Lipid Transport by ABC Proteins. Studies on MDR1 P-Glycoprotein and Breast Cancer Resistance Protein

In eukaryotic cells, the lipid species are frequently distributed asymmetrically between the plasma membrane leaflets. Phosphatidylserine (PS), in particular, often exhibits a distinct transverse asymmetry, being restricted almost exclusively to the inner leaflet. In the past years, several proteins were suggested to transport lipids between the leaflets of a membrane, and to potentially influence transverse lipid asymmetry and related cell properties. This thesis focuses on outward transport of fluorescent (C6-NBD-) lipid analogs and endogenous lipids by the Multidrug Resistance 1 P-Glycoprotein (MDR1 Pgp), a member of the ATP binding cassette (ABC) transporter superfamily. Interestingly, MDR1 Pgp has been suggested to exhibit an unusually broad substrate specificity. Here, the anionic PS was of particular concern, although previously reported not to be an MDR1 Pgp substrate. In a human gastric carcinoma cell line (EPG85-257) overexpressing MDR1, outward transport of phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, glucosylceramide and sphingomyelin analogs via MDR1 Pgp was confirmed using fluorescence spectroscopy. In addition, decreased accumulation of analogs of diacylglycerol and ceramide suggest MDR1 Pgp mediated transport of these lipid species. Upon intracellular labelling with C6-NBD-PS using a novel approach, significantly increased outward transport of this analog in MDR1 overexpressing cells could be attributed to MDR1 Pgp by employing specific inhibitors. In a flow cytometry setup, the exposure of endogenous PS on the outer plasma membrane leaflet was significantly elevated in MDR1 overexpressing cells compared to controls.