Ceramide transfer protein function is essential for normal oxidative stress response and lifespan
Authors
Rao, Raghavendra PralhadaYuan, Changqing
Allegood, Jeremy C.
Rawat, Satinder S.
Edwards, Michael Beth
Wang, Xin
Merrill, Alfred H. Jr.
Acharya, Usha
Acharya, Jairaj K.
Document Type
Journal ArticlePublication Date
2007-06-27Keywords
AnimalsAnimals, Genetically Modified
Carrier Proteins
Ceramides
Drosophila Proteins
Drosophila melanogaster
Longevity
Oxidative Stress
Genetics and Genomics
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Ceramide transfer protein (CERT) transfers ceramide from the endoplasmic reticulum to the Golgi complex, a process critical in synthesis and maintenance of normal levels of sphingolipids in mammalian cells. However, how its function is integrated into development and physiology of the animal is less clear. Here, we report the in vivo consequences of loss of functional CERT protein. We generated Drosophila melanogaster mutant flies lacking a functional CERT (Dcert) protein using chemical mutagenesis and a Western blot-based genetic screen. The mutant flies die early between days 10 and 30, whereas controls lived between 75 and 90 days. They display >70% decrease in ceramide phosphoethanolamine (the sphingomyelin analog in Drosophila) and ceramide. These changes resulted in increased plasma membrane fluidity that renders them susceptible to reactive oxygen species and results in enhanced oxidative damage to cellular proteins. Consequently, the flies showed reduced thermal tolerance that was exacerbated with aging and metabolic compromise such as decreasing ATP and increasing glucose levels, reminiscent of premature aging. Our studies demonstrate that maintenance of physiological levels of ceramide phosphoethanolamine by CERT in vivo is required to prevent oxidative damages to cellular components that are critical for viability and normal lifespan of the animal.Source
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2007 Jul 3;104(27):11364-9. Epub 2007 Jun 25. Link to article on publisher's siteDOI
10.1073/pnas.0705049104Permanent Link to this Item
http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14038/43893PubMed ID
17592126Related Resources
Link to Article in PubMedae974a485f413a2113503eed53cd6c53
10.1073/pnas.0705049104