Enzymatic conversion of 5α‐cholesta‐7,14‐dien‐3β‐ol to 5α‐cholesta‐8,14‐dien‐3β‐ol

Abstract
5α-Cholesta-7,14-dien-3β-ol, previously shown to be efficiently converted to cholesterol upon incubation with rat liver homogenate preparations under aerobic conditions, has been studied as to its possible conversion to 5α-cholesta-8,14-dien-3β-ol. Efficient conversion was observed upon incubation in the presence of washed microsomes of rat liver under anaerobic conditions. This observation is of importance in consideration of possible metabolic pathways in the biosynthesis of cholesterol.