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Diversity of sterol biosynthetic capacity in the caryophyllidae
Author(s) -
Salt Thomas A.,
Xu Sihua,
Patterson Glenn W.,
Adler John H.
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
lipids
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.601
H-Index - 120
eISSN - 1558-9307
pISSN - 0024-4201
DOI - 10.1007/bf02536424
Subject(s) - sterol , biology , taxon , plant sterols , botany , subclass , biochemistry , cholesterol , genetics , antibody
The order Caryophyllales, along with its two associated orders, the Polygonales and Plumbaginales, comprise the angiosperm subclass Caryophyllidae. We have now characterized the sterol compositon of 231 members of this subclass. This includes 210 species and 21 cultivars in 108 genera within the 14 families of these three orders. From these data, clear differences in biosynthetic capability and putative relationships between taxa have been established. Members of the two monofamilial orders (Polygonales and Plumbaginales) contain Δ 5 ‐sterols in ratios typical of “main line” angiosperms. Members of families in the Caryophyllales contain Δ 5 ‐sterols, or Δ 7 ‐sterols or mixtures of Δ 5 ‐ and Δ 7 ‐sterols. In the majority of species where Δ 7 ‐sterols are the dominant sterols produced, trace amounts to almost equal amounts of Δ 5 ‐sterols are also present. Replicate samples of many of these species have shown that the ratio of Δ 5 ‐sterols to Δ 7 ‐sterols in these species is stable over time and/or location. From these data, it appears that the conversion of Δ 7 ‐sterols to Δ 5 ‐sterols is highly regulated in the majority of species within this order. In these families, similarities in sterol composition correlate well with taxonomic relatedness. Relationships between these taxa with respect to biosynthetic capability can now be postulated.