title: Synthesis, NMR characterization and divergent biological actions of 2'-hydroxy-ceramide/dihydroceramide stereoisomers in MCF7 cells.
abstract: A straightforward method for the simultaneous preparation of (2S,3R,2'R)- and (2S,3R,2'S)-2'-hydroxy-ceramides (2'-OHCer) from (2S,3R)-sphingosine acetonide precursors and racemic mixtures of 2-hydroxy fatty acids (2-OHFAs) is described. The obtained 2'-OH-C4-, -C6-, -C12-, -C16-Cer and 2'-OH-C6-dhCer pairs of diastereoisomers were characterized thoroughly by TLC, MS, NMR, and optical rotation. Dynamic and multidimensional NMR studies provided evidence that polar interfaces of 2'-OHCers are extended and more rigid than observed for the corresponding non-hydroxylated analogs. Stereospecific profile on growth suppression of MCF7 cells was observed for (2'R)- and (2'S)-2'-OH-C6-Cers and their dihydro analogs. The (2'R)-isomers were more active than the (2'S)-isomers (IC(50) ∼3 μM/8 μM and IC(50) ∼8 μM/12 μM, respectively), surpassing activity of the ordinary C6-Cer (IC(50) ∼12 μM) and C6-dhCer (IC(50) ∼38 μM). Neither isomer of 2'-OH-C6-Cers and 2'-OH-C6-dhCers was metabolized to their cellular long chain 2'-OH-homologs. Surprisingly, the most active (2'R)-isomers did not influence the levels of the cellular Cers nor dhCers. Contrary to this, the (2'S)-isomers generated cellular Cers and dhCers efficiently. In comparison, the ordinary C6-Cer and C6-dhCer also significantly increased the levels of their cellular long chain homologs. These peculiar anabolic responses and SAR data suggest that (2'R)-2'-OHCers/dhCers may interact with some distinct cellular regulatory targets in a specific and more effective manner than their non-hydroxylated analogs. Thus, stereoisomers of 2'-OHCers can be potentially utilized as novel molecular tools to study lipid-protein interactions, cell signaling phenomena and to understand the role of hydroxylated sphingolipids in cancer biology, pathogenesis and therapy.
authors.affiliation: Lipidomics Shared Resource, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA.
authors.forename: Zdzislaw M
authors.initials: ZM
authors.lastname: Szulc
authors.forename: Aiping
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bai
authors.forename: Jacek
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bielawski
authors.forename: Nalini
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mayroo
authors.forename: Doreen E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: Hanna
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gracz
authors.forename: Yusuf A
authors.initials: YA
authors.lastname: Hannun
authors.forename: Alicja
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bielawska
mesh_terms: D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002518:Ceramides / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D013107:Sphingolipids / Q000378:metabolism; D013237:Stereoisomerism; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D002518:Ceramides; D013107:Sphingolipids