Lipid metabolism has taken the stage front and center as a human health concern. Here much attention has been focused on the mechanisms involved in inflammation and lipid homeostasis of lipids linked to low density lipoprotein (LDL) and high density lipoprotein (HDL). Many proteins that are associated with these LDL and HDL particles have emerged as playing a critical role in these lipid pathways. The plasma form of platelet activating factor acetylhydrolase (pPAFAH) functions on the surface of LDL particles by reducing levels of the signaling molecule platelet activating factor (PAF) as a general anti-inflammatory scavenger and is linked to anaphylactic shock, asthma and allergic reactions. A homologous intracellular form, referred to as PAFAH-II, is believed to have similar functions in liver and kidney cells. The phospholipid-associated pPAFAH and PAFAH-II enzymes are worthy structural targets. Physiologically, these enzymes are found associated with LDL particles or the inner leaflet of cells, and as such, are considered interfacial enzymes, which function on the lipid-aqueous interface. In addition to a role to reduce PAF levels, they have been implicated in hydrolytic activities of other pro-inflammatory agents, such as oxidized lipids. We will elucidate the relationship between structure and interfacial function for PAF AH via 4 aims: (i) The heterologous expression of and use of additives/detergents will be screened in order to obtain homogeneous forms of the pPAFAH and PAFAH-II enzymes. The quality of protein will be assessed by biophysical characterization, functional assay and protein crystal growth in order to obtain monodisperse and soluble forms of PAFAH suitable for structural and functional studies, (ii) The high-resolution crystal structure of the phospholipid- associated PAFAH enzymes will be solved. The use of detergents and amphiphilic molecules will be explored to provide higher resolution structures, as well as functionally more relevant structures, (iii) Inhibitors and substrate-mimics of PAFAH will be explored and developed via structural and kinetic characterization to elucidate in vivo physiological functions, (iv) The physiologically relevant reaction of PAFAH with organophosphate (OP) compounds will be characterized. We are interested in obtaining structural models to develop the LDL-associated pPAFAH as a practical therapeutic for people exposed to these toxic organophosphate insecticides and nerve agents.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01HL084366-04
Application #
7848835
Study Section
Biochemistry and Biophysics of Membranes Study Section (BBM)
Program Officer
Sarkar, Rita
Project Start
2007-06-15
Project End
2012-05-31
Budget Start
2010-06-01
Budget End
2011-05-31
Support Year
4
Fiscal Year
2010
Total Cost
$344,250
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Delaware
Department
Chemistry
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
059007500
City
Newark
State
DE
Country
United States
Zip Code
19716
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Monillas, Elizabeth S; Caplan, Jeffrey L; Thévenin, Anastasia F et al. (2015) Oligomeric state regulated trafficking of human platelet-activating factor acetylhydrolase type-II. Biochim Biophys Acta 1854:469-75
Nagano, Joseph M G; Hsu, Ku-Lung; Whitby, Landon R et al. (2013) Selective inhibitors and tailored activity probes for lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A(2). Bioorg Med Chem Lett 23:839-43
Nagel, Zachary D; Meadows, Corey W; Dong, Ming et al. (2012) Active site hydrophobic residues impact hydrogen tunneling differently in a thermophilic alcohol dehydrogenase at optimal versus nonoptimal temperatures. Biochemistry 51:4147-56
Scott, Stephanie H; Bahnson, Brian J (2011) Senescence Marker Protein 30: Functional and Structural Insights to its Unknown Physiological Function. Biomol Concepts 2:469-480
Thévenin, Anastasia F; Monillas, Elizabeth S; Winget, Jason M et al. (2011) Trafficking of platelet-activating factor acetylhydrolase type II in response to oxidative stress. Biochemistry 50:8417-26
Nagel, Zachary D; Dong, Ming; Bahnson, Brian J et al. (2011) Impaired protein conformational landscapes as revealed in anomalous Arrhenius prefactors. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 108:10520-5
Chakraborti, Subhendu; Bahnson, Brian J (2010) Crystal structure of human senescence marker protein 30: insights linking structural, enzymatic, and physiological functions . Biochemistry 49:3436-44
Pan, Ying H; Bahnson, Brian J (2010) Structure of a premicellar complex of alkyl sulfates with the interfacial binding surfaces of four subunits of phospholipase A2. Biochim Biophys Acta 1804:1443-8
Srinivasan, Prabhavathi; Bahnson, Brian J (2010) Molecular Model of Plasma PAF Acetylhydrolase-Lipoprotein Association: Insights from the Structure. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 3:541-557

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