Properties of mevalonate-activating enzymes in developing chick brain.

Phosphorylation of mevalonic acid has been studied in 1-3 day chicks. Addition of Mg2+ or Mn2+ strongly increased the formation of phosphorylated derivatives. Mevalonate phosphorylation showed an absolute nucleotide requirement, being ATP and ITP the most effective phosphate donors. Unlike other vertebrate mevalonate kinases, the enzyme from chick brain did not require thiol group protectors as activators. However, the enzyme was found to be sensitive to thiol binding reagents.