The repertoire of protein-sulfatide interactions reveal distinct modes of sulfatide recognition

Abstract

Sulfatide is an abundant glycosphingolipid in the mammalian nervous system, kidney, trachea, gastrointestinal tract, spleen, and pancreas and is found in low levels in other tissues. Sulfatide is characterized by the presence of a sulfate group in the hydrophilic galactose moiety, with isoforms differing in their sphingosine base and the length, unsaturation, and hydroxylation of their acyl chain. Sulfatide has been associated with a variety of cellular processes including immune responses, cell survival, myelin organization, platelet aggregation, and host-pathogen interactions. Structural studies of protein-sulfatide interactions markedly advanced our understanding of their molecular contacts, key-interacting residues, orientation of the sulfatide in its binding site, and in some cases, sulfatide-mediated protein oligomerization. To date, all protein-sulfatide interactions are reported to display dissociation constants in the low micromolar range. At least three distinct modes of protein-sulfatide binding were identified: 1) protein binding to short consensus stretches of amino acids that adopt α-helical-loop-α-helical conformations; 2) sulfatide-bound proteins that present the sulfatide head group to another protein; and 3) proteins that cage sulfatides. The scope of this review is to present an up-to-date overview of these molecular mechanisms of sulfatide recognition to better understand the role of this glycosphingolipid in physiological and pathological states.

The impact of sulfatide loss on the progress of Alzheimer's disease

“…1 ST, predominantly located at the outer leaflet of the cell membrane across all eukaryotic cells, is associated with a variety of cellular processes including platelet aggregation, cell survival, immune responses, and host-pathogen interactions. 2 The enzyme cerebroside…”

“…1 ST, predominantly located at the outer leaflet of the cell membrane across all eukaryotic cells, is associated with a variety of cellular processes including platelet aggregation, cell survival, immune responses, and host-pathogen interactions. 2 The enzyme cerebrosideThis is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.…”

“…ST, predominantly located at the outer leaflet of the cell membrane across all eukaryotic cells, is associated with a variety of cellular processes including platelet aggregation, cell survival, immune responses, and host–pathogen interactions 2 . The enzyme cerebroside sulfotransferase, located within the Golgi apparatus, catalyses the conversion of galactocerebroside into ST, whereas the turnover of ST is mediated by the lysosomal arylsulfatase/saposin B complex 2 . Lipidomic and metabolomic studies reveal disrupted lipid metabolism in early stages of individuals with AD, evidenced by reduced ST levels (e.g., the study of Hong et al 3 …”

“…Among sphingolipids, sphingomyelin, ceramides, and sulfatide (ST) stand out as prominent enriched constituents within myelin membranes 1 . ST, predominantly located at the outer leaflet of the cell membrane across all eukaryotic cells, is associated with a variety of cellular processes including platelet aggregation, cell survival, immune responses, and host–pathogen interactions 2 . The enzyme cerebroside sulfotransferase, located within the Golgi apparatus, catalyses the conversion of galactocerebroside into ST, whereas the turnover of ST is mediated by the lysosomal arylsulfatase/saposin B complex 2 .…”

“…sulfotransferase, located within the Golgi apparatus, catalyses the conversion of galactocerebroside into ST, whereas the turnover of ST is mediated by the lysosomal arylsulfatase/saposin B complex. 2 Lipidomic and metabolomic studies reveal disrupted lipid metabolism in early stages of individuals with AD, evidenced by reduced ST levels (e.g., the study of Hong et al 3 ) and by near-total depletion of the sphingolipid in the brains of deceased individuals with AD. 4 Accumulating evidence underscores the role of gliamediated inflammation as a major contributor to the progression of AD, including cognitive shortfalls.…”