Open AccessIdentification of a sterol mutant of Neurospora crassa deficient in A14,15-reductase activity
Author(s) -
S. W. Ellis,
Malcolm E. Rose,
M. Grindle
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
journal of general microbiology/journal of general microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2059-9323
pISSN - 0022-1287
DOI - 10.1099/00221287-137-11-2627
Subject(s) - neurospora crassa , ergosterol , sterol , mutant , nystatin , biochemistry , reductase , biology , mycelium , natamycin , polyene , neurospora , wild type , chemistry , microbiology and biotechnology , enzyme , gene , antibiotics , botany , cholesterol , food science
A mutant (erg-3) of Neurospora crassa resistant to the polyene antibiotic nystatin was compared with its sensitive, wild-type parent to detect differences in sterol composition using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The major sterol in wild-type mycelia, comprising 80% of the total, was ergosterol. The major sterols in mutant mycelia, comprising 86% of the total, were delta 8,14-sterols. It is proposed that the nystatin-resistant strain is unable to synthesize ergosterol because it lacks delta 14,15-reductase activity as a result of a mutation in the erg-3 gene.