Over-expression of the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 affects membrane lipid composition in HL-60 cells.

We studied modifications induced at the membrane lipid level by over-expression of the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2. When total cell phospholipids were analyzed, the transformation led to a moderate decrease in poly-unsaturated fatty acids, compensated by an increase in mono-unsaturated species. At the mitochondrial membrane level, the changes were more important and occurred in saturated and dimethyl acetal fatty acids, which became more abundant, while unsaturated fatty acid content diminished. This indicates a decline in oxidation-sensitive fatty acids (unsaturated species) together with a gain in oxidation-insensitive saturated fatty acids and in plasmalogen (as detected by dimethyl acetal fatty acids) considered as oxygen species scavengers. Theses changes, combined with the protective role of Bcl-2 against oxidation due to its effect on the redox potential, should protect cells from apoptosis starting in mitochondria.