Lozano R, Salt T A, Chitwood D J, Lusby W R, Thompson M J
Lipids. 1987 Feb;22(2):84-7. doi: 10.1007/BF02534858.
The metabolism of three dietary 4,4-desmethylsterols and two 4 alpha-methylsterols was investigated in the free-living nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. Dietary cholestanol was converted mostly to lathosterol. Dietary lathosterol, 7-dehydrocholesterol, 4 alpha-methylcholest-7-enol and 4 alpha-methylcholest-8(14)-enol each remained largely unchanged. An absolute requirement for a substantial quantity of 7-dehydrocholesterol in C. elegans did not exist. C. elegans was unable to remove a 4 alpha-methyl group or introduce a double bond at C-5 and also demonstrated the lack of a delta 7-reductase. Its nutritional sterol requirement was satisfied by cholestanol, lathosterol or 7-dehydrocholesterol; growth was comparable to that obtained previously in media containing delta 5-sterols. However, the two 4 alpha-methylsterols appeared to be unsatisfactory sterol nutrients. The possible physiological importance of 4 alpha-methylsterols is discussed briefly.
在自由生活的线虫秀丽隐杆线虫中研究了三种膳食4,4-去甲基甾醇和两种4α-甲基甾醇的代谢。膳食胆固醇大部分转化为羊毛甾醇。膳食羊毛甾醇、7-脱氢胆固醇、4α-甲基胆甾-7-烯醇和4α-甲基胆甾-8(14)-烯醇各自基本保持不变。秀丽隐杆线虫对大量7-脱氢胆固醇不存在绝对需求。秀丽隐杆线虫无法去除4α-甲基或在C-5处引入双键，并且还表明缺乏δ7-还原酶。其营养甾醇需求可通过胆固醇、羊毛甾醇或7-脱氢胆固醇满足；生长情况与先前在含有δ5-甾醇的培养基中获得的生长情况相当。然而，这两种4α-甲基甾醇似乎是不理想的甾醇营养物。简要讨论了4α-甲基甾醇可能的生理重要性。
