[Studies on the regulatory factors of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl CoA reductase (HMG CoA reductase) activity].

HMG CoA reductase, which catalyzes the reaction, HMG CoA + 2 NADAPH2 leads to mevalonate + CoA-SH + 2 NADP, is considered to be the rate-limiting enzyme on cholesterol biosynthetic pathway. Since a degree in activity of this enzyme is almost proportional to the rate of cholesterol synthesis from acetate, elucidation of factors that regulate reductase activity would provide insight into the control mechanisms on the cholesterol biosynthesis. In the present study, attempts were made to establish standard assay conditions of HMG CoA reductase activiy, and to qualify the factors affecting the activity of the enzyme. The results obtained were as follows: (1) As standard assay conditions of HMG CoA reductase activity, 85, muM were chosen for substrate concentration, 25-80 mug for microsomal enzyme protein, and 20 min for incubation time in a final volume of 0.1 ml. (2) HMG CoA reductase activity of rat liver microsomes was exhibited diurnal variation. The level of reductase activity at night was 4 fold higher than that of at daytime. (3) Either ATP or insulin administration stimulated hepatic HMG CoA reductase activity. But, cyclic AMP had no effect on reductase activity. The stimulatory effect of ATP or insulin on reductase activity was inhibited by a preadministration of glucagon. These results suggested that an interplay of hormone might regulate reductase activity and consequently cholesterol biosynthesis. (4) HMG CoA reductase activity was increased by preincubation of microsomes with cytosol. Presence of ATP or Mg++ intensified this effect. When digested by trypsin or degenerated by heat treatment, cytosol lost the stimulating activity. These results suggested as existence of protein factors in cytosol, which might modulate the enzyme interconversion from inactive to active forms.