Differential inhibition of rat liver cholesterol biosynthesis by plant growth retardants.

Abstract

To investigate the action of plant growth retardants more precisely, cell-free rat liver preparations have been used as models of plant systems1. At least some of the retardants inhibited the enzymes of the isoprenoid biosynthesizing pathway by which radioactive acetate and mevalonate are incorporated into cholesterol. Inhibition of the isoprenoid biosynthetic route2 that leads to the formation of gibberellins3 thus seemed to be one of the main effects of applying the retardants to plants4. I have expanded the earlier results and here summarize the effects of five plant growth retardants.