extraplastidial CDS isoforms, encoded by CDS1 and CDS2 which are constitutively expressed contrary to CDS3. We provide evidence that these closely related CDS genes code for membrane proteins located in the endoplasmic reticulum and possess very similar enzymatic properties. Development and analysis of Arabidopsis mutants lacking either one or both CDS1 and CDS2 genes clearly shows that these two genes have redundant functions. As reflected in the seedling lethal phenotype of the cds1cds2 double mutant, plant cells require at least one catalytically active microsomal CDS isoform for cell division and expansion. According to the altered glycerolipid composition of the double mutant in comparison with wild-type seedlings, it is likely that the drastic decrease in the level of phosphatidylinositol and the increase in phosphatidic acid cause defects in cell division and expansion.

Storage duration of human blood samples for fatty acid concentration analyses - How long is too long?

Polyunsaturated fatty acids such as DHA have known anti-inflammatory properties. The therapeutic implication highlights the importance of accurate serum measurements. Sample preservation is challenging when performed parallel to the clinical obligations. Impact of time between sample collection and processing regarding concentration alterations of fatty acids in human blood remains to be elucidated. Therefore, more information is required with respect to the stability and storage options in the context of potential degradation and concentration changes. This study investigates the stability of DHA in serum samples over time, given the challenges of timely sample analysis in clinical settings. Blood samples from three patients were collected and stored at +4 °C. Concentrations were analysed between 6 h and 7 days post-collection. Our data indicate that DHA concentrations remained unchanged during the observational period. Our results suggest that storage duration up to 7 days before sample processing does not affect accuracy of the results. DHA measurements is crucial for ongoing and future research in cardiovascular and inflammatory diseases. Our results reveal that DHA stability remains consistent over one week. This information is important for further clinical studies investigating PUFA concentrations, providing researches the option to postpone processing of samples if required along the clinical obligations.

Lack of a protective effect of the Tmem106b "protective SNP" in the Grn knockout mouse model for frontotemporal lobar degeneration.

Genetic variants in TMEM106B are a common risk factor for frontotemporal lobar degeneration and the most important modifier of disease risk in patients with progranulin (GRN) mutations (FTLD-GRN). TMEM106B is encoding a lysosomal transmembrane protein of unknown molecular function. How it mediates its disease-modifying function remains enigmatic. Several TMEM106B single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are significantly associated with disease risk in FTLD-GRN carriers, of which all except one are within intronic sequences of TMEM106B. Of note, the non-coding SNPs are in high linkage disequilibrium with the coding SNP rs3173615 located in exon six of TMEM106B, resulting in a threonine to serine change at amino acid 185 in the minor allele, which is protective in FTLD-GRN carriers. To investigate the functional consequences of this variant in vivo, we generated and characterized a knockin mouse model harboring the Tmem106bT186S variant. We analyzed the effect of this protective variant on FTLD pathology by crossing Tmem106bT186S mice with Grn-/- knockout mice, a model for GRN-mediated FTLD. We did not observe the amelioration of any of the investigated Grn-/- knockout phenotypes, including transcriptomic changes, lipid alterations, or microgliosis in Tmem106bT186S/T186S × Grn-/- mice, indicating that the Tmem106bT186S variant is not protective in the Grn-/- knockout mouse model. These data suggest that effects of the associated SNPs not directly linked to the amino acid exchange in TMEM106B are critical for the modifying effect.

Epilepsy and nodding syndrome in association with an Onchocerca volvulus infection drive distinct immune profile patterns.

Previous studies have described the association of onchocerciasis (caused by Onchocerca volvulus) with epilepsy, including nodding syndrome, although a clear etiological link is still missing. Cases are found in different African countries (Tanzania, South Sudan, Uganda, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Central African Republic and Cameroon). In our study we investigated immunological parameters (cytokine, chemokine, immunoglobulin levels) in individuals from the Mahenge area, Tanzania, presenting with either epilepsy or nodding syndrome with or without O. volvulus infection and compared them to O. volvulus negative individuals from the same endemic area lacking neurological disorders. Additionally, cell differentiation was performed using blood smears and systemic levels of neurodegeneration markers, leiomodin-1 and N-acetyltyramine-O, ß-glucuronide (NATOG) were determined. Our findings revealed that cytokines, most chemokines and neurodegeneration markers were comparable between both groups presenting with epilepsy or nodding syndrome. However, we observed elevated eosinophil percentages within the O. volvulus positive epilepsy/nodding syndrome patients accompanied with increased eosinophilic cationic protein (ECP) and antigen-specific IgG levels in comparison to those without an O. volvulus infection. Furthermore, highest levels of NATOG were found in O. volvulus positive nodding syndrome patients. These findings highlight that the detection of distinct biomarkers might be useful for a differential diagnosis of epilepsy and nodding syndrome in O. volvulus endemic areas. Trial-registration: NCT03653975.

Direct Infusion Mass Spectrometry for Complex Lipid Analysis.

Direct infusion or "shotgun" mass spectrometry provides a fast strategy to measure different classes of lipids, combining rapid analysis and short idle time. In contrast to liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS), the lipids are infused into the mass spectrometer without prior separation by liquid chromatography. Ions are separated in the quadrupole of a tandem mass spectrometer, and after collision-induced dissociation fragments are quantified relative to internal standards in the third quadrupole or in the time-of-flight mass analyzer of a triple quadrupole or quadrupole time of flight (Q-TOF) mass spectrometer. Abundant lipids, that is, galactolipids and phospholipids in leaves, are measured in crude lipid extracts, while less abundant lipids can be measured after enrichment by solid-phase extraction. Here we describe protocols for the quantification of the major plant glycerolipids (galactolipids, phospholipids, diacylglycerol, and triacylglycerol) using nanospray direct infusion mass spectrometry. This provides a strategy for comprehensive, highly sensitive, high-throughput lipidomic analyses.

Urine metabolites for the identification of Onchocerca volvulus infections in patients from Cameroon.

BACKGROUND: The tropical disease onchocerciasis (river blindness), caused by Onchocerca volvulus filarial nematodes, is targeted for elimination by mass treatment with nematocidal and antimicrobial drugs. Diagnosis of O. volvulus infections is based on counts of skin-borne microfilariae, but additional diagnostic tools, e.g. worm- or host-derived small RNAs, proteins or metabolites, are required for high-throughput screening. N-acetyltyramine-O,ß-glucuronide (NATOG) was suggested as a biomarker for onchocerciasis but its viability as diagnostic tool has been challenged. METHODS: We performed a screening program of urine samples from individuals from Cameroon infected with O. volvulus, Loa loa, Mansonella perstans or a combination thereof. Urine metabolites were measured by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). Principle component analysis (PCA) revealed that onchocerciasis causes complex changes of the urine metabolome. RESULTS: The mean NATOG content was elevated in urine of O. volvulus-infected compared with non-infected individuals, but NATOG levels showed considerable variation. However, 13.8% of all O. volvulus-infected individuals had high NATOG levels never reached by individuals without filarial infections or only infected with L. loa or M. perstans. Therefore, the identification of individuals with high NATOG levels might be used to screen for the elimination of onchocerciasis after mass drug application. Additional metabolites, including a compound identified as cinnamoylglycine, had high PC1/PC2 loadings in the data set. Mean levels of cinnamoylglycine were increased in O. volvulus-infected individuals, and 17.2% of all O. volvulus individuals had elevated cinnamoylglycine levels not reached by the controls. CONCLUSIONS: On an individual level, NATOG alone had poor discriminative power distinguishing infected from non-infected individuals. However, 13.8% of all O. volvulus-infected individuals had NATOG levels never reached by individuals without filarial infections or infected with only L. loa or M. perstans. Discrimination of O. volvulus infections from controls or individuals suffering from multiple infections was improved by the measurement of additional metabolites, e.g. cinnamoylglycine. Thus, measuring a combination of urine metabolites may provide a way to assess onchocerciasis on the population level. This provides the possibility to design a strategy for large-scale onchocerciasis epidemiological screening programs based on urine rather than invasive techniques.

Lipid profiling of the filarial nematodes Onchocerca volvulus, Onchocerca ochengi and Litomosoides sigmodontis reveals the accumulation of nematode-specific ether phospholipids in the host.

Onchocerciasis, a neglected tropical disease prevalent in western and central Africa, is a major health problem and has been targeted for elimination. The causative agent for this disease is the human parasite Onchocerca volvulus. Onchocerca ochengi and Litomosoides sigmodontis, infectious agents of cattle and rodents, respectively, serve as model organisms to study filarial nematode infections. Biomarkers to determine infection without the use of painful skin biopsies and microscopic identification of larval worms are needed and their discovery is facilitated by an improved knowledge of parasite-specific metabolites. In addition to proteins and nucleic acids, lipids may be suitable candidates for filarial biomarkers that are currently underexplored. To fill this gap, we present the phospholipid profile of the filarial nematodes O. ochengi, O. volvulus and L. sigmodontis. Direct infusion quadrupole time-of-flight (Q-TOF) mass spectrometry was employed to analyze the composition of phospholipids and their molecular species in the three nematode species. Analysis of the phospholipid profiles of plasma or serum of uninfected and infected hosts showed that nematode-specific phospholipids were below detection limits. However, several phospholipids, in particular ether lipids of phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), were abundant in O. ochengi worms and in bovine nodule fluid, suggesting that these phospholipids might be released from O. ochengi into the host, and could serve as potential biomarkers.

Cyclic monoterpene mediated modulations of Arabidopsis thaliana phenotype: effects on the cytoskeleton and on the expression of selected genes.

Monoterpenes at high atmospheric concentrations are strong growth inhibitors in allelopathic interactions. Effects depend on dose, molecular structure of the monoterpene and on the species of the receiver plant. Stomata are among the first targets affected by camphor and menthol. Previously, it could be demonstrated that the compounds induce swelling of the protoplasts, prevent stomatal closure and enhance transpiration. In this study, we show that the block of stomatal closure is accompanied by changes to the cytoskeleton, which has a direct role in stomatal movements. Although MPK3 (MAP3 kinase) and ABF4 gene expressions are induced within six hours, stomatal closure is prevented. In contrast to ABF4, ABF2 (both transcription factors) is not induced. MPK3 and ABF4 both encode for proteins involved in the process of stomatal closure. The expression of PEPCase, an enzyme important for stomatal opening, is down regulated. The leaves develop stress symptoms, mirrored by transient changes in the expression profile of additional genes: lipoxygenase 2 (LOX2), CER5, CER6 (both important for wax production) and RD29B (an ABA inducible stress protein). Non-invasive methods showed a fast response of the plant to camphor fumigations both in a rapid decrease of the quantum yield and in the relative growth rate. Repeated exposures to the monoterpenes resulted finally in growth reduction and a stress related change in the phenotype. It is proposed that high concentrations or repeated exposure to monoterpenes led to irreversible damages, whereas low concentrations or short-term fumigations may have the potential to strengthen the plant fitness.