Premium
Inhibition of cholesterol synthesis by cyclopropylamine derivatives of squalene in human hepatoblastoma cells in culture
Author(s) -
Van Sickle W. A.,
Angelastro M. R.,
Wilson P.,
Cooper J. R.,
Marquart A.,
Flanagan M. A.
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
lipids
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.601
H-Index - 120
eISSN - 1558-9307
pISSN - 0024-4201
DOI - 10.1007/bf02536171
Subject(s) - squalene , lanosterol , chemistry , squalene monooxygenase , biochemistry , stereochemistry , microsome , cholesterol , enzyme , biosynthesis , sterol
Two squalene derivatives, trisnorsqualene cyclopropylamine and trisnorsqualene N ‐methylcyclopropylamine, were synthesized and tested for inhibition of lanosterol and squalene epoxide formation from squalene in rat hepatic microsomes, and for the inhibition of cholesterol syntheses in human cultured hepatoblastoma (HepG2) cells. Trisnorsqualene cyclopropylamine inhibited [ 3 H]‐squalene conversion to [ 3 H]squalene epoxide in microsomes (IC 50 =5.0 μM), indicating that this derivative inhibited squalene mono‐oxygenase. Trisnorsqualene n ‐methylcyclopropylamine inhibited [ 3 H]squalene conversion to [ 3 H]lanosterol (IC 50 =12.0 μM) and caused [ 3 H]‐squalene epoxide to accumulate in microsomes, indicating that this derivative inhibited 2,3‐oxidosqualene cyclase. Cholesterol biosynthesis from [ 14 C]acetate in HepG2 cells was inhibited by both derivatives (IC 50 =1.0 μM for trisnorsqualene cyclopropylamine; IC 50 =0.5 μM for trisnorsqualene N ‐methylcyclopropylamine). Cells incubated with trisnorsqualene cyclopropylamine accumulated [ 14 C]squalene, while cells incubated with trisnorsqualene N ‐methylcyclopropylamine accumulated [ 14 C]squalene epoxide and [ 14 C]squalene diepoxide. The concentration range of inhibitor which caused these intermediates to accumulate coincided with that which inhibited cholesterol synthesis. The results indicate that cyclopropylamine derivatives of squalene are effective inhibitors of cholesterol synthesis, and that substitutions at the nitrogen affect enzyme selectivity and thus the mechanism of action of the compounds.