The sphingolipid anteome: implications for evolution of the sphingolipid metabolic pathway

Modern cell membranes contain a bewildering complexity of lipids, among them sphingolipids (SLs). Advances in mass spectrometry have led to the realization that the number and combinatorial complexity of lipids, including SLs, is much greater than previously appreciated. SLs are generated de novo by...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:FEBS letters 2022-09, Vol.596 (18), p.2345-2363
Main Authors: Santos, Tania C. B., Dingjan, Tamir, Futerman, Anthony H.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Darwinian evolution
last universal common ancestor
membrane
metabolic evolution
metabolism
origin of life
sphingolipids
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Summary:Modern cell membranes contain a bewildering complexity of lipids, among them sphingolipids (SLs). Advances in mass spectrometry have led to the realization that the number and combinatorial complexity of lipids, including SLs, is much greater than previously appreciated. SLs are generated de novo by four enzymes, namely serine palmitoyltransferase, 3‐ketodihydrosphingosine reductase, ceramide synthase and dihydroceramide Δ4‐desaturase 1. Some of these enzymes depend on the availability of specific substrates and cofactors, which are themselves supplied by other complex metabolic pathways. The evolution of these four enzymes is poorly understood and likely depends on the co‐evolution of the metabolic pathways that supply the other essential reaction components. Here, we introduce the concept of the ‘anteome’, from the Latin ante (‘before’) to describe the network of metabolic (‘omic’) pathways that must have converged in order for these pathways to co‐evolve and permit SL synthesis. We also suggest that the current origin of life and evolutionary models lack appropriate experimental support to explain the appearance of this complex metabolic pathway and its anteome. This study introduces the concept of the ‘anteome’, from the Latin ante, to define the upstream metabolic pathways that need to converge upon other pathways, in this case, the sphingolipid metabolic pathway, to allow the pathway to function. We suggest that current evolutionary models cannot explain the appearance of the sphingolipid metabolic pathway and of its anteome.
ISSN:0014-5793
1873-3468
DOI:10.1002/1873-3468.14457