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Isolation of Ergosterol from Euglena gracilis ; Distribution Among Mutant Strains *
Author(s) -
STERN ARTHUR I.,
SCHIFF JEROME A.,
KLEIN HAROLD P.
Publication year - 1960
Publication title -
the journal of protozoology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.067
H-Index - 77
eISSN - 1550-7408
pISSN - 0022-3921
DOI - 10.1111/j.1550-7408.1960.tb00707.x
Subject(s) - ergosterol , sterol , chromatography , chemistry , petroleum ether , ether , ergocalciferol , euglena gracilis , saponification , ethyl acetate , biochemistry , organic chemistry , extraction (chemistry) , vitamin , cholesterol , cholecalciferol , chloroplast , gene
SYNOPSIS. Ergosterol was isolated from the non‐saponifiable lipids of Euglena. For this, after saponification of the cells, the petroleum‐ether extract was chromatographed on deactivated alumina. Development was achieved by pet. ether and 10% (v/v) benzene in pet. ether, and the sterol fraction was subsequently eluted with 10% (v/v) ethyl acetate in pet. ether. This sterol was identified as ergosterol by a) precipitation with digitonin, b) The Liebermann‐Burchard reaction, c) co‐chromatography with known ergosterol, d) ultraviolet absorption spectrum, e) conversion to the acetate with determination of the melting and mixed melting points and !” infra‐red absorption spectrum of the acetate derivative. By these techniques, ergosterol content was measured in the‐following strains of Euglena gracilis under various conditions of nutrition and illumination: bacillaris and Z strains, and several albino and pigment mutants derived from them. A. functional chloroplast seems unnecessary for ergosterol synthesis; the ergosterol content of cells (dry weight basis) was constant regardless of strain and growth conditions.