Sterol biosynthesis by the sea urchin Echinus esculentus

Abstract
1. The 4-demethyl sterols of Echinus esculentus consisted of cholesterol as the major component, with lower concentrations of nine other C26, C27, C28 and C29 Δ5sterols. 2. [2-14C]Mevalonic acid was readily incorporated by the urchin into squalene, lanosterol and desmosterol but only to a small extent into cholesterol. 3. [26-14C]Desmosterol did not appear to be reduced to give cholesterol, but conversion of 5α-[2-3H2]lanost-8-en-3β-ol into cholesterol was observed. 4. No C-24 dealkylation of [4-14C]sitosterol or metabolism of [4-14C]cholesterol could be detected.

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