Drosophila models uncover substrate channeling effects on phospholipids and sphingolipids in peroxisomal biogenesis disorders.

Peroxisomal Biogenesis Disorders Zellweger Spectrum (PBD-ZSD) disorders are a group of autosomal recessive defects in peroxisome formation that produce a multi-systemic disease presenting at birth or in childhood. Well documented clinical biomarkers such as elevated very long chain fatty acids (VLCF...

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Main Authors: Michael F Wangler, Yu-Hsin Chao, Mary Roth, Ruth Welti, James A McNew
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2025-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0324143
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author Michael F Wangler
Yu-Hsin Chao
Mary Roth
Ruth Welti
James A McNew
author_facet Michael F Wangler
Yu-Hsin Chao
Mary Roth
Ruth Welti
James A McNew
author_sort Michael F Wangler
collection DOAJ
description Peroxisomal Biogenesis Disorders Zellweger Spectrum (PBD-ZSD) disorders are a group of autosomal recessive defects in peroxisome formation that produce a multi-systemic disease presenting at birth or in childhood. Well documented clinical biomarkers such as elevated very long chain fatty acids (VLCFA) are key biochemical diagnostic findings in these conditions. Additional, secondary biochemical alterations such as elevated very long chain lysophosphatidylcholines are allowing newborn screening for peroxisomal disease. In addition, a more widespread impact on metabolism and lipids is increasingly being documented by metabolomic and lipidomic studies. Here we utilize Drosophila models of pex2 and pex16 as well as human plasma from individuals with PEX1 mutations. We identify phospholipid abnormalities in Drosophila larvae and brain characterized by differences in the quantities of phosphatidylcholine (PC) and phosphatidylethanolamines (PE) with long chain lengths and reduced levels of intermediate chain lengths. For diacylglycerol (DAG), the precursor of PE and PC through the Kennedy pathway, the intermediate chain lengths are increased suggesting an imbalance between DAGs and PE and PC that suggests the two acyl chain pools are not in equilibrium. Altered acyl chain lengths are also observed in PE ceramides in the fly models. Interestingly, plasma from human subjects exhibit phospholipid alterations similar to the fly model. Moreover, human plasma shows reduced levels of sphingomyelin with 18 and 22 carbon lengths but normal levels of C24. Our results suggest that peroxisomal biogenesis defects alter shuttling of the acyl chains of multiple phospholipid and ceramide lipid classes. In contrast, DAG species with intermediate fatty acids are actually more abundant in PBD. These data suggest an imbalance between de novo synthesis of PC and PE through the Kennedy pathway and remodeling of existing PC and PE through the Lands cycle. This imbalance is likely due to overabundance of very long acyl chains in PBD and a subsequent imbalance due to substrate channeling effects. Given the fundamental role of phospholipid and sphingolipids in nervous system functions, these observations suggest PBD-ZSD are diseases characterized by widespread cell membrane lipid abnormalities.
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spelling doaj-art-39fb0399bf044c6e91344eb3fde7e0b82025-08-20T02:07:46ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032025-01-01206e032414310.1371/journal.pone.0324143Drosophila models uncover substrate channeling effects on phospholipids and sphingolipids in peroxisomal biogenesis disorders.Michael F WanglerYu-Hsin ChaoMary RothRuth WeltiJames A McNewPeroxisomal Biogenesis Disorders Zellweger Spectrum (PBD-ZSD) disorders are a group of autosomal recessive defects in peroxisome formation that produce a multi-systemic disease presenting at birth or in childhood. Well documented clinical biomarkers such as elevated very long chain fatty acids (VLCFA) are key biochemical diagnostic findings in these conditions. Additional, secondary biochemical alterations such as elevated very long chain lysophosphatidylcholines are allowing newborn screening for peroxisomal disease. In addition, a more widespread impact on metabolism and lipids is increasingly being documented by metabolomic and lipidomic studies. Here we utilize Drosophila models of pex2 and pex16 as well as human plasma from individuals with PEX1 mutations. We identify phospholipid abnormalities in Drosophila larvae and brain characterized by differences in the quantities of phosphatidylcholine (PC) and phosphatidylethanolamines (PE) with long chain lengths and reduced levels of intermediate chain lengths. For diacylglycerol (DAG), the precursor of PE and PC through the Kennedy pathway, the intermediate chain lengths are increased suggesting an imbalance between DAGs and PE and PC that suggests the two acyl chain pools are not in equilibrium. Altered acyl chain lengths are also observed in PE ceramides in the fly models. Interestingly, plasma from human subjects exhibit phospholipid alterations similar to the fly model. Moreover, human plasma shows reduced levels of sphingomyelin with 18 and 22 carbon lengths but normal levels of C24. Our results suggest that peroxisomal biogenesis defects alter shuttling of the acyl chains of multiple phospholipid and ceramide lipid classes. In contrast, DAG species with intermediate fatty acids are actually more abundant in PBD. These data suggest an imbalance between de novo synthesis of PC and PE through the Kennedy pathway and remodeling of existing PC and PE through the Lands cycle. This imbalance is likely due to overabundance of very long acyl chains in PBD and a subsequent imbalance due to substrate channeling effects. Given the fundamental role of phospholipid and sphingolipids in nervous system functions, these observations suggest PBD-ZSD are diseases characterized by widespread cell membrane lipid abnormalities.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0324143
spellingShingle Michael F Wangler
Yu-Hsin Chao
Mary Roth
Ruth Welti
James A McNew
Drosophila models uncover substrate channeling effects on phospholipids and sphingolipids in peroxisomal biogenesis disorders.
PLoS ONE
title Drosophila models uncover substrate channeling effects on phospholipids and sphingolipids in peroxisomal biogenesis disorders.
title_full Drosophila models uncover substrate channeling effects on phospholipids and sphingolipids in peroxisomal biogenesis disorders.
title_fullStr Drosophila models uncover substrate channeling effects on phospholipids and sphingolipids in peroxisomal biogenesis disorders.
title_full_unstemmed Drosophila models uncover substrate channeling effects on phospholipids and sphingolipids in peroxisomal biogenesis disorders.
title_short Drosophila models uncover substrate channeling effects on phospholipids and sphingolipids in peroxisomal biogenesis disorders.
title_sort drosophila models uncover substrate channeling effects on phospholipids and sphingolipids in peroxisomal biogenesis disorders
url https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0324143
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