The adipophilin C terminus is a self-folding membrane-binding domain that is important for milk lipid secretion

J Biol Chem. 2011 Jul 1;286(26):23254-65. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M110.217091. Epub 2011 Mar 7.

Abstract

Cytoplasmic lipid droplets (CLD) in mammary epithelial cells undergo secretion by a unique membrane envelopment process to produce milk lipids. Adipophilin (ADPH/Plin2), a member of the perilipin/PAT family of lipid droplet-associated proteins, is hypothesized to mediate CLD secretion through interactions with apical plasma membrane elements. We found that the secretion of CLD coated by truncated ADPH lacking the C-terminal region encoding a putative four-helix bundle structure was impaired relative to that of CLD coated by full-length ADPH. We used homology modeling and analyses of the solution and membrane binding properties of purified recombinant ADPH C terminus to understand how this region possibly mediates CLD secretion. Homology modeling supports the concept that the ADPH C terminus forms a four-helix bundle motif and suggests that this structure can form stable membrane bilayer interactions. Circular dichroism and protease mapping studies confirmed that the ADPH C terminus is an independently folding α-helical structure that is relatively resistant to urea denaturation. Liposome binding studies showed that the purified C terminus binds to phospholipid membranes through electrostatic dependent interactions, and cell culture studies documented that it localizes to the plasma membrane. Collectively, these data provide direct evidence that the ADPH C terminus forms a stable membrane binding helical structure that is important for CLD secretion. We speculate that interactions between the four-helix bundle of ADPH and membrane phospholipids may be an initial step in milk lipid secretion.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Membrane* / chemistry
  • Cell Membrane* / metabolism
  • Female
  • Lactation
  • Mammary Glands, Animal / chemistry
  • Mammary Glands, Animal / metabolism*
  • Mammary Glands, Animal / ultrastructure
  • Membrane Proteins* / chemistry
  • Membrane Proteins* / metabolism
  • Membranes, Artificial
  • Mice
  • Milk* / chemistry
  • Milk* / metabolism
  • Models, Molecular
  • Perilipin-2
  • Phospholipids* / chemistry
  • Phospholipids* / metabolism
  • Protein Folding*
  • Protein Structure, Secondary
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary

Substances

  • Membrane Proteins
  • Membranes, Artificial
  • Perilipin-2
  • Phospholipids
  • Plin2 protein, mouse