3-Hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase from Arabidopsis thaliana is structurally distinct from the yeast and animal enzymes.

We have isolated the Arabidopsis thaliana gene (HMG1) encoding 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase [HMG-CoA reductase; (S)-mevalonate:NAD+ oxido-reductase (CoA-acylating), EC 1.1.1.88], the catalyst of the first committed step in isoprenoid biosynthesis. cDNA copies of the plant gene were identified by hybridization with a short, highly conserved segment of yeast HMG-CoA reductase as probe. DNA sequence analysis reveals that the COOH-terminal domain of the Arabidopsis HMG-CoA reductase (containing the catalytic site of the enzyme) is highly conserved with respect to the yeast, mammalian, and Drosophila enzymes, whereas the membrane-bound amino terminus of the Arabidopsis protein is truncated and lacks the complex membrane-spanning architecture of the yeast and animal reductases. Expression of the Arabidopsis gene from the yeast GAL1 promoter in a yeast mutant lacking HMG-CoA reductase activity suppresses the growth defect of the yeast mutant. Taken together, the sequence similarity to other cloned HMG-CoA reductase genes and the suppression of the yeast hmg- mutant provide strong evidence that the novel Arabidopsis gene we have cloned encodes a functional HMG-CoA reductase enzyme.     

Molecular cloning and sequence analysis of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase from the human parasite Schistosoma mansoni.

cDNA clones encoding the 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase [(S)-mevalonate:NADP+ oxidoreductase (CoA-acylating), EC 1.1.1.34] from the human parasite Schistosoma mansoni have been isolated and characterized. The composite 3459 base pairs of cDNA sequence contains a 2844-base-pair open reading frame corresponding to a protein of 948 amino acids. The predicted S. mansoni HMG-CoA reductase protein contains a hydrophobic amino terminus consisting of seven potential transmembrane domains that are structurally conservative but are not identical in amino acid sequence with HMG-CoA reductases from other species. The hydrophilic carboxyl terminus of the S. mansoni HMG-CoA reductase protein, however, shares 48-52% sequence identity with the carboxyl termini of other HMG-CoA reductases in a region that contains the catalytic domain. When expressed as a fusion protein in Escherichia coli, the carboxyl-terminal domain of the schistosome protein exhibits HMG-CoA reductase enzyme activity.     

Mevalonate-mediated suppression of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase function in alpha-toxin-perforated cells.

The regulation of mevalonic acid synthesis requires both nonsterol isopentenoid and sterol regulatory signal molecules. A primary target of this multivalent control process is the enzyme which catalyzes mevalonate synthesis: 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase (EC 1.1.1.34). In this report Staphylococcus aureus alpha-toxin perforated Chinese hamster ovary cells were used to facilitate the identification of isopentenoidogenic reactions and metabolites required for mevalonate-mediated loss of HMG-CoA reductase activity. alpha-Toxin-perforated cells retained the capacity to decrease, upon demand, HMG-CoA reductase activity and protein in response to mevalonate or isopentenoid pyrophosphate esters. Also, it was deduced with highly specific metabolic inhibitors, that conversion of farnesyl 1-diphosphate to squalene was required for mevalonate-mediated suppression of reductase activity. Since squalene (2 microM) did not downregulate reductase activity, pre-squalene pyrophosphate or a derivative, or polyprenyl-1-pyrophosphate-generated inorganic pyrophosphate, or a combination of these metabolites are proposed as candidate regulatory nonsterol isopentenoid signal molecules.     

Essential role of the HMG domain in the function of yeast mitochondrial histone HM: functional complementation of HM by the nuclear nonhistone protein NHP6A.

The yeast mitochondrial histone protein HM is required for maintenance of the mitochondrial genome, and disruption of the gene encoding HM (HIM1/ABF2) results in formation of a respiration-deficient petite mutant phenotype. HM contains two homologous regions, which share sequence similarity with the eukaryotic nuclear nonhistone protein, HMG-1. Experiments with various deletion mutants of HM show that a single HMG domain of HM is functional and can restore respiration competency to cells that lack HM protein (him1 mutant cells). The gene encoding the putative yeast nuclear HMG-1 homolog, the NHP6A protein, can functionally complement the him1 mutation. These results suggest that the HMG domain is the basic unit for the function of HM in mitochondria and that the function of HMG-1 proteins in the nucleus and HM in the mitochondrion may be equivalent.     

Regulation by plasma lipoproteins of progesterone biosynthesis and 3-hydroxy-3-methyl glutaryl coenzyme a reductase activity in cultured human choriocarcinoma cells.

The regulation of both the activity of 3-hydroxy-3-methyl glutaryl coenzyme A (HMG CoA) reductase [mevalonate-NADP+ oxidoreductase (CoA-acylating) EC 1.1.1.34] and the secretion of progesterone by human plasma lipoproteins has been investigated in human choriocarcinoma cells in culture. HMG CoA reductase activity was computed from the rate of formation of [14C]mevalonolactone from [14C]HMG CoA. The activity of HMG CoA reductase was expressed as nanomoles of mevalonolactone formed/min . mg solubilized cell protein. An inverse relationship was found between the presence of lipoprotein in the culture medium and the activity of HMG CoA reductase in these cells. In cells maintained in the presence of lipoprotein-enriched culture medium containing 840 micrograms cholesterol/ml, the average activity of HMG CoA reductase was 0.25 nmol/min . mg protein. After removal of lipoprotein, the activity of HMG CoA reductase increased to 1.3 nmol/min . mg protein. The average activity of HMG CoA reductase in cells maintained in lipoprotein-deficient culture medium was 1.5 nmol/min . mg protein but fell to 0.3 nmol/min . mg protein after addition of lipoprotein to the medium. When cells were maintained in the presence of lipoprotein, the rates of section of progesterone and pregnenolone into the culture medium were 2-8 times greater than the rates of secretion of these steroids by cells maintained in the absence of lipoprotein. On the basis of these results, it is concluded that lipoproteins control the rate of cholesterol biosynthesis in cultured choriocarcinoma cells by regulating the activity of HMG CoA reductase, and control the rate of synthesis of progesterone by providing the precursor, cholesterol. We suggest that progesterone synthesis by the trophoblast of the human placenta may also be regulated by the uptake of lipoprotein from maternal blood.     

Regulation of cholesterol biosynthesis in HeLa S3G cells by serum lipoproteins: Dexamethasone-mediated interference with suppression of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase

Depression of the activity of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase [mevalonate:NADP(+) oxidoreductase (CoA-acylating); EC 1.1.1.34] was elicited by the removal of serum from the growth medium of HeLa S3G cells with a concomitant expected increase in cellular sterol biosynthesis; if dexamethasone (9alpha-fluoro-11beta,17alpha,21-trihydroxy-16alpha-methyl-1, 4-pregnadiene-3,20-dione) was present in the serumless medium, there was an augmentation of HMG-CoA reductase activity but a suppression of sterol biosynthesis. When human serum, human low density lipoprotein, or calf serum was present in the medium, there was a reduction of both the enzyme activity and sterol biosynthesis, but the presence of dexamethasone resulted in an increase in HMG-CoA reductase activity as compared to the controls containing human serum, low density lipoprotein, or calf serum alone. In contrast, either low density lipoprotein or whole serum supplementation eliminated the differences in acetate incorporation into sterols between glucocorticoid-treated and untreated cells. Human high density lipoproteins had little effect on the enzyme activity and abolished the difference in sterol biosynthesis only at relatively high concentrations. Addition of low density lipoproteins to cells after preincubation in serumless medium elicited the same rate of decay of HMG-CoA reductase (t(1/2) 3.8-4.2 hr) regardless of the presence of glucocorticoids in the medium, but there was an exaggerated lag before the onset of suppression in the hormone-treated cells. If free cholesterol was present in the medium, the dexamethasone augmentation of HMG-CoA reductase was maintained, but the addition of either 7-ketocholesterol or 25-hydroxycholesterol abolished the difference between glucocorticoid-treated and control cells. These observations suggest that, under certain physiological conditions, HMG-CoA reductase activity no longer accurately reflects cellular sterol biosynthesis.     

Differential activity of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase in zones of the adrenal cortex

Cholesterol metabolism and steroidogenesis in the outer (zona fasciculata/glomerulosa) and inner (zona reticularis) zones of the adrenal cortex were examined in the guinea pig. It is known from previous studies that the content of cholesterol in the inner zone is considerably lower than that in the outer zone, although basal low density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor activity is similar in the two zones. To further explore cholesterol metabolism in the guinea pig adrenal cortex, the activity of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase, the rate-limiting step in cholesterol synthesis, has been examined for which this paper forms the initial report. It was found that the basal specific activity of HMG-CoA reductase was similar in the outer and inner adrenocortical zones (approximately 230 pmol mevalonate formed/min X mg microsomal protein). The administration of ACTH caused 4- and 5-fold increases in HMG-CoA reductase activity in the outer and inner zones, respectively. In fact, the increase in HMG-CoA reductase activity with ACTH treatment was always greater for the inner zone than for the outer zone. This is in contrast to LDL receptor activity, which does not increase in the inner zone as it does in the outer zone with ACTH treatment. When dexamethasone was administered, HMG-CoA reductase activity decreased in the outer zone by about 50%, while there was no change in reductase activity in the inner zone. The latter finding is similar to what happens with LDL receptor activity during dexamethasone administration. Why suppression of endogenous ACTH had no effect on HMG-CoA reductase activity in the inner zone while exogenous ACTH administration caused a marked increase in enzyme activity is not clear, but may be related to phosphorylation/dephosphorylation mechanisms. Based on the use of sodium fluoride in solutions to block HMG-CoA reductase phosphatase, evidence is presented which indicates that a pharmacological dose of ACTH alters the phosphorylation/dephosphorylation status of HMG-CoA reductase in the inner adrenocortical zone, but not in the outer cortical zone.     

Characterization and regulation of reductase kinase, a protein kinase that modulates the enzymic activity of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase

The activity of rat liver 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase [HMG-CoA reductase; mevalonate:NADP(+) oxidoreductase (CoA-acylating), EC 1.1.1.34] can be modulated in vitro by a phosphorylation-dephosphorylation reaction sequence. A microsomal reductase kinase catalyzes the phosphorylation of HMG-CoA reductase and histones. Histone phosphorylation was enhanced 2- to 3-fold by cyclic AMP. Reductase kinase exists in interconvertible active and inactive forms. Incubation of reductase kinase with phosphoprotein phosphatase resulted in a time-dependent decrease in the ability of reductase kinase to catalyze the phosphorylation of histones and to inactivate HMG-CoA reductase. Incubation of phosphoprotein phosphatase-inactivated reductase kinase with [gamma-(32)P]ATP plus Mg(2+) and a partially purified protein kinase designated reductase kinase kinase resulted in parallel increases in protein-bound (32)P radioactivity and ability to inactivate HMG-CoA reductase. Incubation of (32)P-labeled reductase kinase with phosphoprotein phosphatase resulted in a time-dependent loss of protein-bound (32)P radioactivity and a decrease in the ability to inactivate HMG-CoA reductase. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of purified reductase kinase incubated with reductase kinase kinase and [gamma-(32)P]ATP plus Mg(2+) revealed that the (32)P radioactivity and reductase kinase enzymic activity were located in a single electrophoretic position. Dephosphorylation of (32)P-labeled purified reductase kinase with phosphoprotein phosphatase was associated with significant loss of radioactivity and enzymic activity in the protein band ascribed to reductase kinase. These results provide evidence that the activity of reductase kinase, like HMG-CoA reductase, is modulated by a reversible phosphorylation-dephosphorylation reaction sequence.     

Production and characterization of monoclonal antibodies to rat liver microsomal 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase.

Rat liver microsomal 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase [HMG-CoA reductase; mevalonate:NADP+ oxidoreductase (CoA-acylating), EC 1.1.1.34], the key regulatory enzyme in cholesterol biosynthesis, has been purified to apparent homogeneity. Purified HMG-CoA reductase yields a single diffuse band when NaDodSO4/polyacrylamide gels are stained with Coomassie blue and yields two adjacent bands when gels are stained with silver. Purified reductase was used to elicit the production of monoclonal antibodies. Spleen cells from BALB/c mice immunized with purified HMG-CoA reductase were fused with Sp-2/0 myeloma cells. Clones producing monoclonal antibodies to HMG-CoA reductase were identified by using a solid-phase radioimmunoassay and were subcloned in soft agar. The three relatively stable hybridoma lines isolated secrete different Igs as judged by their antibody subclasses and differing abilities to inhibit HMG-CoA reductase in solution. Efficient precipitation of solubilized HMG-CoA reductase was achieved with the two IgG antibodies but not with the IgM. A mixture of all three monoclonal antibodies immunoprecipitates more than 90% of the HMG-CoA reductase activity in solubilized rat liver extracts. These monoclonal antibodies should be useful probes for investigation of the regulation of HMG-CoA reductase and cholesterol synthesis.     

Effects of ketanserin tartrate on 3-hydroxy, 3-methylglutaryl coenzyme a reductase activity in cultured human skin fibroblasts

Summary Ketanserin tartrate (ketanserin) is a new antihypertensive drug that is a selective 5HT₂ serotonergic receptor antagonist and at high concentrations antagonizes the alpha₁-adrenergic receptor. Several reports have indicated that ketanserin clinically decreases plasma low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. In order to clarify the mechanisms of this LDL cholesterol reduction by ketanserin, we investigated the effects of ketanserin on 3-hydroxy, 3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A(HMG CoA) reductase activity to cultured human skin fibroblasts. We also studied the effects of ritanserin (a 5HT₂ serotonergic receptor antagonist) and prazosin HCl (an alpha₁-adrenergic receptor antagonist) on HMG CoA reductase activity in cultured human skin fibroblasts. Human skin fibroblasts were cultured in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's (DME) medium containing 10% fetal calf serum. Before the cells reached confluence, the medium was changed to DME containing 10% lipoprotein-deficient serum. After incubation for 48–72 hours, the drugs under investigation were added to the medium. The cells were incubated for 14 hours and harvested after washing with phosphate buffered saline. In our study, ketanserin decreased HMG CoA reductase activity in a dose-dependent manner up to 300 ng/ml (550 nM). Prazosin also decreased HMG CoA reductase activity in a dose-dependent manner up to 40 ng/ml (95 nM); ritanserin decreased HMG CoA reductase activity at concentrations of 100 nM and 200 nM. These findings suggest that the combination of alpha₁-adrenergic receptor and 5HT₂ serotenergic receptor antagonist effects of ketanserin inhibits HMG CoA reductase activity and that this suppression is probably one of the mechanisms for the plasma LDL cholesterol reduction resulting from ketanserin treatment.     

In vivo modulation of rat liver 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase, reductase kinase, and reductase kinase kinase by mevalonolactone.

It has been previously demonstrated that the enzymic activity of rat liver 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase (HMG-CoA reductase; EC 1.1.1.34) is modulated in vitro and in vivo by a bicyclic cascade system involving reversible phosphorylation of HMG-CoA reductase and reductase kinase. In the present study, administration of mevalonolactone to rats caused a rapid inhibition of HMG-CoA reductase activity. The initial short-term (20-min) reversible inhibition (38%) of enzyme activity was due to increased phosphorylation of HMG-CoA reductase. The inhibition of HMG-CoA reductase activity by increased phosphorylation was associated with an increased activity and phosphorylation (2- to 3-fold) of reductase kinase. The increased phosphorylation of reductase kinase was catalyzed by reductase kinase kinase, which was significantly elevated (3- to 4-fold) after the administration of mevalonolactone to rats. The mechanism for the in vivo activation of reductase kinase kinase is as yet unknown. Mevalonolactone administration was also associated with a significant inhibition of phosphoprotein phosphatase activity, which dephosphorylates both HMG-CoA reductase (activation) and reductase kinase (inactivation). These results indicate that mevalonolactone administration to rats in vivo was associated with an inhibition of HMG-CoA reductase activity by two mechanisms: (i) an increase in the degree of phosphorylation of both HMG-CoA reductase and reductase kinase due to increased activity of reductase kinase kinase; (ii) a decrease in the dephosphorylation of both HMG-CoA reductase and reductase kinase secondary to inhibition of phosphoprotein phosphatase activity. These combined effects favor an increase in the steady-state level of the phosphorylated forms of both HMG-CoA reductase and reductase kinase, resulting in a net reduction in the enzymic activity of HMG-CoA reductase and mevalonate formation. These results demonstrate that the activity of reductase kinase kinase is modulated in vivo, providing a mechanism for the regulation of the activities of both reductase kinase and HMG-CoA reductase.     

Isoprenoid biosynthesis is required for miRNA function and affects membrane association of ARGONAUTE 1 in Arabidopsis

Plant and metazoan microRNAs (miRNAs) guide ARGONAUTE (AGO) protein complexes to regulate expression of complementary RNAs via base pairing. In the plant Arabidopsis thaliana, the main miRNA effector is AGO1, but few other factors required for miRNA activity are known. Here, we isolate the genes defined by the previously described miRNA action deficient (mad) mutants, mad3 and mad4. Both genes encode enzymes involved in isoprenoid biosynthesis. MAD3 encodes 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl CoA reductase (HMG1), which functions in the initial C(5) building block biogenesis that precedes isoprenoid metabolism. HMG1 is a key regulatory enzyme that controls the amounts of isoprenoid end products. MAD4 encodes sterol C-8 isomerase (HYDRA1) that acts downstream in dedicated sterol biosynthesis. Using yeast complementation assays and in planta application of lovastatin, a competitive inhibitor of HMG1, we show that defects in HMG1 catalytic activity are sufficient to inhibit miRNA activity. Many isoprenoid derivatives are indispensable structural and signaling components, and especially sterols are essential membrane constituents. Accordingly, we provide evidence that AGO1 is a peripheral membrane protein. Moreover, specific hypomorphic mutant alleles of AGO1 display compromised membrane association and AGO1-membrane interaction is reduced upon knockdown of HMG1/MAD3. These results suggest a possible basis for the requirement of isoprenoid biosynthesis for the activity of plant miRNAs, and unravel mechanistic features shared with their metazoan counterparts.     

3-Hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase: regulation of enzymatic activity by phosphorylation and dephosphorylation.

The activity of microsomal 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase (HMG-CoA reductase) [mevalonate:NADP+ oxidoreductase (CoA-acylating); EC 1.1.1.34] was inhibited by ATP+Mg2+. Inactivation of HMG-CoA reductase by ATP+Mg2+ was dependent on time, temperature, and ATP concentration. Incubation of microsomal HMG-CoA reductase with [gamma-32P]ATP+Mg2+ was associated with a reciprocal increase in [32P]protein-bound radioactivity and a decrease in enzymatic activity. Incubation of 32P-labeled microsomal HMG-CoA reductase with a partially purified cytosolic phosphatase resulted in a time-dependent reciprocal release of [32P]protein-bound radioactivity and reactivation of enzyme activity. Phosphorylation of HMG-CoA reductase was confirmed by immunoprecipitation of partially purified [gamma-32P]-ATP+Mg2+-inactivated microsomal HMG-CoA reductase with a reductase-specific antiserum. Sodium dodecyl sulfate electrophoresis of the [gamma-32P]immunoprecipitate revealed that the 32P radioactivity was located in the electrophoretic position of HMG-CoA reductase. These results established that the reversible inactivation of HMG-CoA reductase by ATP+Mg2+ was due to covalent modification of the enzyme by a phosphorylation-dephosphorylation reaction sequence. The existence of HMG-CoA reductase in interconvertible active and inactive forms provides a mechanism for the rapid short-term regulation of the pathway for cholesterol biosynthesis.