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PubMed1990

Inhibition by 6-fluoromevalonate demonstrates that mevalonate or one of the mevalonate phosphates is necessary for lymphocyte proliferation.

The sterol synthesis inhibitor 6-fluoromevalonate (Fmev) was used to explore the role of mevalonate products in lymphocyte proliferation. Fmev blocks the synthesis of isopentenyl pyrophosphate and all more distal products in the sterol pathway. When cells were cultured in lipoprotein-deficient medium, Fmev (200 microM) completely inhibited mitogen-stimulated human lymphocyte proliferation, quantified by measuring DNA synthesis. The addition of low density lipoprotein (LDL) restored lymphocyte responses to normal, whereas mevalonate was totally ineffective. Similar results were obtained with concentrations of Fmev up to 1 mM. These results contrast with those observed when sterol biosynthesis was blocked with lovastatin, an inhibitor of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase. When lymphocyte proliferation was blocked with lovastatin (5 microM), either high concentrations of mevalonate or LDL together with low concentrations of mevalonate was required to restore responses. In contrast, neither LDL nor low concentrations of mevalonate when alone was able to restore lymphocyte DNA synthesis in cultures blocked with 5 microM lovastatin. The effect of Fmev on the capacity of exogenous mevalonate to restore proliferation of lovastatin-blocked lymphocytes was directly examined. Fmev had no effect on the capacity of LDL plus low concentrations of mevalonate to restore DNA synthesis to lovastatin-blocked lymphocytes, indicating that the synthesis of the necessary factor from mevalonate was unaltered by Fmev. Fmev profoundly blocked lymphocyte endogenous sterol synthesis, decreasing incorporation of radiolabeled acetate into digitonin-precipitable sterols by up to 98%. LDL did not alter the capacity of Fmev to block sterol synthesis. The possibility that Fmev allowed shunting of endogenous mevalonate into essential lipid products was assessed by examining the incorporation of radiolabeled mevalonate. Fmev (200 microM) inhibited the incorporation of mevalonate into all lipids, including ubiquinone, dolichol, and other non-sterol lipids by up to 98%, and this was not altered by LDL. Furthermore, Fmev (200 microM) suppressed the incorporation of radiolabeled mevalonate into protein by up to 97%. These data confirm that a product of mevalonate is essential for cell proliferation. However, the results indicate that the required product is directly synthesized from mevalonate or mevalonate phosphates rather than from a more distal isoprenoid metabolite.

Humans↗
PubMed2002

Statin enhances cytokine-mediated induction of nitric oxide synthesis in vascular smooth muscle cells.

OBJECTIVE: We investigated the effects of the statins, cerivastatin and fluvastatin, on the induction of nitric oxide (NO) production in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) stimulated by interleukin-1beta (IL-1) or in combination with interferon-gamma (IFN). METHODS: We measured NO release, inducible NO synthase (iNOS) mRNA and protein levels, iNOS gene transcription rates, and iNOS mRNA stabilities in cytokine-activated VSMC. We also evaluated nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB activity and tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) synthesis. RESULTS: NO production induced by cytokines was dose-dependently enhanced by both statins. Incubating VSMC with IL-1/IFN stimulated iNOS mRNA and protein expression. Both statins significantly upregulated IL-1/IFN-stimulated iNOS mRNA and protein expression, and enhanced iNOS gene transcription as shown by nuclear run-on assays. However, they did not alter the stability of iNOS mRNA. Both statins slightly modulated IL-1/IFN-induced NF-kappaB activation, which was not associated with their effect on NO production. Cytokines induce the de novo synthesis of BH4 in VSMC. This event is essential for the induction of NO synthesis, which requires transcriptional induction of the genes that encode not only iNOS but also guanosine triphosphate cyclohydrolase I (GTPCH), the first and rate-limiting enzyme in de novo BH4 synthesis. The synthesis of BH4 and GTPCH mRNA induced by IL-1/IFN were enhanced by both statins. Exogenous mevalonate significantly prevented and geranylgeranylpyrophosphate reversed the stimulatory effect of both statins. Furthermore, the geranylgeranyltransferase I inhibitor GGTI-298 significantly increased IL-1/IFN-induced NO production. CONCLUSION: Our data demonstrated that statins enhance immunostimulants-induced NO production by increasing iNOS gene expression at the transcriptional level via an NF-kappaB-independent pathway. The effect of statins on NO production is due at least partly through blocking the biosynthesis of mevalonate, which prevents isoprenoid biosynthesis. In addition to augmenting iNOS expression, statins potentiate GTPCH gene expression and BH4 synthesis, thereby preventing a relative shortage of BH4 which may shift the balance between NOS-catalyzed generation of protective NO and deleterious reactive oxygen species.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Bile acid synthesis. VI. Regulation of cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase by taurocholate and mevalonate.

Taurocholate, a relatively hydrophobic bile salt, is a potent down-regulator of HMG-CoA reductase and cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase (C7 alpha H), the rate-determining enzymes of the cholesterol and bile acid biosynthetic pathways, respectively. Inhibition of cholesterol synthesis with a bolus dose of mevinolin (lovastatin) a competitive inhibitor of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase, profoundly decreases the specific activity of cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase and rate of bile acid synthesis in rats with complete biliary diversion. It is therefore conceivable that taurocholate may suppress cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase primarily by down-regulating the activity of HMG-CoA reductase. To test this hypothesis, taurocholate was coinfused simultaneously to rats with chronic bile fistula with mevalonate (administered as mevalonolactone), an intermediate in the cholesterol biosynthetic pathway. Mevalonolactone was administered to provide a constant supply of newly synthesized cholesterol to cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase, in order to overcome any inhibitory effect of taurocholate on HMG-Coa reductase. Infusions were started 72 h after biliary diversion, and carried out for an additional 48 h. Complete biliary diversion resulted in an increase in C7 alpha H specific activity (510%), protein mass (550%), steady-state mRNA levels (1430%), and transcriptional activities (330%) as compared to control rats with intact enterohepatic circulations. When rats with biliary diversion were infused intraduodenally with taurocholate, the specific activities of HMG-CoA reductase and cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase activities decreased by 75% (P less than 0.001) and 73% (P less than 0.001), respectively. Cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase mass, mRNA, and transcriptional activity decreased after intraduodenal infusion of taurocholate to levels similar to those of rats with an intact enterohepatic circulation. The combination of constant infusion of mevalonate and taurocholate failed to reverse the inhibitory effects of taurocholate on cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase activity, mRNA levels, and in vitro transcriptional rates. These data provide evidence that taurocholate represses cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase at the level of gene transcription, and not via down-regulation of HMG-CoA reductase. Infusion of mevalonate alone to biliary diverted rats did not alter cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase activity or mRNA levels, while leading to a 57% decrease in C7 alpha H gene transcription. This latter finding suggests that mevalonate or its metabolites may be capable of stabilizing C7 alpha H mRNA levels while down-regulating transcriptional activity.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

[The pharmacology of the statins: the evidence of a direct antiatherosclerotic action].

With the increasing knowledge on the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, it appears that the prevention of cardiovascular disease in the future will involve, besides risk factor correction, direct pharmacological control of processes occurring in the arterial wall. Among them, a pivotal role is played by smooth muscle cell migration and proliferation that, together with lipid deposition, are prominent features of atherogenesis and restenosis after angioplasty. Mevalonate and other intermediates (isoprenoids) of cholesterol synthesis are essential for cell growth, hence drugs affecting this metabolic pathway are potential antiatherosclerotic agents. Recently we provided evidence that fluvastatin, simvastatin, lovastatin, but not pravastatin, dose-dependently decrease smooth muscle cell migration and proliferation, independently of their hypocholesterolemic properties. The in vitro inhibition of cell migration and proliferation induced by simvastatin and fluvastatin (70-90% decrease) was completely prevented by the addition of mevalonate and partially (80%) by farnesol and geranylgeraniol, confirming the specific role of isoprenoid metabolites--probably through prenylated proteins--in regulating these cellular events. The present results provide evidence that HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors interfere directly with processes involved in atherogenesis--beyond their effects on plasma lipids--partially through local inhibition of isoprenoid biosynthesis.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and the role of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors.

Atherosclerosis is a complex multifactorial process resulting from an excessive inflammatory/fibroproliferative response to various forms of injurious stimuli to the arterial wall. The potential interactions of cells, cytokines, and growth-regulatory molecules among the different cells in the atherosclerotic lesion present numerous opportunities for modulating lesion formation and progression. Smooth muscle cell (SMC) migration and proliferation, together with lipid deposition, are now recognized as the major phenomena occurring within the arterial wall, and thus these phenomena serve as targets for pharmacologic intervention in the process of atherogenesis. Migration and proliferation of SMC are key events in atherosclerosis--and in restenosis after angioplasty. An understanding of the factors that induce such events is important for the prevention and treatment of these diseases. Mevalonate and other intermediates of cholesterol synthesis (isoprenoids) are essential for cell proliferation; hence drugs affecting this metabolic pathway are potential antiatherosclerotic agents. Recently, this group provided in vitro and in vivo evidence of decreases in SMC proliferation by fluvastatin and simvastatin, but not pravastatin, independent of their cholesterol-lowering properties. The in vitro inhibition of cell migration and proliferation induced by simvastatin and fluvastatin (70-90% decrease) was completely prevented by the addition of mevalonate, and partially prevented (70-80%) by farnesol or geranylgeraniol. This confirms the specific role of isoprenoid metabolites--most probably geranylgerylated protein(s)--in regulating cell migration and proliferation. The inhibitory effect of fluvastatin and simvastatin on cholesterol esterification induced by acetyl low density lipoprotein in macrophages was also prevented by the addition of geranylgeraniol.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Non-lipid-related effects of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors.

With the increasing knowledge of the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, it appears that in the future the prevention of cardiovascular disease will involve not only risk factor correction, but also direct pharmacological control of processes occurring in the arterial wall. Among these, a pivotal role is played by smooth muscle cell (SMC) migration and proliferation, which, together with lipid deposition, are prominent features of atherogenesis and restenosis after angioplasty. Mevalonate and other intermediates of cholesterol synthesis (isoprenoids) are essential for cell growth, hence drugs affecting this metabolic pathway are potential antiatherosclerotic agents. Recently, we provided in vitro and in vivo evidence that fluvastatin, simvastatin and lovastatin, but not pravastatin, decrease SMC migration and proliferation dose dependently, independently of their hypocholesterolemic properties. The in vitro inhibition of cell migration and proliferation induced by simvastatin and fluvastatin (70-90% decrease) was prevented completely by the addition of mevalonate, and partially prevented by farnesol and geranylgeraniol (80%), confirming the specific role of isoprenoid metabolites in regulating these cellular events, probably through prenylated protein(s). The in vivo antiproliferative activity of fluvastatin on neointimal hyperplasia in normocholesterolemic rabbits was also prevented fully by the local delivery of mevalonate, by means of an Alzet pump. Fluvastatin and simvastatin also inhibited cholesterol esterification and deposition induced by acetylated LDL in cultured macrophages. This effect was fully prevented by the addition of mevalonate or geranylgeraniol. Taken together, these results suggest that, beyond their effects on plasma lipids, HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors exert a direct antiatherosclerotic effect on the arterial wall, probably through local inhibition of isoprenoid biosynthesis.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Regulation of 3-hydroxyl-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase activity in rat uterine tissues.

Initiation of uterine DNA synthesis and mitosis in response to estrogen appears to depend upon the stimulation of protein synthesis. 3-Hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase could have a key function in controlling uterine mitosis through its control of mevalonic acid and cholesterol synthesis as the rate-limiting enzyme in their synthetic pathways. These studies were initiated to examine the kinetics of the uterine increases in HMG-CoA reductase activity in response to estradiol. In the uterus of the ovariectomized mature rat, estradiol increased levels of enzyme activity in both the luminal epithelium and stroma-myometrium up to 12 h after estradiol treatment. Levels of HMG-CoA reductase activity decreased after 12 h in the luminal epithelium and further increased in the stroma-myometrium. Previous studies have shown that estradiol does not increase DNA synthesis and mitosis in the stroma-myometrium of the uterus of the ovariectomized mature rat. Since estradiol increased HMG-CoA reductase activity in both the luminal epithelium and stroma-myometrium, we conclude that even though increased HMG-CoA reductase activity may be a prerequisite for increased DNA synthesis, increases in uterine HMG-CoA reductase activity are not necessarily followed by increased DNA synthesis.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Isoprenoids and astroglial cell cycling: diminished mevalonate availability and inhibition of dolichol-linked glycoprotein synthesis arrest cycling through distinct mechanisms.

Primary astroglial cultures were used to compare the relationships to cell cycling of dolichol-linked glycoprotein synthesis, and of availability of mevalonate, the precursor of dolichol and other isoprenoid lipids. With shift-up to 10% serum (time 0) after 48 h of serum depletion, the proportion of cells in S phase (bromodeoxyuridine immunofluorescence) remained under 15% for 12 h, then increased by 20 h to 72 +/- 10%; DNA synthetic rates (thymidine incorporation) increased 5-fold. S phase transition was prevented by addition at 10-12 h of tunicamycin, an inhibitor of transfer of saccharide moieties to dolichol. Mevinolin, an inhibitor of mevalonate biosynthesis, also blocked cycle progression when added at this time. However, mevinolin markedly inhibited the isoprenoid pathway, as reflected by over 90% reduction of sterol synthesis, without inhibiting net glycoprotein synthesis. Removal of mevinolin after a 24 h exposure delayed S phase until 48 h, following recovery of sterol synthesis, even though kinetics of glycoprotein synthesis were unaffected. Tunicamycin removal after 24 h spared sterol synthesis, but caused delay of S phase until 72 h, following recovery of glycoprotein synthesis. In mevinolin-treated cultures, S phase transition was restored by 1 h of exposure to mevalonate at 10 h, although cycling was thereby rendered sensitive to inhibition by cycloheximide and by tunicamycin. Cell cycle progression following hydroxyurea exposure and release was unaffected by mevinolin, tunicamycin, or cycloheximide. Thus, in these developing astroglia, mevalonate and its isoprenoid derivatives have at least two cell cycle-specific roles: dolichol-linked glycoprotein synthesis is required at or before the G1/S transition, while a distinct mevalonate requirement is apparent also in late G1.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Statins inhibit the dimerization of beta-secretase via both isoprenoid- and cholesterol-mediated mechanisms.

We have previously reported that protein lipidation in the form of palmitoylation and farnesylation is critical for the production of Abeta (amyloid beta-peptide), the dimerization of beta-secretase and its trafficking into cholesterol-rich microdomains. As statins influence these lipid modifications in addition to their effects on cholesterol biosynthesis, we have investigated the effects of lovastatin and SIMVA (simvastatin) at a range of concentrations chosen to distinguish different cellular effects on Abeta production and beta-secretase structure and its localization in bHEK cells [HEK-293 cells (human embryonic kidney cells) transfected with the Asp-2 gene plus a polyhistidine coding tag] cells. We have compared the changes brought about by statins with those brought about by the palmitoylation inhibitor cerulenin and the farnesyltransferase inhibitor CVFM (Cys-Val-Phe-Met). The statin-mediated reduction in Abeta production correlated with an inhibition of beta-secretase dimerization into its more active form at all concentrations of statin investigated. These effects were reversed by the administration of mevalonate, showing that these effects were mediated via 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA-dependent pathways. At low (1 microM) statin concentrations, reduction in Abeta production and inhibition of beta-secretase dimerization were mediated by inhibition of isoprenoid synthesis. At high (>10 microM) concentrations of statins, inhibition of beta-secretase palmitoylation occurred, which we demonstrated to be regulated by intracellular cholesterol levels. There was also a concomitant concentration-dependent change in beta-secretase subcellular trafficking. Significantly, Abeta release from cells was markedly higher at 50 microM SIMVA than at 1 microM, whereas these concentrations resulted in similar reductions in total Abeta production, suggesting that low-dose statins may be more beneficial than high doses for the therapeutic treatment of Alzheimer's disease.

Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases↗
PubMed2004

From molds and macrophages to mevalonate: a decade of progress in understanding the molecular mode of action of bisphosphonates.

Although bisphosphonates were first used as therapeutic agents to inhibit bone resorption in the early 1970s, their mode of action at the molecular level has only become fully clear within the last few years. One of the reasons for this lack of understanding was the difficulty in isolating large numbers of pure osteoclasts for biochemical studies. In the last decade, the identification of appropriate surrogate models that reflected the antiresorptive potencies of bisphosphonates, such as Dictyostelium slime molds and macrophages, helped overcome this problem and proved to be instrumental in elucidating the molecular pathways by which these compounds inhibit osteoclast-mediated bone resorption. This brief review summarizes our current understanding of these pathways.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Exogenous CoQ10 supplementation prevents plasma ubiquinone reduction induced by HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors.

The biosynthetic pathway of the CoQ polyisoprenoid side chain, starting from acetyl-CoA and proceeding through mevalonate and isopentenylpyrophosphate, is the same as that of cholesterol. We performed this study to evaluate whether vastatins (hypocholesterolemic drugs that inhibit HMG-CoA reductase) modify blood levels of ubiquinone. Thirty-four unrelated outpatients with hypercholesterolemia (IIa phenotype) were treated with 20 mg of simvastatin for a 6-month period (group S) or with 20 mg of simvastatin plus 100 mg CoQ10 (group US). The following parameters were evaluated at time 0, 45, 90, 135 and 180 days: total plasma cholesterol (TC), HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C), triglycerides (TG), apo A1, apo B and CoQ10 in plasma and platelets. In the S group, there was a marked decrease in TC and LDL-C (from 290.3 mg/dl to 228.7 mg/dl for TC and from 228.7 mg/dl to 167.6 mg/dl for LDL-C) and in plasma CoQ10 levels from 1.08 mg/dl to 0.80 mg/dl. In contrast, in the US group we observed a significant increase of CoQ10 in plasma (from 1.20 to 1.48 mg/dl) while the hypocholesterolemic effect was similar to that observed in the S group. Platelet CoQ10 also decreased in the S group (from 104 to 90 ng/mg) and increased in the US group (from 95 to 145 ng/mg). This study demonstrates that simvastatin lowers both LDL-C and apo B plasma levels together with the plasma and platelet levels of CoQ10, and that CoQ10 therapy prevents both plasma and platelet CoQ10 decrease, without affecting the cholesterol lowering effect of simvastatin.

Apolipoproteins B↗
PubMed2004

Rosuvastatin upregulates the antioxidant defense protein heme oxygenase-1.

Cholesterol-independent, pleiotropic actions of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins) lead to anti-inflammatory and antioxidant actions by as yet unidentified mechanisms. This study explores the role of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) as target and potential mediator of rosuvastatin. In cultured human endothelial cells (ECV 304), rosuvastatin increased HO-1 mRNA and protein levels in a concentration-dependent fashion. HO-1 induction by rosuvastatin remained unaffected by mevalonate and N-nitro-L-arginine-methylester, showing that isoprenoid- and NO-dependent pathways were not involved. Pretreatment of endothelial cells with rosuvastatin reduced NADPH-dependent production of oxygen radicals. The HO-1 metabolite bilirubin, when added exogenously to the cells, virtually abolished NADPH-dependent oxidative stress. Rosuvastatin-induced inhibition of free radical formation was rescued in the presence of the HO inhibitor, tin protoporphyrin-IX. Our results demonstrate that HO-1 is a target site and antioxidant mediator of rosuvastatin in endothelial cells. This novel pathway may contribute to and partially explain the pleiotropic antiatherogenic actions of rosuvastatin.

Antioxidants↗
PubMed2002

Differential incorporation of 1-deoxy-D-xylulose into (3S)-linalool and geraniol in grape berry exocarp and mesocarp.

In vivo feeding experiments with [5,5-(2)H(2)]mevalonic acid lactone (MVL) and [5,5-(2)H(2)]-1-deoxy-D-xylulose (DOX) indicate that the novel mevalonate-independent 1-deoxy- D-xylulose 5-phosphate/2C-methyl- D-erythritol 4-phosphate (DOXP/MEP) pathway is the dominant metabolic route for monoterpene biosynthesis in grape berry exocarp and mesocarp and in grape leaves. The highly uneven distribution of the monoterpene alcohols (3S)-linalool and geraniol between leaves, berry exocarp and berry mesocarp can be attributed to a compartmentation of monoterpene metabolism. In grape berries incorporation of [5,5-(2)H(2)]-DOX into geraniol is mainly restricted to the exocarp, whereas (3S)-linalool biosynthesis can be detected in exocarp as well as in mesocarp tissue. The results demonstrate that grape berries exhibit an autonomic monoterpene biosynthesis via the novel DOXP/MEP route throughout the ripening process.

Acyclic Monoterpenes↗
PubMed2003

Biogenetic studies in Syringa vulgaris L.: bioconversion of (18)O(2H)-labeled precursors into lilac aldehydes and lilac alcohols.

Syringa vulgaris L. inflorescences, petals, and chloroplasts, isolated from lilac flower petals, were fed with aqueous solutions of (18)O-labeled linalool and [5,5-(2)H(2)]-deoxy-d-xylose (DOX). The chloroplasts of lilac flower petals were isolated after feeding experiments with labeled precursors. Volatiles from the chloroplasts were extracted by stir bar sorptive extraction (SBSE) and analyzed using enantioselective multidimensional gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (enantio-MDGC-MS). Feeding experiments with DOX indicate that the novel mevalonate-independent 1-deoxy-d-xylose 5-phosphate/2C-methyl-d-erythritol 4-phosphate (DOX/MEP) is the decisive pathway of lilac aldehyde and lilac alcohol, respectively. Bioconversion of [(18)O]linalool into lilac aldehyde and lilac alcohol during in vivo feeding experiments was monitored, and the metabolic pathways are discussed.

Acyclic Monoterpenes↗
PubMed1992

Isoprenoid metabolism is required for stimulation of the respiratory burst oxidase of HL-60 cells.

The formation of oxygen radicals by phagocytic cells occurs through the activation of a multiple-component NADPH oxidase system. An unidentified low molecular weight GTP-binding protein has been proposed to modulate the activity of the NADPH oxidase. The low molecular weight GTP-binding proteins undergo posttranslational processing, including an initial covalent incorporation of an isoprenyl group. To test whether such an isoprenylation reaction might be required for the activity of the oxidase, we utilized compactin and lovastatin as inhibitors of the isoprenylation pathway. Treatment of DMSO-differentiated HL-60 cells with compactin produced a concentration-dependent inhibition of O2- formation in response to FMLP or phorbol myristate acetate. Cell viability was not affected nor was normal differentiation of the HL-60 cells into a neutrophil-like cell. The inhibitory effect of compactin was specifically prevented by addition of exogenous mevalonic acid to the HL-60 cells, indicating that the inhibitory effects of the drug were due to blockade of the pathway leading to isoprenoid synthesis. Addition of cholesterol, ubiquinone, or dolichol, which are also downstream products of the isoprenoid pathway, did not override the inhibitory effects of the drug. Subcellular fractions were prepared from compactin-treated cells, and the location of the compactin-sensitive factor was determined by complementation analysis in a cell-free NADPH oxidase system. The inhibited factor was localized to the HL-60 cytosol. These data suggest that an isoprenoid pathway intermediate is necessary for activation of the phagocyte NADPH oxidase. This is likely to represent the requirement for an isoprenoid moiety in the posttranslational modification of a low molecular weight GTP-binding protein. Our studies provide support for the involvement of such a low molecular weight GTP-binding protein in NADPH oxidase activation.

Butadienes↗
PubMed2001

Deterioration of the protein kinase C-K(ATP) channel pathway in regulation of coronary flow in hypercholesterolaemic rabbits.

We studied the effect of experimental hypercholesterolaemia/atherosclerosis on changes in coronary flow and cardiac function, induced by protein kinase C and ATP-sensitive K(+) (K(ATP)) channel modulators in isolated Langendorff-perfused rabbit hearts. Both phorbol 12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA) and phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate (PDB, 0.1 microM each), activators of protein kinase C, decreased, whereas staurosporine, (0.1 microM), a protein kinase C inhibitor, increased coronary flow and left ventricular dP/dt, an index of ventricular contractility. Glyburide (5-50 microM), a K(ATP) channel inhibitor, blocked the effect of staurosporine. The phorbol esters were without effect in the presence of pinacidil (5 microM), a K(ATP) channel activator. Neither the protein kinase C modulators nor glyburide produced any effect on coronary flow and left ventricular contractility, when the hearts were prepared from animals either maintained on a cholesterol (1.5%)-enriched diet or treated with lovastatin (5 mg/kg/day per os). Treatment with farnesol (1 mg/kg twice a day for 7 days intravenously) restored the reactivity of hearts from either hypercholesterolaemic or lovastatin-treated animals to protein kinase C modulators. We conclude that non-cholesterol mevalonate products are necessary for the functional integrity of the protein kinase C-K(ATP) channel pathway in the rabbit heart.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMed1967

Isoprenoid biosynthesis in a cell-free system from pea shoots.

A cell-free system consisting of a soluble fraction and plastid fragments from pea shoots incorporates 2-(14)C-mevalonate very actively into farnesol, squalene, geranylgeraniol, and other isoprenoids of different carbon-chain lengths. The products have different cofactor requirements, which makes it possible to channel the pathway into different products by varying the incubation mixture.

Carbon Isotopes↗
PubMed1990

Light-Stimulated Gibberellin Biosynthesis in Gibberella fujikuroi.

Gibberellins (GAs) are a group of plant growth hormones that were first isolated from the fungus Gibberella fujikuroi. The biosynthesis of GA in liquid cultures of the fungus has been examined using high-performance liquid chromatography and combined gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. GA(3) was the predominant GA in well-aerated cultures. GA(4) and GA(7), intermediates in GA(3) biosynthesis, accumulated in cultures with low levels of dissolved oxygen, but were not detectable in more highly aerated cultures. Light stimulated the production of GA(3) in G. fujikuroi cultures grown from young stock cultures. Cell-free enzyme studies revealed a significant stimulation in the levels of kaurenoic acid oxidation in cultures grown in the light in comparison with those grown in the dark. However, measurements of the relative rates of [(14)C]mevalonic acid incorporation into kaurene showed no effect of light on this early part of the pathway. Preliminary experiments indicated that blue light is most effective in enhancing kaurenoic acid oxidation.

Journal Article↗