Inhibition of Steryl Glycoside Biosynthesis by Acyl Coenzyme A and by Digitonin

ATP, GTP, CoA, Mg(2+), and Mn(2+) did not inhibit biosynthesis of steryl glycoside and acylated steryl glycoside when added singly to enzyme preparations from spinach leaves. The combination of ATP (but not GTP), CoA, and Mg(2+) or Mn(2+) caused marked inhibition, especially of steryl glycoside biosynthesis, when reaction mixture concentrations of the additions were 0.2 millimolar. Inhibition was attributed to acyl-CoA and could be reproduced by palmitoyl-CoA. The inhibition could be partially prevented by bovine serum albumin. The effects of palmitoyl-CoA were distinct at 10 micromolar, and 50% inhibition of biosynthesis was observed at 40 micromolar.Digitonin (0.6 millimolar) stopped steryl glycoside biosynthesis but permitted the conversion of steryl glycoside to acylated steryl glycoside, thus eliminating the possibility that acylated steryl glycoside is formed from sterol + an acyl-glucose donor.