title: Functions of membrane binding domain of CTP:phosphocholine cytidylyltransferase in alveolar type II cells.
abstract: CTP:phosphocholine cytidylyltransferase (CCTalpha) plays a key role in the biosynthesis of surfactant phosphatidylcholine. In this study, we investigated the role of its membrane-binding (M) domain in modulating its structure, function, and cellular distribution. Multiple enhanced green fluorescent protein-CCTalpha constructs were generated to evaluate the subcellular distribution in A549 cells. The M domain targeted CCTalpha to the perinuclear (membrane-rich) region. Microinjections with glutathione-S-transferase fusion protein containing the M domain corroborated the perinuclear targeting. Deletion of the M domain or substitutions of the hydrophobic residues with arginine/serine in the VEEKS(267-277) motif of the M domain resulted in a nuclear appearance and indented nuclei. Membrane binding of CCTalpha decreased gradually as the number of positively charged arginine residues increased in the VEEKS motif. To identify whether membrane-protein interactions cause structural alterations in CCTalpha, we visualized the protein in the absence and presence of lipids by transmission electron microscopy. These studies revealed that CCTalpha forms a dimer-like complex that condenses upon binding to lipid vesicles, but not lipid monolayers. The influence of the M domain on CCTalpha activity was assessed in transgenic mice overexpressing the N-terminal catalytic domain (CCTalpha(1-239)), N-terminal catalytic plus M domain (CCTalpha(1-290)), or full-length CCTalpha(1-367) in fetal type II cells by using the surfactant protein C promoter. Only overexpression of CCTalpha(1-367) increased surfactant phosphatidylcholine synthesis. Thus, the M domain influences membrane binding, cellular distribution, and topology of CCTalpha, but the domain alone is not sufficient to confer CCT activity in alveolar type II cells in vivo.
authors.affiliation: Physiology and Experimental Medicine Program, Hospital for Sick Children Research Institute, 555 University Avenue, Toronto, ON, M5G 1X8 Canada.
authors.forename: Ross
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ridsdale
authors.forename: Irene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Tseu
authors.forename: Jinxia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Post
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D020134:Catalytic Domain; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D019916:Choline-Phosphate Cytidylyltransferase / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000737:chemistry; D008168:Lung / Q000166:cytology*; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission / Q000379:methods; D009154:Mutation; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines / Q000737:chemistry; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D011650:Pulmonary Alveoli / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship
chemical_list: D008055:Lipids; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines; D019916:Choline-Phosphate Cytidylyltransferase