title: Sphingomyelin synthase SMS2 displays dual activity as ceramide phosphoethanolamine synthase.
abstract: Sphingolipids are vital components of eukaryotic membranes involved in the regulation of cell growth, death, intracellular trafficking, and the barrier function of the plasma membrane (PM). While sphingomyelin (SM) is the major sphingolipid in mammals, previous studies indicate that mammalian cells also produce the SM analog ceramide phosphoethanolamine (CPE). Little is known about the biological role of CPE or the enzyme(s) responsible for CPE biosynthesis. SM production is mediated by the SM synthases SMS1 in the Golgi and SMS2 at the PM, while a closely related enzyme, SMSr, has an unknown biochemical function. We now demonstrate that SMS family members display striking differences in substrate specificity, with SMS1 and SMSr being monofunctional enzymes with SM and CPE synthase activity, respectively, and SMS2 acting as a bifunctional enzyme with both SM and CPE synthase activity. In agreement with the PM residency of SMS2, we show that both SM and CPE synthase activities are enhanced at the surface of SMS2-overexpressing HeLa cells. Our findings reveal an unexpected diversity in substrate specificity among SMS family members that should enable the design of specific inhibitors to target the biological role of each enzyme individually.
authors.affiliation: Membrane Enzymology, Bijvoet Center and Institute of Biomembranes, Utrecht University, 3584 CH Utrecht, The Netherlands. pternes@uni-goettingen.de
authors.forename: Philipp
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ternes
authors.forename: Jos F H M
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Brouwers
authors.forename: Joep
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: van den Dikkenberg
authors.forename: Joost C M
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Holthuis
mesh_terms: D002518:Ceramides / Q000378:metabolism; D002853:Chromatography, Liquid; D002855:Chromatography, Thin Layer; D004983:Ethanolamines; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D010088:Oxidoreductases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D010802:Phylogeny; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D013109:Sphingomyelins / Q000378:metabolism*; D013379:Substrate Specificity; D017855:Transferases (Other Substituted Phosphate Groups) / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D002518:Ceramides; D004983:Ethanolamines; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D013109:Sphingomyelins; C060281:ceramide phosphoethanolamine; C005448:phosphorylethanolamine; D010088:Oxidoreductases; C108138:dihydroceramide desaturase; C455440:SGMS1 protein, human; D017855:Transferases (Other Substituted Phosphate Groups)