Does litomosoides sigmodontis synthesize dimethylethanolamine from choline?

Houston, K.M., Babayan, S. , Allen, J.E. and Harnett, W. (2008) Does litomosoides sigmodontis synthesize dimethylethanolamine from choline? Parasitology, 135(1), pp. 55-61. (doi: 10.1017/S0031182007003642) (PMID:17892618)

Abstract

Juvenile female Litomosoides sigmodontis secrete a protein (Juv-p120) highly modified with dimethylethanolamine (DMAE). In an attempt to establish the source of this decoration worms were pulsed with [3H]-choline and [3H]-ethanolamine and the radio-isotope labelled products analysed. Both isotope labels were successfully taken up by the worms, as demonstrated by labelling of phospholipids with [3H]-choline, being predominantly incorporated into phosphatidylcholine and [3H]-ethanolamine into phosphatidylethanolamine. Isotope labelling of phosphatidylethanolamine was particularly striking with the worms taking up ~30 times as much labelled ethanolamine as choline. It was possible to detect faint labelling of Juv-p120 with [3H]-ethanolamine after prolonged exposure periods but, unlike the situation with the phospholipids, it was much more readily labelled with [3H]-choline. When pulsing with [3H]-ethanolamine it was also possible to detect isotope-labelled phosphatidylcholine, which may ultimately account for the low levels of labelling of Juv-p120. Overall our results raise the previously unconsidered but intriguing possibility that in L. sigmodontis, choline may be the precursor of DMAE.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Harnett, Professor William and Babayan, Dr Simon
• Authors: Houston, K.M., Babayan, S., Allen, J.E., and Harnett, W.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Infection & Immunity; College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine
• Journal Name: Parasitology
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• ISSN: 0031-1820
• ISSN (Online): 1469-8161
• Published Online: 25 September 2007
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2008 Cambridge University Press
• First Published: First published in Parasitology 135(1):55-61
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher