Lipid metabolism in Trypanosoma brucei: Utilization of myristate and myristoyllysophosphatidylcholine for myristoylation of glycosyl phosphatidylinositols

Myristate is the exclusive fatty acid species in the glycosyl phosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchor of the Trypanosoma brucei variant surface glycoprotein (VSG). [³H]Myristate can be incorporated into T. brucei GPIs by two distinct processes known as fatty acid remodelling and myristate exchange. Myristoyllysophosphatidylcholine (M-LPC) can also serve as a myristate donor for VSG in trypanosomes. We have studied in detail the myristoylation of GPIs using a [³H]M-LPC substrate. Labelling of VSG and free GPIs by [³H]M-LPC in cultured trypanosomes occurred at the same rate as with [³H]myristate. Concurrent with GPI labelling, there was rapid hydrolysis of [³H]M-LPC to generate extracellular [³H]myristate. Experiments in a trypanosomal cell-free system indicated that GPI labelling by fatty acid remodelling and myristate exchange was also equally efficient with [³H]M-LPC and [³H]myristate. Furthermore, both ATP and CoA are required for the myristoylation of GPIs by [³H]M-LPC. These experiments suggest that GPI myristoylation from M-LPC involves hydrolysis of M-LPC to free myristate. To address the physiological importance of myristate and M-LPC in VSG myristoylation, we radiolabelled trypanosomes in vivo with both substrates in medium containing serum, and found that [³H]myristate labelled VSG and GPIs more efficiently. Thus, VSG myristoylation by free myristate may be favoured in bloodstream trypanosome infections.