The effect of the 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl CoA reductase inhibitor ML-236b on phytosterol synthesis in Acer pseudoplatanus tissue culture.

Sycamore cell cultures were incubated with various labelled sterol precursors. ML-236B, a fungal metabolite, caused virtually total inhibition of acetate or leucine incorporation into sterols, while mevalonate incorporation was unaffected. Sterol synthesis from endogenous precursors, measured by incorporation of [Me-14C] methionine into the side chain, continued at a reduced rate for at least 6 h after addition of the inhibitor.