title: Cloning, expression and characterisation of the cDNA encoding human hepatic squalene synthase, and its relationship to phytoene synthase.
abstract: The reaction catalysed by squalene synthase (SQS) shows many similarities to that performed by another polyisoprene synthase, phytoene synthase (PhS). By identifying sequences conserved between yeast SQS (ySQS) and PhS, we have cloned a 2-kb cDNA (hSQS) encoding human SQS, a protein of 417 amino acids with a predicted M(r) of 48,041, which has only limited homology to ySQS. When expressed in E. coli, the hSQS cDNA directed the production of active enzyme. Two hSQS mRNA species of 2.0 and 1.55 kb have been identified which differ in their 3' untranslated sequences. The two mRNAs are present in roughly equal amounts in heart, placenta, lung, liver, kidney and pancreas, but the 2-kb mRNA predominates in brain and skeletal muscle. In HepG2 cells, both mRNAs are induced 2-4-fold by the 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase inhibitor, lovastatin. In contrast, Northern blot analysis of rat tissues reveals only a 2.0-kb mRNA, which is considerably up-regulated in vivo by lovastatin.
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Department, ZENECA Pharmaceuticals, Macclesfield, Cheshire, UK.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Summers
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Karst
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Charles
mesh_terms: D019883:Alkyl and Aryl Transferases; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002460:Cell Line; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D004926:Escherichia coli; D013186:Farnesyl-Diphosphate Farnesyltransferase / Q000235:genetics*; D051232:Geranylgeranyl-Diphosphate Geranylgeranyltransferase; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000201:enzymology*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D051381:Rats; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014166:Transferases / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D018076:DNA, Complementary; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014166:Transferases; D019883:Alkyl and Aryl Transferases; D013186:Farnesyl-Diphosphate Farnesyltransferase; D051232:Geranylgeranyl-Diphosphate Geranylgeranyltransferase