Farnesol-induced cell death and stimulation of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase activity in tobacco cv bright yellow-2 cells.
Growth inhibition of tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L. cv Bright Yellow-2) cells by mevinolin, a specific inhibitor of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase (HMGR) could be partially overcome by the addition of farnesol. However, farnesol alone inhibited cell division and growth as measured by determination of fresh weight increase. When 7-d-old tobacco cv Bright Yellow-2 cells were diluted 40-fold into fresh culture, the cells exhibited a dose-dependent sensitivity to farnesol, with 25 microM sufficient to cause 100% cell death, as measured by different staining techniques, cytometry, and monitoring of fragmentation of genomic DNA. Cells were less sensitive to the effects of farnesol when diluted only 4-fold. Farnesol was absorbed by the cells, as examined by [1-(3)H]farnesol uptake, with a greater relative enrichment by the more diluted cells. Both mevinolin and farnesol treatments stimulated apparent HMGR activity. The stimulation by farnesol was also reflected in corresponding changes in the steady-state levels of HMGR mRNA and enzyme protein with respect to HMGR gene expression and enzyme protein accumulation.
Hemmerlin
A
A
Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Institut de Biologie Moléculaire des Plantes, Département Isoprénoïdes, Institut de Botanique, Université Louis Pasteur, 28 rue Goethe, F-67083 Strasbourg, France.
Bach
T J
TJ
D015152:Blotting, Northern; D015153:Blotting, Western; D016923:Cell Death; D002455:Cell Division; D048429:Cell Size; D053938:DNA Fragmentation; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D005204:Farnesol / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006903:Hydroxymethylglutaryl CoA Reductases / Q000378:metabolism*; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D008148:Lovastatin / Q000494:pharmacology; D010947:Plants, Toxic; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D014026:Nicotiana / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology / Q000502:physiology*
D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D005204:Farnesol; D008148:Lovastatin; D006903:Hydroxymethylglutaryl CoA Reductases