Squalene metabolism in two species of Lagenidium.

Squalene metabolism of the sterol auxotroph Lagenidium giganteum was studied and compared with that of the positive control Lagenidium callinectes. Application of experimentally derived precautions ensured both the stability and the purity of squalene during incubations. Under these conditions mycelia of L. giganteum converted squalene to squalene oxide and to a sterol-like compound. Cell-free and microsomal preparations also converted squalene to the oxide, which was identified by thin layer chromatography with five different solvent systems, by co-chromatography with authentic oxide, and by conversion to the glycol. Supporting evidence for the production of squalene oxide was obtained by gas-liquid chromatography, high performance liquid chromatography, and autoradiography. The squalene oxide produced was identified by mass spectrometry.