Commercial synthetic substrates, inhibition

Inhibition of Commercial Synthetic Substrates with Salts from Ferulic and j3-Fluoroferulic Acids. Table I summarizes the results obtained on stem sections incubated in a medium containing one of the usual commercial substrates and a salt of ferulic or / -fluoroferulic acid. Three types of interactions could be observed ... 

C24H36O5, Mr 404.55, cryst., mp. 174°C, [a] +323° (CH3CN), a polyketide. M. is a potent inhibitor (K,= 1 nM) of HMG-CoA-reductase, the key enzyme in the biosynthesis of higher terpenes and steroids such as, e. g., cholesterol. It is produced by Aspergillus terreus and various Monascus species. Thus, e. g., the plasma cholesterol concentration (a major risk factor for the occurrence of arteriosclerosis) decreases by ca. 50% in patients under medication with M. In the terpene metabolism HMG-CoA-reductase reduces 3-hydroxy-3-methy Iglutary 1-CoA to mevalonate. M. mimics the substrate and thus leads to inhibition of the enzyme. M. is commercially available under the tradename Meva-cor . M. was the lead structure for numerous synthetic HMG-CoA-reductase inhibitors that are now available or are being developed (Atorvastatin, Cerivastatin, Fluvastatin, Pravastatin, Simvastatin). In these derivatives the hexahydronaphthalene structure is replaced by heterocylic ring systems, see also compactin. 

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