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. 2005 Mar;1(3):179-89.
doi: 10.1016/j.cmet.2005.01.001.

Insig-mediated degradation of HMG CoA reductase stimulated by lanosterol, an intermediate in the synthesis of cholesterol

Bao-Liang Song  1 , Norman B Javitt, Russell A DeBose-Boyd
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Free article

Insig-mediated degradation of HMG CoA reductase stimulated by lanosterol, an intermediate in the synthesis of cholesterol

Bao-Liang Song et al. Cell Metab. 2005 Mar.
Free article

Abstract

Feedback control of cholesterol synthesis is mediated in part by sterol-induced binding of HMG CoA reductase to Insig proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Binding leads to ubiquitination and proteasomal degradation of reductase, a rate-controlling enzyme in cholesterol synthesis. Using in vitro and in vivo assays, we show that lanosterol, the first sterol intermediate in cholesterol synthesis, potently stimulates ubiquitination of reductase, whereas cholesterol has no effect at 10-fold higher concentrations. Lanosterol is not effective in mediating the other action of Insigs, namely to promote ER retention of SCAP-SREBP complexes, a reaction that is mediated directly by cholesterol. A pair of methyl groups located in the C4 position of lanosterol confers this differential response. These data indicate that buildup of cholesterol synthesis intermediates represses the pathway selectively at reductase and reveal a previously unappreciated link between feedback inhibition of reductase and carbon flow through the cholesterol synthetic pathway.

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