In insects, 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase (HMG-CoA) synthesizes mevalonate for the production of nonsterol isoprenoids, which are essential for growth and differentiation. To understand the regulation and developmental role of HMG-CoA reductase, we have cloned a full-length HMG-CoA reductase cDNA from the cockroach Blattella germanica. This cDNA clone was isolated using as a p...

In this paper, we assess the relative degree of regulation of the rate-limiting enzyme of isoprenoid biosynthesis, 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase, by sterol and nonsterol products of mevalonate by utilizing cultured Chinese hamster ovary cells blocked in sterol synthesis. We also examine the two other enzymes of mevalonate biosynthesis, acetoacetyl-CoA thiolase and HM...

Isoflavones identified as inhibitors of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase in soybean paste were assayed using the catalytic portion of Syrian hamster HMG-CoA reductase, and the kinetic values were measured using HMG-CoA and NADPH. The inhibition of HMG-CoA reductase by these inhibitors was competitive with HMG-CoA and noncompetitive with NADPH. Ki values for genistein, d...

The enzyme 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA (HMG-CoA) reductase is crucial to insect development and reproduction, as revealed by the sterilising properties of some specific inhibitors of it. In the present paper, we study the sterilising effects of a number of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors on the German cockroach, Blattella germanica (L). The inhibitors tested were naringenin, lovastatin, mevasta...

3-Hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase (HMG-CoA reductase) is located in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and responds to rapid degradation which is regulated by mevalonate or sterols. T cell antigen receptor alpha chain (TCR alpha) is also known to be rapidly degraded within the ER. In both cases, the membrane domains of the proteins have a crucial role in their rapid degradation. In or...

Hyperhomocysteinemia, an elevation of blood homocysteine levels, is a metabolic disorder associated with dysfunction of multiple organs. We previously demonstrated that hyperhomocysteinemia stimulated hepatic 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase leading to hepatic lipid accumulation and liver injury. The liver plays an important role in cholesterol biosynthesis and overall ...

Purpose: To improve the sensitivity and specificity of spectrophotometric 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutarylcoenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase activity assay. Methods: Spectrophotometric HMG-CoA reductase detection in male Wistar rat liver microsomes was optimized by applying different conditions, such as reaction buffer pH, NADPH and protein concentration, and preincubation and reaction times. The optimal...

Apomine, a 1,1-bisphosphonate-ester with antitumor activity, has previously been reported to strongly down-regulate 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase (HMG-CoA reductase), the rate-limiting enzyme in the mevalonate pathway responsible for the prenylation of proteins. Here, we show that although apomine down-regulated HMG-CoA reductase protein levels in myeloma cells, it did not inh...

Immunoprecipitation of native rat liver microsomal 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase, phosphorylated by [gamma-32P]ATP in the presence of reductase kinase, revealed a major 97-kDa 32P band which disappeared upon competition with pure unlabeled 53-kDa HMG-CoA reductase. A linear correlation between the expressed/total HMG-CoA reductase activity ratio (E/T) and the fractio...