Lanosterol

About: Lanosterol is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 1239 publications have been published within this topic receiving 36737 citations. The topic is also known as: (3β)-lanosta-8,24-dien-3-ol & (3β,20R)-lanosta-8,24-dien-3-ol.

Stereochemistry of sterol biosynthesis: interrelationship of the terminal methyl groups in squalene, the C-1,1′ methyls in squalene 2,3-oxide, and the C-30,31 methyls in lanosterol

Abstract: The trans-terminal methyls of squalene derive from C-2 of mevalonic acid, and the conversion of squalene in turn into squalene 2,3-oxide and lanosterol occurs without interchange of isopropylidene methyls, so that C-2 of mevalonic acid provides the 4α-methyl group of lanosterol.

Sterols of Selected Species of Oomycetes and Hyphochytridiomycetes

Abstract: The sterols often species of Oomycetes and two ofHyphochytridiomycetes were analyzed following normal growth. Some of the fungi were also grown on a lanosterol or cycloartenol supplement. The sterol content of most species examined was similar to those found by other investigators, except that sterols of the ergostane series were also observed. A new sterol was detected in one species. In general, the organisms showed a preference for cycloartenol rather than lanosterol utilization. This preference is discussed as a potential tool for delineation of phylogenetic relationships. Lagenidium giganteum Couch, a parasite of mosquito larvae, is unable to synthesize sterols because it cannot incorporate sterol precursors prior to mevalonic acid. Investigations of the sterol deficiency of this mosquito pathogen established a preference for cycloartenol rather than lanosterol utilization (Warner and Domnas, 1981). Similarly, members of the Peronosporales, which are unable to produce sterols because they cannot synthesize 2,3 oxidosqualene (Wood and Gottlieb, 1978), showed a preference for cycloartenol, although they could also metabolize lanosterol (Warner, Eierman et al., 1982). The metabolism of cycloartenol, lanosterol, and fucosterol resulted in production of cholesterol in the Peronosporales, with ergost-5-enol, ergost-7-enol, desmosterol, and cholestanol also present. Because of these findings, it was of interest to study several other representative members of the Oomycetes and Hyphochytridiomycetes to determine if a pattern for cycloartenol- over a lanosterol-based metabolism existed. A hint of this probability was first noted by Bu'Lock and Osagie (1976), when they reported transformation of radiolabelled cycloartenol to other sterols in Saprolegniaferax (Gruith.) Thuret. This report presents the results of our investigations of the sterols present in twelve species of oomycete and hyphochytridiomycete fungi, as well as the nature of sterol composition following cycloartenol and/or lanosterol administration.