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Convergent evolution of bacterial ceramide synthesis.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Klein, E; Stankeviciute, G; Tang, P; Ashley, B; Chamberlain, J; Hansen, M; Coleman, A; D'Emilia, R; Fu, L; Mohan, E; Nguyen, H; Guan, Z; Campopiano, D
Published in: FASEB J
May 2022

Bacteria synthesize numerous types of sphingolipids with various physiological functions. Despite their roles in mediating host inflammation, cellular differentiation, and protection from environmental stress, their biosynthetic pathway remains undefined since several essential eukaryotic ceramide synthesis enzymes have no bacterial homologue. Using genetic and biochemical approaches, we identified the complete pathway for bacterial ceramide synthesis. Bioinformatic and phylogenetic analyses revealed the presence of these genes in a broad range of bacterial taxa and led to our discovery of the first Gram-positive species to produce ceramides. Biochemical experiments with purified proteins support a model in which the bacterial pathway operates in a different order than in eukaryotes. Furthermore, phylogenetic analyses are consistent with the independent evolution of the bacterial and eukaryotic ceramide pathways. Current work is being done to elucidate the specific subcellular localization of the synthetic enzymes and identify additional proteins required for the transport of sphingolipids to the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria.

Duke Scholars

Published In

FASEB J

DOI

EISSN

1530-6860

Publication Date

May 2022

Volume

36 Suppl 1

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
  • 3208 Medical physiology
  • 3101 Biochemistry and cell biology
  • 1116 Medical Physiology
  • 0606 Physiology
  • 0601 Biochemistry and Cell Biology
 

Citation

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Klein, E., Stankeviciute, G., Tang, P., Ashley, B., Chamberlain, J., Hansen, M., … Campopiano, D. (2022). Convergent evolution of bacterial ceramide synthesis. FASEB J, 36 Suppl 1. https://doi.org/10.1096/fasebj.2022.36.S1.R6190
Klein, Eric, Gabriele Stankeviciute, Peijun Tang, Ben Ashley, Joshua Chamberlain, Matthew Hansen, Aimiyah Coleman, et al. “Convergent evolution of bacterial ceramide synthesis.FASEB J 36 Suppl 1 (May 2022). https://doi.org/10.1096/fasebj.2022.36.S1.R6190.
Klein E, Stankeviciute G, Tang P, Ashley B, Chamberlain J, Hansen M, et al. Convergent evolution of bacterial ceramide synthesis. FASEB J. 2022 May;36 Suppl 1.
Klein, Eric, et al. “Convergent evolution of bacterial ceramide synthesis.FASEB J, vol. 36 Suppl 1, May 2022. Pubmed, doi:10.1096/fasebj.2022.36.S1.R6190.
Klein E, Stankeviciute G, Tang P, Ashley B, Chamberlain J, Hansen M, Coleman A, D’Emilia R, Fu L, Mohan E, Nguyen H, Guan Z, Campopiano D. Convergent evolution of bacterial ceramide synthesis. FASEB J. 2022 May;36 Suppl 1.

Published In

FASEB J

DOI

EISSN

1530-6860

Publication Date

May 2022

Volume

36 Suppl 1

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
  • 3208 Medical physiology
  • 3101 Biochemistry and cell biology
  • 1116 Medical Physiology
  • 0606 Physiology
  • 0601 Biochemistry and Cell Biology