Lysophosphatidylcholine inhibits membrane-associated SNARE complex disassembly

In cells, N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor (NSF) attachment protein receptors called SNAREs are involved in membrane fusion. In neurons, for example, target membrane proteins SNAP-25 and syntaxin called t-SNAREs present at the pre-synaptic membrane, and a synaptic vesicle-associated membrane protein (VAMP) or v-SNARE, is part of the conserved protein complex involved in neurotransmission. Cholesterol and LPC (L-α-lysophosphatidylcholine) are known to contribute to the negative and positive curvature respectively of membranes. In this study, using purified recombinant neuronal membrane-associated SNAREs, we demonstrate for the first time that membrane-curvature-influencing lipids profoundly influence SNARE complex disassembly. Exposure of cholesterol-associated t-SNARE and v-SNARE liposome mixtures to NSF-ATP results in dissociated vesicles. In contrast, exposure of LPC-associated t-SNARE and v-SNARE liposome mixtures to NSF-ATP, results in inhibition of t-/v-SNARE disassembly and the consequent accumulation of clustered vesicles. Similarly, exposure of isolated rat brain slices and pancreas to cholesterol or LPC, also demonstrates LPC-induced inhibition of SNARE complex disassembly. Earlier studies demonstrate a strong correlation between altered plasma LPC levels and cancer. The altered plasma LPC levels observed in various cancers may in part contribute to defects in SNARE assembly-disassembly and membrane fusion, consequently affecting protein maturation and secretion in cancer cells.