Sterol transfer by ABCG5 and ABCG8: In vitro assay and reconstitution

Jin Wang, Fang Sun, Da Wei Zhang, Yongming Ma, Fang Xu, Jitendra D. Belani, Jonathan C. Cohen, Helen H. Hobbs, Xiao Song Xie

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

69 Scopus citations

Abstract

ATP-binding cassette transporters G5 and G8 are half-transporters expressed on the apical membranes of enterocytes and hepatocytes that limit intestinal uptake and promote secretion of neutral sterols. Genetic defects that inactivate either half-transporter cause accumulation of cholesterol and plant sterols, resulting in premature coronary atherosclerosis. These observations suggest that G5 and G8 promote the translocation of sterols across membranes, but the primary transport substrate of the G5G8 complex has not been directly determined. Here we report the development of a sterol transfer assay using "inside-out" membrane vesicles from Sf9 cells expressing recombinant mouse G5 and G8. Radiolabeled cholesterol or sitosterol was transferred from donor liposomes to G5- and G8-containing membrane vesicles in an ATP-dependent and vanadate-sensitive manner; net transfer of cholesterol was associated with an increase in vesicular cholesterol mass. CTP, GTP, and UTP, as well as ATP, supported transfer but with lesser efficiency (ATP ≫ CTP > GTP > UTP). Transfer was specific for sterols and was stereoselective; minimal ATP-dependent and vanadate-sensitive transfer of cholesteryl oleate, phosphatidylcholine, or enantiomeric cholesterol was observed. These studies indicate that G5 and G8 are sufficient for reconstitution of sterol transfer activity in vitro and provide the first demonstration that sterols are direct transport substrates of the G5 and G8 heterodimer.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)27894-27904
Number of pages11
JournalJournal of Biological Chemistry
Volume281
Issue number38
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 22 2006

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Biology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Sterol transfer by ABCG5 and ABCG8: In vitro assay and reconstitution'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this