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Physiology and Biochemistry

Differences in the Sterol Synthesizing Pathways of Sterol-Producing and Non-Sterol-Producing Fungi. David Gottlieb, Department of Plant Pathology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801; Raymond J. Knaus(2), and Susanne G. Wood(3). (2)(3)Department of Plant Pathology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801. Phytopathology 68:1168-1169. Accepted for publication 27 February 1978. Copyright © 1978 The American Phytopathological Society, 3340 Pilot Knob Road, St. Paul, MN 55121. All rights reserved.. DOI: 10.1094/Phyto-68-1168.

The mycelia of several sterol-producing and non-sterol-producing fungi were analyzed for the presence of squalene, squalene epoxide, lanosterol, and ergosterol. The sterol-producing fungi contained all four compounds, whereas only squalene was detected in the non-sterol-producing fungi. The block in the synthesis of ergosterol by the latter organisms is presumed to occur at the stage at which squalene is usually oxidized to squalene epoxide.