The effects of the hypocholesteremic compound 3β‐(β‐dimethylaminoethoxy)‐androst‐5‐en‐17‐one on the sterol and steryl ester composition of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

When yeast was grown in the presence of 10 −4 M 3β‐(β‐dimethylaminoethoxy)‐androst‐5‐en‐17‐one (DMAE‐DHA), the compound 2,3;22,23‐dioxidosqualene (DOS) accumulated. Total free sterol was reduced by about 30%, whereas almost no steryl esters were found. The same drug at lower concentration (3×10 −6 M) caused a slight increase in steryl ester production, and a 24% reduction in free sterol content. The marked accumulation of ergostra‐5,7,22,24(28)‐tetraen‐3β‐ol with 3×10 −6 M DMAE‐DHA indicated that the C 24–28 reductase is especially sensitive to the action of the drug.