title: Effects of lovastatin on adenylyl cyclase activity and G proteins in GH4C1 cells.
abstract: We studied the effect of lovastatin, a cholesterol lowering drug, on the basal state of G-proteins in GH4C1 cells. Our data show that the addition of lovastatin markedly decreased the amount of the alpha-subunits of the Gs and Gi-proteins in the plasma membrane. The decrease of alpha s was correlated with a decrease in adenylyl cyclase activity, and both effects were reverted by the presence of mevalonate. As the attachment of G protein subunits to the membrane is dependent on gamma-subunit prenylation, we assume that the mechanism through which lovastatin exerts its effects on G-proteins is the lack of mevalonate for the synthesis of prenyl residues. In conclusion, our data indicate that some of the effects of lovastatin are mediated through changes in the basal state of G-protein in the membrane and consequently on adenylyl cyclase activity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Alcalá Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chiloeches
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lasa
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Brihuega
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Montes
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Toro
mesh_terms: D000262:Adenylyl Cyclases / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D008148:Lovastatin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008798:Mevalonic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D017368:Protein Prenylation; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D008148:Lovastatin; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins; D000262:Adenylyl Cyclases; D008798:Mevalonic Acid