A. Spinedi et al., N-oleoylethanolamine inhibits glucosylation of natural ceramides in CHP-100 neuroepithelioma cells: Possible implications for apoptosis, BIOC BIOP R, 255(2), 1999, pp. 456-459
Citations number
24
Categorie Soggetti
Biochemistry & Biophysics
Journal title
BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS
We report that N-oleoylethanolamine (NOE), widely employed as a ceramidase
inhibitor, also inhibits glucosylation of naturally occurring ceramides. Wh
en CHP-100 neuroepithelioma cells were exposed for 18h to non-toxic NOE con
centrations (i.e. up to 70 mu M), basal incorporation of labelled hexose in
to glucosylceramide (GlcCer) and higher order neutral glycosphingolipids wa
s significantly inhibited. In cells treated with 30 mu M N-hexanoylsphingos
ine (C-6-Cer), NOE affected only marginally short-chain glucocerebroside ac
cumulation, but markedly decreased accumulation of glucocerebrosides origin
ating from glucosylation of a long-chain ceramide (Lc-Cer) pool produced up
on C-6-Cer treatment. Evidence is provided that NOE effects neither are med
iated by their effects on ceramidase nor are due to enhanced long-chain Glc
Cer (Lc-GlcCer) conversion to higher order glycosylated derivatives. NOE in
hibition of Lc-GlcCer generation was accompanied by enhanced accumulation o
f Lc-Cer and by potentiation of apoptosis induced by C-6-Cer; the possible
causal relationships between these two phenomena are discussed. (C) 1999 Ac
ademic Press.