Biochemical studies of the excitable membrane of Paramecium tetraurelia. VII. Sterols and other neutral lipids of cells and cilia.

The neutral lipid content of cells and cilia of Paramecium tetraurelia was determined as a function of growth stage and of growth medium composition. The major sterol(s) of deciliated cells and of cilia were the sterol provided in the growth medium (e.g., stigmasterol) and its 7-dehydro derivative. Body sterol esters and triglycerides accumulated during exponential cell growth and became depleted during stationary phase. Isolated cilia contained neither sterol esters nor triglycerides. The ratio of phospholipid to free sterol in cilia was constant (approximately 5:1) throughout exponential growth in axenic or bacterized medium, but the relative proportions of free sterol and 7-dehydrosterol varied with growth phase and with growth medium composition. Cholesterol did not support the growth of Paramecium, but was taken up rapidly into cells and cilia as the free sterol and its 7-dehydro derivative. The fatty acids of sterol esters and of triglycerides were similar to those of membrane phospholipids.