Effect of cholesterol on phospholipid, RNA, and protein synthesis in Mycoplasma capricolum
Dahl, J.S.; Dahl, C.E.
Israel Journal of Medical Sciences 20(9): 807-811
1984
ISSN/ISBN: 0021-2180 PMID: 6210267 Document Number: 236039
The regulatory role of cholesterol on phospholipid, RNA and protein synthesis was investigated in Mycoplasma capricolum. The addition of 2 micrograms/ml of cholesterol to cells growing slowly on lanosterol (10 micrograms/ml) caused an early stimulation of unsaturated phospholipid synthesis followed by a later stimulation of RNA and protein synthesis. Epicoprostanol, a cholesterol antagonist, sequentially inhibited these three processes. Phospholipid served as the acyl donor for the acylation of membrane proteins. Membrane-bound cholesterol correlated with a decrease in the amount of [3H]amino acids and an increase in the amount of [3H]oleate found in two membrane proteins (MW 78 kDa and 26 kDa). Taken together, the results suggest that a small amount of membrane-associated cholesterol serves as a signal for membrane biogenesis and, in turn, macromolecular synthesis and cell growth.