[The role of vitamin E in the biosynthesis of the isoprenoid region of the ubiquinone molecule in the rat liver].

A decrease in the CoA and acetyl-CoA amount in the rat liver tissue by 34.8 and 29.4%, respectively, as well as inhibition of the biosynthesis rate of mevalonic acid from [I-14C] acetyl-CoA in the postmitochondrial liver fraction by 17.9% as compared to the control are found against a background of E-hypovitaminosis. The last change is not associated with the inhibition of the 3-oxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA-reductase activity and may not be one of reasons which cause the biosynthesis disturbances in the isoprenoid part of the ubiquinone molecule in this organ. alpha-Tocopherol activates the ubiquinone biosynthesis from [2-14C] sodium acetate in the liver of rats with E-hypovitaminosis under conditions of 30 min preincubation and is not efficient when added in combination with actinomycin D. Probably, such an effect of alpha-tocopherol is realized at the level of RNA synthesis and is associated with the biosynthesis activation of short-living RNA.