Open AccessSterol Biosynthesis in Euglena gracilis Z.
Author(s) -
Anding Claude,
Brandt Roger D.,
Ourisson Guy
Publication year - 1971
Publication title -
european journal of biochemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1432-1033
pISSN - 0014-2956
DOI - 10.1111/j.1432-1033.1971.tb19679.x
Subject(s) - euglena gracilis , squalene , cycloartenol , sterol , lanosterol , euglena , methylene , chemistry , chromatography , terpene , thin layer chromatography , stereochemistry , biochemistry , organic chemistry , cholesterol , chloroplast , gene
Squalene, squalene‐2,3‐oxide, triterpenes and 4α‐methylsterols of Euglena gracilis Z. have been characterised by thin‐layer chromatography, gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. Their distribution in dark‐grown and light‐grown Euglena cells is quantitatively and qualitatively different, reflecting differences in the sterol compositions. However the sterol precursor is found to be in each case cycloartenol, whereas lanosterol is not detected. A new 4α‐methylsterol is isolated and the structure of 4α‐24‐dimethyl‐5α‐cholesta‐8(9)‐en‐3ß‐ol proposed. 24‐Methylene lanostenol is formed in light‐grown Euglena. None of the compounds described have been found in water‐soluble fractions nor in the form of fatty‐acid esters. The following compounds have also been isolated: 24‐methylene cycloartanol, 24‐methylene agnostenol (?), ß‐amyrin, obtusifoliol, 24‐methylene lophenol and 4α‐methylzymosterol.