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The effect of carbon monoxide on the nature of the accumulated 4,4-dimethyl sterol precursors of cholesterol during its biosynthesis from (2-14C)mevalonic acid in vitro.

Cholesterol biosynthesis was studied in rat liver subcellular fractions incubated with dl-[2-(14)C]mevalonic acid under gas phases consisting of either N(2)+O(2) (90:10) or CO+O(2) (90:10). CO inhibits cholesterol biosynthesis from [2-(14)C]mevalonic acid and results in a large accumulation of radioactive 4,4-dimethyl sterols. Separation of the components of the 4,4-dimethyl sterol fraction showed that lanosterol and dihydrolanosterol are the major components that accumulate during cholesterol biosynthesis in an atmosphere containing CO, whereas 14-demethyl-lanosterol and 14-demethyldihydrolanosterol are the major components of the much less intensely radioactive 4,4-dimethyl sterol fraction isolated from incubations with N(2)+O(2) as the gas phase. The identities of lanosterol, dihydrolanosterol and 14-demethyldihydrolanosterol were confirmed by both radiochemical and physicochemical methods, including g.l.c. and combined g.l.c.-mass spectrometry. CO therefore results in a qualitative as well as a quantitative difference in the 4,4-dimethyl sterol fraction which arises during cholesterol biosynthesis from mevalonic acid. The specific radioactivity of the [(14)C]lanosterol biosynthesized in the presence of CO was lower than that of its companion, [(14)C]dihydrolanosterol. The relative amounts of 4,4-dimethyl-Delta(24)-sterols and 4,4-dimethyl-24,25-dihydrosterols present in each type of incubation suggest that enzymic reduction of the sterol side chain occurs predominantly at a stage after that of lanosterol.

Animals↗

Mevalonic acid products as mediators of cell proliferation in simian virus 40-transformed 3T3 cells.

Effects of treatment with serum-free medium and 25-hydroxycholesterol (25-OH) on the cell cycle of simian virus 40-transformed 3T3 fibroblasts, designated SV-3T3 cells, were studied and compared with simultaneous effects on the activity of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl (HMG) CoA reductase and incorporation of [3H]mevalonic acid into cholesterol, Coenzyme Q, and dolichol. The data confirm our previous finding (O. Larsson and A. Zetterberg, Cancer Res., 46: 1233-1239, 1986) that 25-OH inhibits the cell cycle traverse of SV-3T3 cells specifically in early G1. In contrast, treatment with serum-free medium had no effect on cell cycle progression. The effect of 25-OH on the cell cycle traverse was correlated to a substantial decrease in the activity of HMG CoA reductase, whereas there was no change in the rate of [3H]mevalonic acid incorporated into cholesterol, Coenzyme Q, and dolichol. When the cells were exposed to serum-free medium, there was no depression of activity of HMG CoA reductase, and the rate of [3H]mevalonic acid incorporated into dolichol and cholesterol was not affected in any appreciable degree. In contrast the rate of Coenzyme Q synthesis was substantially decreased as a result of serum depletion. A similar decrease in Coenzyme Q synthesis was also achieved by treating the cells with cholesterol-poor serum. This indicates that the rate of Coenzyme Q synthesis is dependent on the concentration of cholesterol in the culture medium. In order to analyze whether some of the products in the mevalonic acid biosynthetic pathway may be of importance in the control of G1 traverse and cell proliferation of SV-3T3 cells, cholesterol, Coenzyme Q, and dolichol were added as supplements to cells treated with 25-OH. It was shown that dolichol was capable of overcoming the 25-OH-induced inhibition of G1 traverse efficiently, whereas cholesterol and Coenzyme Q were considerably less effective. Considered together with the fact that the activity of HMG CoA reductase and incorporation of mevalonic acid into dolichol were unaffected following serum-free treatment, the results suggest that maintenance of a certain level of de novo synthesis of dolichol may contribute to the capability of SV-3T3 cells to proliferate in serum-free medium.

Cell Cycle↗

Incorporation of [14C] carbon dioxide and [2-14C] mevalonic acid into terpenoids of higher plants during chloroplast development.

1. The incorporation of (14)CO(2) and dl-[2-(14)C]mevalonic acid into various terpenoids in developing chloroplasts in a number of seedlings has been studied. 2. beta-Carotene and phytol (from chlorophyll) tend to be heavily labelled from (14)CO(2), whereas sterols and beta-amyrin are only slightly labelled; with dl-[2-(14)C]mevalonic acid the situation is reversed. 3. The incorporation of (14)CO(2) into terpenoids is dependent on the stage of chloroplast development, whereas that of mevalonic acid is independent of chloroplast development. 4. The uptake of (14)CO(2) into beta-carotene and phytol in mature chloroplasts is very low in monocotyledons but somewhat greater in dicotyledons. 5. The results are discussed in relation to the view that terpenoid biosynthesis in developing chloroplasts is regulated by a combination of enzyme segregation and specific membrane permeability.

Carbon Dioxide↗

Biosynthesis of the farnesyl moiety of heme a from exogenous mevalonic acid by cultured chick liver cells.

Chick embryo liver cells, when cultured for 41 h in the presence of [2-14C]mevalonic acid, took up label and incorporated radioactivity into heme a, but not into protoheme. Incubation of cells with delta-[4-14C]aminolevulinic acid (ALA) resulted in uptake of label and incorporation of radioactivity into both protoheme and heme a. These results show that both protoheme and heme a are synthesized during the incubation period, and that mevalonic acid is a specific precursor of the farnesyl moiety of heme a. Incubation of cells with [1,2-14C]acetate plus N-methyl mesoporphyrin IX, an inhibitor of heme synthesis, resulted in negligible incorporation of label into protoheme and heme a, although cellular lipids were highly labeled. This result indicates that the heme purification methods employed were capable of separating hemes from lipids, and that the measured incorporation of label into hemes from [14C]mevalonic acid and [14C]ALA was not due to lipid contamination.

Animals↗

Evidence for modification of lamin B by a product of mevalonic acid.

Previous work from this laboratory has shown that a derivative of mevalonic acid is post-translationally incorporated into a number of specific proteins in Swiss 3T3 cells. Neither the nature of the modification nor the identities of the modified proteins have been determined to date. Here we describe results concerning modified proteins of approximately 67 kDa from HeLa cells and Chinese hamster ovary cells. We show that these proteins are specific to the nucleus and remain associated with a Triton/salt-insoluble nuclear fraction. Furthermore, immunological studies demonstrate that one of the modified proteins comigrates on two-dimensional gels with lamin B, a structural protein associated with the nuclear envelope. Using antibodies directed against lamin B in an immunoprecipitation experiment, we further show that this mevalonic acid-modified protein specifically coprecipitates with lamin B. These results support the hypothesis that lamin B is modified by a derivative of mevalonic acid.

Animals↗

In vitro metabolism of mevalonic acid in the bovine retina.

Bovine retinas were incubated with 3RS-[5-3H]-mevalonic acid under conditions similar to those previously shown to support opsin biosynthesis in vitro. TLC of the total lipids indicated the formation of numerous radiolabeled components, including sterols, hydrocarbons, and "fatty acid-like material." The nonsaponifiable lipids were analyzed by TLC, GLC, and chromatography on columns of silicic acid-Super Cel, silica gel G-Super Cel-silver nitrate, and alumina-Super Cel-silver nitrate. The major nonsaponifiable components had the chromatographic properties of squalene and "methylated sterols" (i.e., C30, C29, and C28 monohydroxy sterols). Cholesterol represented no more than 1% of the total radioactivity in the nonsaponifiable lipid fraction. The "fatty acid-like material" was derivatized with diazomethane, and the resulting methyl esters were analyzed by GLC before and after catalytic hydrogenation. The radioactivity did not correspond to the normal fatty acids endogenous to the retina, but rather had the chromatographic properties of C15 and C20 isoprenoid acids. These results obtained with intact retinas are consistent with our previous observations concerning mevalonic acid metabolism in cell-free homogenates of bovine retinas.

Animals↗

Isolation and characterization of yeast mutants blocked in mevalonic acid formation.

Yeast mutants defective in beta-hydroxy-beta-methylglutaryl-CoA synthase and acetoacetyl-CoA thiolase have been isolated. Mutants impaired in acetoacetyl-CoA thiolase range into two linked complementation units, erg 10 A and erg 10 B. Mutants deficient in beta-hydroxy-beta-methylglutaryl-CoA synthase belong to two unlinked complementation groups, erg 11 and erg 13. In strictly anaerobic growth conditions, mutants impaired in beta-hydroxy-beta-methylglutaryl-CoA synthase require mevalonic acid in addition to sterol and oleic acid, pointing out the role of mevalonic acid in other physiological function than ergosterol precursor. Growth of mutants impaired in acetoacetyl-CoA thiolase cannot be recovered by mevalonic acid supplementation, suggesting a role of acetoacetyl-CoA or thiolase not linked to sterol pathway.

Acetyl-CoA C-Acetyltransferase↗

[Biosynthesis of mevalonic acid, sterols and bile acids from acetyl-CoA and malonyl-CoA in the human liver].

The biosynthesis of mevalonic acid, squalene, sterols, bile and fatty acids from [2-14C]malonyl-CoA and [1-14C]acetyl-CoA were studied. The activities of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA-reductase (GMG-CoA reductase) and acetyl-CoA carboxylase in subcellular fractions of human liver were determined. The livers of humans were used within 1.5-3 hours after clinical death. It was found that in all fractions studied (i.e. cell-free, 700 g, postmitochondrial, microsomal, cytosol) malonyl-CoA is incorporated into mevalonic acid more intensively than acetyl-CoA. The specific activity of GMG-CoA reductase in the microsomal and soluble fractions was essentially the same. Calculation of enzymatic activity per 1 g of wet mass of tissue showed that the bulk of activity is bound to the cytosol (soluble fraction) Malonyl-CoA can also act as a precursor of squalene, lanosterol, cholesterol and bile acids. The rate of malonyl-CoA incorporation into these compounds is practically the same as that of [2-14C] mevalonate but significantly exceeds that of acetyl-CoA at equal molar ratios of both substrates. Incorporation of malonyl-CoA into cholesterol occurs much more intensively in human liver than in rat liver, the cholesterol radioactivity reaching 18% of the total unsaponified fraction. Malonyl-CoA is a better substrate than acetyl-CoA both for fatty acid and for mevalonate, sterol and bile acid synthesis.

Acetyl Coenzyme A↗

Leukaemia inhibitory factor or oncostatin M induction of Swiss 3T3 cells does not require mevalonic acid synthesis nor protein isoprenylation to initiate DNA replication.

Leukaemia inhibitory factor (LIF) or Oncostatin M (OSM), both mitogens for Swiss mouse 3T3 cells, triggers initiation of DNA synthesis without the requirement for mevalonic acid. Thus, Lovastatin (LOV), an inhibitor of the hydroxy methylglutaryl CoA (HMGCoA) reductase, does not block LIF or OSM induced DNA replication and cell multiplication. In contrast, increasing concentrations of LOV from 1 to 60 microM block the mitogenic action of PGF(2alpha) by decreasing the number of cells capable of entering S-phase and dividing. This inhibition by LOV can be reversed by addition of mevanolactone (MEV), an analogue of mevalonic acid. Thus, LIF or OSM triggers initiation of DNA replication independently of mevalonic acid synthesis and therefore without the involvement of isoprenylation of various signalling proteins.

Animals↗

Procedures for the isolation and quantification of the intermediates of the mevalonic acid pathway.

Procedures for the isolation and analysis of all 11 intermediates of the mevalonic acid pathway from acetyl-CoA through geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate were developed. Both acid-labile and base-labile metabolites are simultaneously extracted with good recoveries into 7 M urea at neutral pH and low temperature to minimize hydrolytic and degradative enzyme losses, and the extract is partially purified by adsorption and desorption in high yield from an anion-exchange membrane. With the use of internal standards, the pathway intermediates are subsequently separated and quantified by reversed-phase ion-pair HPLC with on-line radiodetection. Permeable secretory cells specialized for monoterpene biosynthesis were isolated from peppermint (Mentha x piperita) leaves and employed as a model system to test the analytical protocols by examining the incorporation of [14C]pyruvate, [14C]mevalonate, and [3H]isopentenyl pyrophosphate as precursors. This simple new method should be readily adaptable to a wide range of cell and tissue types that can be administered basic metabolic precursors, and should allow measurements of both flux and steady-state levels of the intermediates of the mevalonic acid pathway.

Acetyl Coenzyme A↗

Diurnal variations in the plasma concentrations of mevalonic acid in patients with abetalipoproteinaemia.

Previous studies have demonstrated that changes in the rates of cholesterol biosynthesis can be evaluated by the determination of plasma concentrations of sterol intermediates, including mevalonic acid and lathosterol and that, in normal human subjects, a diurnal rhythm exists in which the highest concentrations of sterol intermediates are observed at night. The factors responsible for this diurnal rhythm in cholesterol synthesis are, however, unknown. To test the hypothesis that the nocturnal increase in cholesterol biosynthesis is attributable to a reduced rate of hepatic uptake of chylomicron remnants at night as compared to higher rates of uptake during the daytime in response to alimentary lipaemia, we have examined the diurnal rhythm of mevalonic acid in six normal volunteers and three patients with phenotypic abetalipoproteinaemia. The latter patients do not absorb appreciable amounts of dietary cholesterol and are unable to synthesize chylomicron particles. Plasma concentrations of mevalonic acid exhibited a diurnal rhythm in the normal subjects, and the highest plasma concentrations were observed between 24.00 hours/04.00 hours. A similar rhythm was observed in the plasma of patients with abetalipoproteinaemia. These results suggest that the nocturnal increase in cholesterol biosynthesis which occurs in humans is not attributable to reduced hepatic uptake of chylomicron remnants at night; further studies are needed to better define those factors which influence the periodicity of cholesterol biosynthesis in humans.

Abetalipoproteinemia↗

Incorporation of (2-14C, (5r)-5-3H1) mevalonic acid into cholesterol by a rat liver homogenate and into beta-sitosterol and 28-isofucosterol by larix decidua leaves.

1. Incubation of a rat liver homogenate with 3R-[2-(14)C,(5R)-5-(3)H(1)]mevalonic acid gave cholesterol with (3)H/(14)C atomic ratio 6:5. 2. Conversion of the labelled cholesterol into 3beta-acetoxy-6-nitrocholest-5-ene or cholest-4-ene-3,6-dione resulted in the loss of one tritium atom from C-6. 3. These results show that during cholesterol biosynthesis the 6alpha-hydrogen atom of a precursor sterol is eliminated during formation of the C-5-C-6 double bond. 4. Incorporation of 3R-[2-(14)C,(5R)-5-(3)H(1)]mevalonic acid into the sterols of larch (Larix decidua) leaves gave labelled cycloartenol and beta-sitosterol with (3)H/(14)C atomic ratios 6:6 and 6:5 respectively. 5. One tritium atom was lost from C-6 on conversion of the labelled beta-sitosterol into either 3beta-acetoxy-6-nitrostigmast-5-ene or stigmast-4-ene-3,6-dione, demonstrating that formation of the C-5-C-6 double bond of phytosterols also involves the elimination of the 6alpha-hydrogen atom of a precursor sterol. 6. The 3R-[2-(14)C,(5R)-5-(3)H(1)]mevalonic acid was also incorporated by larch (L. decidua) leaves into a sterol that co-chromatographed with 28-isofucosterol. Confirmation that the radioactivity was associated with 28-isofucosterol was obtained by co-crystallization with carrier 28-isofucosterol and ozonolysis of the acetate to give radioactively labelled 24-oxocholesteryl acetate. 7. The significance of these results to phytosterol biosynthesis is discussed.

Animals↗

Metabolic transformation of mevalonic Acid by an enzyme system from peas.

En enzyme system has been found in peas which converts mevalonic acid to isoprenoid compounds. Among the intermediates in such conversion are mevalonic acid-5-phosphate and pyrophosphate, isopentenyl pyrophosphate and dimethylallylpyrophosphate. Among the products formed by the system are the pyrophosphates of geraniol, farnesol, nerolidol and higher isoprenoid alcohols.

Journal Article↗

Biosynthesis of sterols by a yeast homogenate. Incorporation of mevalonic acid into cholesta-5,7,24-trien-3beta-ol and 5alpha-cholesta-7,24-dien-3beta-ol.

Incubation of (3RS,2R)-[2-14C,2-3H]mevalonic acid and (3RS, 2S)-[2-14C,2-3H]mevalonic acid with mechanically disrupted yeast cells resulted in C27-metabolites. Two (14C5, 3H4)-metabolites, cholesta-5,7,24-trien-3beta-ol and 5 alpha-cholesta-7,24-dien-3beta-ol, were isolated and characterized. The impairment of the 24-methyl transferase system was confirmed by the lack of incorporation of 14C into the sterol fraction on incubation of S-adenosyl-L-[methyl-14C]methionine with the yeast homogenate. The results indicate that interference with the (C-24)-alkylating system did not prevent the transformation of lanosterol to the cholesta-5,7,24-trien-3beta-ol and to 5 alpha-cholesta-7,24-dien-3beta-ol. It can therefore be inferred that transformations of the nucleus and of the side chain can function independently. However our results do not provide a definition of the actual sequence of the metabolic events between lanosterol and ergosterol.

Cell-Free System↗

Mevastatin induces degeneration and decreases viability of cAMP-induced differentiated neuroblastoma cells in culture by inhibiting proteasome activity, and mevalonic acid lactone prevents these effects.

Statins with a closed-ring structure (mevastatin, lovastatin, and simvastatin) and with an open-ring structure (pravastatin and fluvastatin) are widely used in the human population to manage hypercholesterolemia. These statins may have neuroprotective or neurotoxic effects, but these effects remain controversial. We have utilized adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate-induced terminally differentiated murine neuroblastoma (NB) cells in culture as an experimental model to study the effect of statins. Results showed that mevastatin induced degenerative changes and reduced the viability of differentiated NB cells by inhibiting proteasome activity. Lactacystin, an established inhibitor of proteasome, also produced similar degenerative changes in these cells. In contrast, pravastatin neither affected the degeneration and viability of differentiated NB cells nor the proteasome activity. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis of the extract obtained from mevastatin-treated growth medium and differentiated cells revealed that about 50% of mevastatin is converted to an open-ring structure in the growth medium; however, differentiated cells did not convert any portion of mevastatin into an open-ring structure and accumulated only mevastatin with a closed-ring structure. Mevalonic acid lactone by itself did not affect the viability of differentiated NB cells or the proteasome activity, but it completely prevented mevastatin-induced degeneration and decreased viability by reducing the uptake of mevastatin and by blocking its action on proteasome activity. Mevalonic acid failed to prevent lactacystin-induced degeneration and inhibition of proteasome activity. Our results suggest that mevastatin could act as a neurotoxic agent or neuroprotective agent, depending upon the extent of its hydrolysis to an open-ring structure and the level of mevalonic acid.

Animals↗

Reduction in plasma low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and urinary mevalonic acid by lovastatin in patients with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia.

The effects of lovastatin, an inhibitor of 3-hydroxy-3-methyl glutaryl coenzyme A reductase (HMG CoA reductase), on 24-hour urinary excretion rates of mevalonic acid (an intermediate in cholesterol biosynthesis) and plasma low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol concentrations were evaluated in patients with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (FH). The mean rates of urinary mevalonate excretion of 28 FH patients were initially higher (2.95 +/- 0.29 (+/- SEM) mumols/d) than in 17 control subjects (1.82 +/- 0.12 mumols/d). Patients with FH were treated with sequentially increasing doses of lovastatin (10, 20, 40, and 80 mg daily, taken as a twice daily dosage) for a period of 6 weeks on each dose. When compared to baseline, LDL cholesterol levels fell by 22%, 26%, 30%, and 35% respectively, on these different doses. The mean daily urinary mevalonate excretion decreased from baseline by 19% after 4 weeks on 10 mg daily of lovastatin, 35% on 20 mg, and 31% on 40 mg and 80 mg daily. Similar decreases in urinary mevalonate excretions were observed when patients with FH were treated directly with 40 mg (20 mg twice daily) or 80 mg (40 mg twice daily) mg of lovastatin daily. The magnitude of decrease in LDL cholesterol did not show any significant correlation with the changes in urinary excretion of mevalonic acid. Lovastatin therapy decreases rates of urinary mevalonate excretion (which has previously been shown to reflect rates of cholesterol synthesis) by up to 35% at doses of 20 to 80 mg/d; such a decrease seems unlikely to compromise other important cellular requirements for mevalonate.

Adult↗