PRENYLATED PROTEINS IN REGENERATING RAT-LIVER

During rat liver regeneration, at the onset of S-phase of the first ce ll cycle, an enhanced mevalonate incorporation into prenylated protein s is observed. The analysis of the lipid moieties of such proteins sho ws a 20-fold increased content of geraniol and farnesol. The expected increase of farnesylated and geranylgeranylated proteins in pre-S phas e is confirmed by an increased level of lamin A,B,C and of several GTP -binding proteins. These results suggest a relevance of both farnesyla tion and geranylgeranylation in this phase of the cell cycle. 1994 Aca demic Press, Inc.