The plasma membrane of most eukaryotic cells is rich in cholesterol whereas internal membranes have very little sterol. The objective of the proposed research is the elucidation of the mechanisms governing this non-uniform distribution of cholesterol. A novel method for the measurement of cholesterol transfer between various intracellular pools and the plasma membrane will be applied in a study of fibroblasts. The method is based on the use of the enzyme cholesterol oxidase which catalyzes the oxidation of plasma membrane cholesterol to cholestenone in intact cells, while leaving cholesterol in internal pools untouched. Thus cholesterol in the plasma membrane can be separated and distinguished from intracellular cholesterol. The distribution and transfer of radiocholesterol between pools will be examined in cells labeled internally by cholesterol biosynthesis from [3H]acetate and labeled at the cell surface with exogenous [14C]cholesterol. The rate of transfer to the plasma membrane of radiocholesterol introduced into lysosomes by the receptor-mediated endocytosis of low density lipoprotein labeled with [3H]cholesteryl ester also will be measured by this technique. Equilibrium density gradient centrifugation of double-labeled cholesterol oxidase-treated cells will be used to examine the transfer of label between various intracellular pools. The power of this technique lies in the fact that it provides the means to eliminate the massive background contribution of plasma membrane throughout the gradient by selectively converting its cholesterol to cholestenone. Using this methodology, the following questions will be addressed: 1) What is the mechanism involved in the transport of newly synthesized cholesterol to the plasma membrane? 2) It is the case that cholesterol introduced exogenously into the plasma membrane does not equilibrate with intracellular pools? 3) Is there a common pathway of transfer to the plasma membrane of biosynthetic cholesterol and cholesterol which enters the cell by receptor-mediated endocytosis of low density lipoprotein? The extraordinary role of cholesterol in human cardiovascular disease warrants a full elucidation of these issues.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01HL032466-03
Application #
3343798
Study Section
Molecular Cytology Study Section (CTY)
Project Start
1984-07-01
Project End
1987-11-30
Budget Start
1986-07-01
Budget End
1987-11-30
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
1986
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Rush University Medical Center
Department
Type
DUNS #
City
Chicago
State
IL
Country
United States
Zip Code
60612
Lange, Y (1991) Disposition of intracellular cholesterol in human fibroblasts. J Lipid Res 32:329-39
Lange, Y; Echevarria, F; Steck, T L (1991) Movement of zymosterol, a precursor of cholesterol, among three membranes in human fibroblasts. J Biol Chem 266:21439-43
Echevarria, F; Norton, R A; Nes, W D et al. (1990) Zymosterol is located in the plasma membrane of cultured human fibroblasts. J Biol Chem 265:8484-9
Lange, Y; Swaisgood, M H; Ramos, B V et al. (1989) Plasma membranes contain half the phospholipid and 90% of the cholesterol and sphingomyelin in cultured human fibroblasts. J Biol Chem 264:3786-93
Steck, T L; Kezdy, F J; Lange, Y (1988) An activation-collision mechanism for cholesterol transfer between membranes. J Biol Chem 263:13023-31
Lange, Y; Muraski, M F (1988) Topographic heterogeneity in cholesterol biosynthesis. J Biol Chem 263:9366-73
Lange, Y; Schmit, V M; Schreiber, J R (1988) Localization and movement of newly synthesized cholesterol in rat ovarian granulosa cells. Endocrinology 123:81-6
Lange, Y; Muraski, M F (1987) Cholesterol is not synthesized in membranes bearing 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase. J Biol Chem 262:4433-6
Lange, Y; Steck, T L (1985) Cholesterol-rich intracellular membranes: a precursor to the plasma membrane. J Biol Chem 260:15592-7