Detection of the ergosterol and episterol isomers lichesterol and fecosterol in nystatin-resistant mutants of Neurospora crassa

D. C. Morris, S. Safe, R. E. Subden

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

16 Scopus citations

Abstract

Wild-type Neurospora crassa is completely inhibited by 5 ppm nystatin. Ultraviolet-induced mutants have been isolated that grow in the presence of 60 ppm of the antibiotic. Gas-liquid chromatographic, mass spectroscopic, and nuclear magnetic resonance analyses showed the wild-type sterols to be ergosterol (ergosta-5,7,22-trien-3β-ol) and episterol (ergosta-7,24(28)-dien-3β-ol) in a 3:1 ratio. The mutants contained lichesterol (ergosta-5,8,22-trien-3β-ol) and fecosterol (ergosta-8,24(28)-dien-3β-ol) in a 2:1 ratio, differing from the wild type only in the position of the B-ring unsaturation. A deficiency of an ergosta-8,24 (28)-dien-3β-ol:ergosta-7,24(28)-dien-3β-ol isomerase is indicated.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)459-466
Number of pages8
JournalBiochemical Genetics
Volume12
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 1974

Keywords

  • lichesterol
  • mutants
  • Neurospora
  • nystatin
  • steroids

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics

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