title: Effects of hypocholesterolaemic agents on the expression and activity of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase in the fat body of the German cockroach.
abstract: In the fat body of adult Blattella germanica females, the expression of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase (HMG-CoA reductase) during the first reproductive cycle is parallel to that of vitellogenin, suggesting a functional link between the mevalonate pathway, and vitellogenesis and reproduction. We have studied the effects of compactin and fluvastatin, two inhibitors of HMG-CoA reductase, on the expression and activity of the enzyme in the fat body, and on the ootheca formation, ootheca viability, and number of larvae per viable ootheca. Short-term assays showed that both compounds reduce the protein levels and enzymatic activity of HMG-CoA reductase, and long-term experiments revealed that fluvastatin impairs embryo development.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Molecular Biodiversity, Institut de Biologia Molecular de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zapata
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Martín
authors.forename: Maria-Dolors
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Piulachs
authors.forename: Xavier
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Bellés
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D003058:Cockroaches / Q000201:enzymology*; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development / Q000187:drug effects; D005216:Fat Body / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology*; D005229:Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D000077340:Fluvastatin; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic; D006903:Hydroxymethylglutaryl CoA Reductases / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007211:Indoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D008148:Lovastatin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D012313:RNA / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014819:Vitellogenins / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis
chemical_list: D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D005229:Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D007211:Indoles; D014819:Vitellogenins; C012258:mevastatin; D000077340:Fluvastatin; D012313:RNA; D008148:Lovastatin; D006903:Hydroxymethylglutaryl CoA Reductases