Sphingolipid signalling mediates mitochondrial dysfunctions and reduced chronological lifespan in the yeast model of Niemann-Pick type C1

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2013

Authors

Rita Vilaça (Author) ICBAS; Elísio Silva (Author) ICBAS; André Nadais (Author) ICBAS; Vítor Teixeira (Author) ICBAS; Nabil Matmati (Author) Other; Joana Gaifem (Author) ICBAS; Yusuf A. Hannun (Author) Other; Maria Clara Sá Miranda (Author) Other; Vitor Costa (Author) Other

Journal

Title: Molecular Microbiology

Vol. 91 No. 3

Pages: 438-451

ISSN: 0950-382X

Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 16 Citations

Scopus - 22 Citations

Scientific classification

FOS: Natural sciences > Biological sciences

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00H-WMW

DOI: 10.1111/mmi.12470

Abstract (EN): The Niemann-Pick type C is a rare metabolic disease with a severe neurodegenerative phenotype characterized by an accumulation of high amounts of lipids (cholesterol and sphingolipids) in the late endosomal/lysosomal network. It is caused by loss-of-function point mutations in either NPC1 or NPC2, which seem to mediate proper intracellular lipid transport through endocytic pathway. In this study, we show that yeast cells lacking Ncr1p, an orthologue of mammalian NPC1, exhibited a higher sensitivity to hydrogen peroxide and a shortened chronological lifespan. These phenotypes were associated with increased levels of oxidative stress markers, decreased levels of antioxidant defences and mitochondrial dysfunctions. Moreover, we report that Ncr1p-deficient cells displayed high levels of long chain bases (LCB), and that Sch9p-phospho-T570 and Sch9p levels increased in ncr1 Delta cells through a mechanism regulated by Pkh1p, a LCB-activated protein kinase. Notably, deletion of PKH1 or SCH9 suppressed ncr1 Delta phenotypes but downregulation of de novo sphingolipid biosynthesis had no protective effect, suggesting that LCBs accumulation may result from an increased turnover of complex sphingolipids. These results suggest that sphingolipid signalling through Pkh1p-Sch9p mediate mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress sensitivity and shortened chronological lifespan in the yeast model of Niemann-Pick type C disease.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 14