The phospholipase iPLA 2 γ is a major mediator releasing oxidized aliphatic chains from cardiolipin, integrating mitochondrial bioenergetics and signaling.

Cardiolipin (CL) is a dimeric phospholipid with critical roles in mitochondrial bioenergetics and signaling. Recently, inhibition of the release of oxidized fatty acyl chains from CL by the calcium-independent phospholipase A2 γ (iPLA2 γ)-selective inhibitor (R)-BEL suggested that iPLA2 γ is responsible for the hydrolysis of oxidized CL and subsequent signaling mediated by the released oxidized fatty acids. However, chemical inhibition by BEL is subject to off-target pharmacologic effects. Accordingly, to unambiguously determine the role of iPLA2 γ in the hydrolysis of oxidized CL, we compared alterations in oxidized CLs and the release of oxidized aliphatic chains from CL in experiments with purified recombinant iPLA2 γ, germ-line iPLA2 γ-/- mice, cardiac myocyte-specific iPLA2 γ transgenic mice, and wild-type mice. Using charge-switch high mass accuracy LC-MS/MS with selected reaction monitoring and product ion accurate masses, we demonstrated that iPLA2 γ is the major enzyme responsible for the release of oxidized aliphatic chains from CL. Our results also indicated that iPLA2 γ selectively hydrolyzes 9-hydroxy-octadecenoic acid in comparison to 13-hydroxy-octadecenoic acid from oxidized CLs. Moreover, oxidative stress (ADP, NADPH, and Fe3+ ) resulted in the robust production of oxidized CLs in intact mitochondria from iPLA2 γ-/- mice. In sharp contrast, oxidized CLs were readily hydrolyzed in mitochondria from wild-type mice during oxidative stress. Finally, we demonstrated that CL activates the iPLA2 γ-mediated hydrolysis of arachidonic acid from phosphatidylcholine, thereby integrating the production of lipid messengers from different lipid classes in mitochondria. Collectively, these results demonstrate the integrated roles of CL and iPLA2 γ in lipid second-messenger production and mitochondrial bioenergetics during oxidative stress.