A Study of Coenzyme a Metabolism and Function in Mammalian Cells
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A Study of Coenzyme A Metabolism and Function in Mammalian Cells A Study of Coenzyme A Metabolism and Function in Mammalian Cells Pascale Monteil A thesis submitted to the University College London in fulfilment with the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. London, March 2013 Research Department of Structural and Molecular Biology University College London Gower Street London, WC1E 6BT United Kingdom 1 A Study of Coenzyme A Metabolism and Function in Mammalian Cells Declaration I, Pascale Monteil, declare that all the work presented in this thesis is the result of my own work. The work presented here does not constitute part of any other thesis. Where information has been derived from other sources, I confirm that this has been indicated in the thesis. The work herein was carried out while I was a graduate research student at University College London Research Department of Structural and Molecular Biology under the supervision of Professor Ivan Gout. Mass Spectrometry work was carried out by N. Totty, Cancer Research UK. Pascale Monteil 2 A Study of Coenzyme A Metabolism and Function in Mammalian Cells Abstract CoA is well established as a metabolic cofactor in numerous oxidative and biosynthetic pathways. The levels of CoA usually remain within a tight range, however these have been shown to change in response to nutritional state, fibrate drugs and several pathological conditions. Although the mechanisms that alter CoA levels are not fully understood, the fluctuations in CoA can influence the cellular processes it regulates. The regulatory roles of CoA have mainly been studied in the context of feedback/ feed forward regulation of metabolic pathways or enzymes, yet very little is known about its role as a regulator of cellular function. In addition to its action as a cofactor, a few reports have indicated that CoA binds to and regulates proteins through allosteric and covalent modification, suggesting wider regulatory roles for CoA. The aim of this thesis was therefore to gain a greater understanding of the function of CoA as a regulator of cellular processes. Initially, conditions for extracting and measuring CoA levels in cultured cells were developed and optimised. CoA levels were much lower in cultured HepG2 cells compared to liver and did not respond in the same way when treated with extracellular stimuli. A 2- fold increase in CoA levels, through over-expression of the enzyme PanK1β, did result in the novel finding that CoA has a negative effect on cell growth. This was accompanied by increased acetylation of a large number of proteins and also an increase in lactate production. In addition, affinity purification with CoA Sepharose, followed by mass spectrometry, pulled down several proteins, previously unknown to bind to CoA, which regulate a wide range of cellular processes. Together, the data from this thesis has provided a greater insight into the wider role of CoA as a regulator of cellular function. 3 A Study of Coenzyme A Metabolism and Function in Mammalian Cells Dedication There are a number of people to whom I am greatly indebted for the completion of this thesis. My parents, who gave me the educational platform that provided me with countless opportunities, enabling me to pursue my dreams. My supervisor, Professor Ivan Gout, whose passion for science is truly inspiring, for offering me this PhD position, as well as his advice and expertise. Yugo, the most dedicated postdoc I have ever known, for his constant guidance, support and assistance in the lab. He went above and beyond what I ever expected and I am eternally grateful. My colleagues, Lena, Nadeem, Alex, Eddy, Zeyad, Kamil, Ahmed, Mahmoud, Chris, Dasha, Ganna and Ivan for the discussions that helped solve problems of all sizes as well as the company through this challenging journey. My collaberators at Cancer Research UK (Dr. Nick Totty’s group), for the mass spectrometry work they did. Professor David Saggerson, for sharing his expertise in the field of metabolism and enzymatic assays. Professors Kaila Srai and Finn Werner, for their useful suggestions and alternative points of view during my thesis committee meetings, which were almost like vivas in themselves. My friends, Abi and Andrea as well as my housemate Alex and my sister Lauren for always listening and encouraging me through the difficult times. I am especially thankful to Andrea and Lauren, for taking the time to plough through a thesis that must have seemed like another language to them. I thank you all for these contributions great and small, as without you, this thesis would not have been written. 4 A Study of Coenzyme A Metabolism and Function in Mammalian Cells Table of Contents Declaration ............................................................................................................................... 2 Abstract .................................................................................................................................... 3 Dedication ................................................................................................................................ 4 List of Figures ......................................................................................................................... 13 Abbreviations ......................................................................................................................... 16 Chapter 1:............................................................................................................................... 20 1.1 General Introduction ........................................................................................................ 21 1.2 Coenzyme A ..................................................................................................................... 21 1.2.1 Coenzymes ................................................................................................................ 21 1.2.2 Coenzyme A .............................................................................................................. 21 1.2.3 CoA structure ............................................................................................................ 23 1.2.4 CoA derivatives ......................................................................................................... 23 1.3 Cellular Functions of CoA ................................................................................................. 25 1.3.1 Overview of CoA in metabolism ............................................................................... 25 1.3.2 The role of CoA in energy generation ....................................................................... 25 1.3.3 The role of CoA in Fatty Acid Oxidation .................................................................... 26 1.3.4 The role of CoA in Biosynthetic pathways ................................................................ 29 1.4 Regulation of Proteins and Cellular processes by CoA and CoA thioesters ..................... 33 1.4.1 The role of CoA in the regulation of cellular processes ............................................ 33 1.4.2 Availability as a cofactor or substrate ....................................................................... 33 1.4.3 Regulation through non-covalent interaction .......................................................... 34 5 A Study of Coenzyme A Metabolism and Function in Mammalian Cells 1.4.3.1 Balance between CoASH/CoA thioesters ........................................................... 34 1.4.3.2 Allosteric and other non-covalent interactions ................................................. 36 1.4.4 Regulation through covalent modifications .............................................................. 40 1.5 Control of CoA levels ........................................................................................................ 43 1.5.1 CoA Biosynthetic Pathway ........................................................................................ 43 1.5.2 Regulatory enzymes in CoA Biosynthesis: Pantothenate Kinase .............................. 46 1.5.3 Regulatory enzymes in CoA Biosynthesis: CoA Synthase ......................................... 48 1.5.4 Degradation of CoA ................................................................................................... 49 1.5.5 Conversion of CoASH to other esters ....................................................................... 50 1.5.6 Compartmentalisation of CoA .................................................................................. 50 1.6 CoA homeostasis .............................................................................................................. 51 1.6.1 Basal levels of CoA .................................................................................................... 51 1.6.2 Physiological changes in CoA levels .......................................................................... 52 1.6.3 Pathological conditions which change CoA levels .................................................... 52 1.7 Aim of thesis..................................................................................................................... 54 Chapter 2:............................................................................................................................... 56 Materials and Methods .......................................................................................................... 56 2.1 Materials .........................................................................................................................