Chemical Probe to Identify the Cellular Targets of the Reactive Lipid Metabolite 2- trans-Hexadecenal

ACS Chem Biol. 2018 May 18;13(5):1130-1136. doi: 10.1021/acschembio.7b01063. Epub 2018 Apr 6.

Abstract

Lipid-derived electrophiles (LDEs) are reactive metabolites, which can covalently modify proteins and DNA and regulate diverse cellular processes. 2- trans-Hexadecenal (2-HD) is a byproduct of sphingolipid metabolism, involved in cytoskeletal reorganization, DNA damage, and apoptosis. In addition, the loss of ALDH3A2, an enzyme removing 2-HD in cells, is responsible for Sjörgen-Larsson Syndrome (SJS), suggesting that accumulation of 2-HD could lead to pathogenesis. However, the targets and the precise mechanisms of 2-HD are not well characterized. Herein, we report an alkyne-2-HD derivative as a bioorthogonal probe to explore the functions of 2-HD. We identified more than 500 potential cellular targets. Among them, the pro-apoptotic protein Bax can be covalently modified by 2-HD directly at the conserved Cys62 residue. Our work provided new chemical tools to explore the cellular functions of LDEs and revealed new mechanistic insights of the deregulation of lipid metabolism in diseases.

Publication types

  • Letter
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aldehyde Oxidoreductases / metabolism
  • Aldehydes / chemistry
  • Aldehydes / metabolism*
  • Binding Sites
  • Click Chemistry
  • HCT116 Cells
  • Humans
  • Lipid Metabolism*
  • Molecular Probes / chemistry*
  • bcl-2-Associated X Protein / metabolism

Substances

  • Aldehydes
  • Molecular Probes
  • bcl-2-Associated X Protein
  • Aldehyde Oxidoreductases
  • long-chain-aldehyde dehydrogenase
  • 2-hexadecenal