Previous Article | Next Article 
Molecular and Cellular Biology, May 2007, p. 3327-3336, Vol. 27, No. 9
0270-7306/07/$08.00+0 doi:10.1128/MCB.01527-06
Copyright © 2007, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.
Developmental and Metabolic Effects of Disruption of the Mouse CTP:Phosphoethanolamine Cytidylyltransferase Gene (Pcyt2)
Morgan D. Fullerton,
Fatima Hakimuddin, and
Marica Bakovic*
Department of Human Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada
Received 16 August 2006/
Returned for modification 18 September 2006/
Accepted 8 February 2007
The CDP-ethanolamine pathway is responsible for the de novo biosynthesis of ethanolamine phospholipids, where CDP-ethanolamine is coupled with diacylglycerols to form phosphatidylethanolamine. We have disrupted the mouse gene encoding CTP:phosphoethanolamine cytidylyltransferase, Pcyt2, the main regulatory enzyme in this pathway. Intercrossings of Pcyt2+/ animals resulted in small litter sizes and unexpected Mendelian frequencies, with no null mice genotyped. The Pcyt2/ embryos die after implantation, prior to embryonic day 8.5. Examination of mRNA expression, protein content, and enzyme activity in Pcyt2+/ animals revealed the anticipated 50% decrease due to the gene dosage effect but rather a 20 to 35% decrease. [14C]ethanolamine radiolabeling of hepatocytes, liver, heart, and brain corroborated Pcyt2 gene expression and activity data and showed a decreased rate of phosphatidylethanolamine biosynthesis in heterozygotes. Total phospholipid content was maintained in Pcyt2+/ tissues; however, this was not due to compensatory increases in the decarboxylation of phosphatidylserine. These results establish the necessity of Pcyt2 for murine development and demonstrate that a single Pcyt2 allele in heterozygotes can maintain phospholipid homeostasis.
* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Animal Science and Nutrition Building, Room 346, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada N1G 2W1. Phone: (519) 824-4120, ext. 53764. Fax: (519) 763-5902. E-mail:
mbakovic{at}uoguelph.ca
Published ahead of print on 26 February 2007.
Molecular and Cellular Biology, May 2007, p. 3327-3336, Vol. 27, No. 9
0270-7306/07/$08.00+0 doi:10.1128/MCB.01527-06
Copyright © 2007, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.
This article has been cited by other articles:
-
Leonardi, R., Frank, M. W., Jackson, P. D., Rock, C. O., Jackowski, S.
(2009). Elimination of the CDP-ethanolamine Pathway Disrupts Hepatic Lipid Homeostasis. J. Biol. Chem.
284: 27077-27089
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
-
Fullerton, M. D., Hakimuddin, F., Bonen, A., Bakovic, M.
(2009). The Development of a Metabolic Disease Phenotype in CTP:Phosphoethanolamine Cytidylyltransferase-deficient Mice. J. Biol. Chem.
284: 25704-25713
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
-
Luo, J., Matsuo, Y., Gulis, G., Hinz, H., Patton-Vogt, J., Marcus, S.
(2009). Phosphatidylethanolamine Is Required for Normal Cell Morphology and Cytokinesis in the Fission Yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe. Eukaryot Cell
8: 790-799
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
-
Vance, D. E., Vance, J. E.
(2009). Physiological consequences of disruption of mammalian phospholipid biosynthetic genes. J. Lipid Res.
50: S132-S137
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
-
Zhu, L., Johnson, C., Bakovic, M.
(2008). Stimulation of the human CTP:phosphoethanolamine cytidylyltransferase gene by early growth response protein 1. J. Lipid Res.
49: 2197-2211
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
-
Vance, J. E.
(2008). Thematic Review Series: Glycerolipids. Phosphatidylserine and phosphatidylethanolamine in mammalian cells: two metabolically related aminophospholipids. J. Lipid Res.
49: 1377-1387
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
-
Arikketh, D., Nelson, R., Vance, J. E.
(2008). Defining the Importance of Phosphatidylserine Synthase-1 (PSS1): Unexpected Viability of PSS1-Deficient Mice. J. Biol. Chem.
283: 12888-12897
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
-
Wu, G., Aoyama, C., Young, S. G., Vance, D. E.
(2008). Early Embryonic Lethality Caused by Disruption of the Gene for Choline Kinase {alpha}, the First Enzyme in Phosphatidylcholine Biosynthesis. J. Biol. Chem.
283: 1456-1462
[Abstract]
[Full Text]