| Abstract: | Regulation of sterol synthesis was studied in Solanum species.A significant negative correlation was found between sterolcontent and rate of sterol synthesis from (1-14C) acetate inplant organs of Solanum nigrum and cell cultures of S. dulcamara.Exogenous cholesterol significantly inhibited the rate of sterolsynthesis from (14C) acetate in cell cultures of S. dulcamarawithout affecting synthesis from (3H) mevalonate. Exogenouscholesterol stimulated the rate of total lipid synthesis fromboth (14C) acetate and (3H) mevalonate. Thus, cholesterol inhibitedconversion of acetate to mevalonate; this is taken as evidenceof a negative feedback control on sterol synthesis. Key words: Feedback control, Phytosterol biosynthesis, Plant cell culture, Solanum species |
