The functional importance of structural features of ergosterol in yeast.

As an approach to the study of the relationship between the structure of sterols and their capacity to function in the lipid leaflet of membranes, various sterols were examined for their ability to support the growth of anaerobic Saccharomyces cerevisiae. A marked dependence on precise structural features was observed in growth-response and morphology. Of the chemical groups which distinguish ergosterol, the main sterol of S. cerevisiae, the hydroxyl group at C-3 was obligatory, and the other groups were found to be of the following relative importance: 24beta-methyl-delta22-grouping greater than 24beta-methyl group greater than delta5,7-diene system = delta5-bond approximately or equal to no double bond. Methyl groups at C-4 and C-14 were inconsistent with activity. Consequently, the data strongly suggest that the normal biosynthetic processes removal of methyl groups from the nucleus and introduction of one in the side chain are of functional significance. A double bond between C-17 and C-20 joining the steroidal side chain to the nucleus had no deleterious effect on the growth process but only if C-22 was trans-oriented to C-13. In the cis-case no growth at all proceeded. This means the natural sterol probably acts functionally in the form of its preferred conformer in which C-22 is to the right ("right-handed") in the usual view. Since the placing of a substituent (OH or CH3) in the molecule at C-20 in such a way that it appears on the front side in the right-handed conformer completely destroyed activity, the sterol apparently presents its front face to protein or phospholipid when complexing occurs.     

Substrate specificity of the biotransformation enzymes in a Nocardia erythropolis culture

Substrate specificity of biotransformation enzymes of culture Nocardia erythropolis was studied. Products of transformation of cholesterol and three sterols of microbial origin: ergosterol, ergosta-5,7-dien-3 beta-ol and ergosta-7,22-dien-3 beta-ol was identified with a help of thin-layer chromatography, UV spectrophotometry and mass-spectrometry. It was established, that delta 22-bond in the side chains of sterols and delta 7-bond slows and delta 5-bond makes impossible cleavage of side chains of sterols.     

Metabolism of delta24-sterols by yeast mutants blocked in removal of the C-14 methyl group.

We have investigated the metabolism of exogenously provided delta24-sterols by whole cell cultures of a polyene-resistant mutant (D10) of Candida albicans blocked at removal of the C-14 methyl group. Comparison of the relative efficiencies of transmethylation at C-24 of selected sterol substrates revealed the following substrate preferences of the Candida delta24-sterol methyltransferase (EC 2.1.1.41): zymosterol greater than 4alpha-methylzymosterol greater than 14alpha-methylzymosterol. Exogenous 4,4-dimethylzymosterol was not transmethylated by mutant D10. Incorporation of the 14C-labelled methyl group of S-adenosyl-L-[methyl-14C]methionine into the sterols of a D10 culture preloaded with zymosterol indicated that zymosterol was a better (40 X) substrate than endogenous lanosterolmfeeding zymosterol to D10 and a polyene-resistant strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae (Nys-P100) that was also blocked at removal of the C-14 methyl group gave 24-methyl sterols possessing delta22 and ring B unsaturation. Mutant D10 was able to produce ergosterol from zymosterol whereas Nys-P100 produced ergosta-7,22-dienol. When grown in the presence of 3 micrometer 25-aza-24,25-dihydrozymosterol, a known inhibitor of the delta24-sterol methyltransferase, Nys-P100 accumulated 14alpha-methylzymosterol, a minor metabolite in this mutant under normal growth conditions and hitherto unidentified as a yeast sterol.     

Sterol substrate specificity of acyl coenzyme A:cholesterol acyltransferase from the corn earworm, Heliothis zea

The enzymatic activity and sterol substrate specificity of acyl coenzyme A:cholesterol acyltransferase (ACAT) were measured in microsomes of cells from Heliothis zea. Under standard assay conditions, the specific enzymatic activity of ACAT was highest in the intestine followed by the fat body and ovary (380.7, 30.7, 8.3 pmol/min per mg, respectively). The structure of the exogenous sterol used in the ACAT assay affected its rate of esterification. The relative rates of esterification of analogs of cholesterol with various modifications of the side chain were: 24-H greater than 24 alpha-CH3 greater than delta 22 greater than delta 24 greater than 24 alpha-C2H5 greater than 24 beta-CH3, delta 22-24 beta-CH3 and delta 22-24 alpha-C2H5. The number and position of double bonds in the B-ring of the sterol nucleus greatly affected the rate of esterification of sterols by ACAT. The average relative rates of esterification of sterols with differences in their B-rings were: delta 7 much greater than delta 8 greater than delta 0 greater than delta 5 greater than delta 5.7. The presence of a 9,14-cyclopropane group and/or methyl groups at the C-4 and 14 positions prevented significant esterification of such sterols. The formation of cholesteryl and lathosteryl esters was partially inhibited in microsomes from the intestine, fat body, and ovary by the addition of the ACAT inhibitor, 3-(decyldimethylsilyl)-N-[2-(4-methylphenyl)-1-phenylethyl]prop anamide (Sandoz Compound 58-035).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Metabolism of a novel side chain modified Delta8(14)-15-ketosterol, a potential cholesterol lowering drug: 28-hydroxylation by CYP27A1

The synthetic inhibitors of sterol biosynthesis, 3beta-hydroxy-5alpha-cholest-8(14)-en-15-one and 3beta-hydroxy-24S-methyl-5alpha-cholesta-8(14),22-dien-15-one, are of interest as potential cholesterol lowering drugs. Rapid metabolism of synthetic 15-ketosterols may lead to a decrease, or loss, of their potency to affect lipid metabolism. 3beta-Hydroxy-5alpha-cholest-8(14)-en-15-one is reported to be rapidly side chain oxygenated by rat liver mitochondria. In an attempt to reduce this metabolism, the novel side chain modified 15-ketosterol 3beta-Hydroxy-24S-methyl-5alpha-cholesta-8(14),22-dien-15-one was synthesized. We have examined the metabolism by recombinant human CYP27A1 of this novel side chain modified 3beta-hydroxy-24S-methyl-5alpha-cholesta-8(14),22-dien-15-one and compared the rate of metabolism with that of the previously described 3beta-hydroxy-5alpha-cholest-8(14)-en-15-one. Both sterols were found to be efficiently metabolized by recombinant human CYP27A1. None of the two 15-ketosterols was significantly metabolized by microsomal 7alpha-hydroxylation. Interestingly, CYP27A1-mediated product formation was much lower with the side chain modified 3beta-hydroxy-24S-methyl-5alpha-cholesta-8(14),22-dien-15-one than with the previously described 3beta-hydroxy-5alpha-cholest-8(14)-en-15-one. A surprising finding was that this novel side chain modified sterol was metabolized mainly in the C-28 position by CYP27A1. The data on 28-hydroxylation by human CYP27A1 provide new insights on the catalytic properties and substrate specificity of this enzyme. The finding that 3beta-hydroxy-24S-methyl-5alpha-cholesta-8(14),22-dien-15-one with a modified side chain is metabolized at a dramatically slower rate than the previously described 15-ketosterol with unmodified side chain may be important for future development of synthetic cholesterol lowering sterols.     

Rates of amphotericin B and filipin association with sterols. A study of changes in sterol structure and phospholipid composition of vesicles

The influence of structural modifications in sterols and phospholipids on the rate of polyene antibiotic-sterol interaction was studied. For filipin and amphotericin B association with sterols in vesicles, a preferential interaction was found with sterols whose side chain length is close to that of cholesterol. Introduction of trans double bonds into the sterol side chain did not alter the rate of interaction in vesicles. The delta 7-bond of the sterol appears to be of critical importance in amphotericin B-sterol interaction, whereas the delta 5-bond is not essential. These observations are relevant to the well-known effects of amphotericin B on cell membranes containing ergosterol compared with those containing cholesterol. The dependence of the rates of sterol-polyene antibiotic interaction on the phospholipid composition of the vesicles indicates that phospholipid vesicles may be an inadequate model for reaching a comprehensive understanding of the effects exerted on biological membranes by these agents.     

Physicochemical and biological properties of natural and synthetic C-22 and C-23 hydroxylated bile acids

In order to define the effect of a side chain hydroxy group on bile acid (BA) physicochemical and biological properties, 23-hydroxylated bile acids were synthesized following a new efficient route involving the alpha-oxygenation of silylalkenes. 22-Hydroxylated bile acids were also studied. The synthesized bile acids included R and S epimers of 3 alpha,7 alpha,23-trihydroxy-5 beta-cholan-24-oic acid (23R epimer: phocaecholic acid), 3 alpha,12 alpha,23-trihydroxy-5 beta-cholan-24-oic (23R epimer: bitocholic acid), and 3 alpha,7 beta,23-trihydroxy-5 beta-cholan-24-oic acid. A 3 alpha,7 alpha,22-trihydroxy-5 beta-cholan-24-oic acid (haemulcholic acid) was also studied. The presence of a hydroxy group on the side chain slightly modified the physicochemical behavior in aqueous solution with respect to common BA: the critical micellar concentration (CMC) and the hydrophilicity were similar to naturally occurring trihydroxy BA such as cholic acid. The pKa value was lowered by 1.5 units with respect to common BA, being 3.8 for all the C-23 hydroxy BA. C-22 had a higher pKa (4.2) as a result of the increased distance of the hydroxy group from the carboxy group. When the C-23 hydroxylated BA were intravenously administered to bile fistula rats, they were efficiently recovered in bile (more than 80% unmodified) while the corresponding analogs, lacking the 23- hydroxy group, were almost completely glycine- or taurine-conjugated. On the other hand, the C-22 hydroxylated BA were extensively conjugated with taurine and less than 40% of the administered dose was secreted without being conjugated. In the presence of intestinal bacteria, they were mostly metabolized to the corresponding 7-dehydroxylated compound similar to common BA with the exception of bitocholic acid which was relatively stable. The presence of a hydroxy group at the C-23 position increased the acidity of the BA and this accounted for poor absorption within the biliary tree and efficient biliary secretion without the need for conjugation. 3 alpha,7 beta-23 R/S trihydroxy-5 beta-cholan-24-oic acids could improve the efficiency of ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) for gallstone dissolution or cholestatic syndrome therapy, as it is relatively hydrophilic and efficiently secreted into bile without altering the glycine and taurine hepatic pool.     

Thermodynamic and molecular determinants of sterol solubilities in bile salt micelles

We examined, by reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), the hydrophilic-hydrophobic balance of cholesterol and 12 non-cholesterol sterols and related this property to their equilibrium micellar solubilities in sodium taurocholate and sodium glycodeoxycholate solutions. Sterols investigated exhibited structural variations in the polar function (3 alpha-OH, 3 beta-OH, 3 beta-SH), nuclear double bonds (none, delta 5, or delta 7), side chain length (C27, C28, C29) and side chain double bonds (none, delta 22, or delta 24). In general, a sterol's hydrophilic-hydrophobic balance became progressively more hydrophobic (as exemplified by increasing HPLC retention values, k') with additions of side chain methyl (C28) and ethyl (C29) groups and with 3 beta-SH substitution of the 3-OH polar function. Side chain delta 22 and especially delta 24 double bonds rendered the sterols appreciably more hydrophilic, whereas a single nuclear double bond had little influence. Sterol solubilities (24 degrees C, 0.15 M Na+) were uniformly greater in 50 mM solutions of sodium glycodeoxycholate (range 0.15 to 2.5 mM) than in equimolar solutions of the more hydrophilic bile salt, sodium taurocholate (range 0.07 to 0.67 mM). For each bile salt system, a strong inverse correlation existed between micellar solubilities of sterols and their HPLC k' values, indicating that more hydrophilic sterols had greater micellar solubilities than the more hydrophobic ones. Based upon the aqueous monomeric solubilities of cholesterol (C27) and beta-sitosterol (C29) at 24 degrees C, we derived free energy changes associated with micellar binding and found that solubilization of both sterols was more energetically favored in glycodeoxycholate solutions. Although cholesterol exhibited a higher binding affinity than beta-sitosterol in glycodeoxycholate micelles, solubilization of beta-sitosterol in taurocholate micelles was more energetically favored than cholesterol by -0.6 kcal/mol. Based upon these results we offer a thermodynamic explanation for the greater micellar solubilities of more hydrophilic sterols and suggest that the high affinity, but low capacity, of a typical phytosterol for binding to trihydroxy bile salt micelles may provide a physical-chemical basis for its inhibition of intestinal cholesterol absorption.     

Effect of Steric and Nuclear Changes in Steroids and Triterpenoids on Sexual Reproduction in Phytophthora cactorum

The comparative biological activity of 21 naturally occurring or synthetically derived steroids, 7 tetracyclic and pentacylic triterpenoids, and antheridiol incubated with cultures of Phytophthora cactorum has been examined. There was greater dependence on precise steric features of the sterol side chain than on the extent of nuclear unsaturation in inducing oospore formation. There was no significant effect on oospore formation by changing nuclear unsaturation in ring B from Δ⁵ to Δ⁷ or to Δ^5,7. Converting the unsaturated sterol to its corresponding stanol resulted in a significant reduction in the number of oospores produced. The effectiveness of sterols bearing different side chains in inducing oospores was found to be in the following relative order: 24α-ethyl = trans-Δ²²-24α-ethyl > trans-Δ²²-24β-ethyl = 24α-E-ethylidene = 24α-methyl > 24β-methyl = trans-Δ²²-24β-methyl = 26-methyl = saturated C₇ side chain and C-20 R (17-αH, 20-αH, right-handed conformer) = cis-Δ²²-C₇ side chain and C-20 R > saturated C₇ side chain and C-20 S (17-αH, 20-βH, right-handed conformer) > no sterol = 29-hydroxyporiferasterol = 20α-hydroxycholesterol = 24ξ-hydroxy-24-vinylcholesterol. Of the sterols examined the most significant stereochemical criterion for the induction of oospore formation was absence of bulk on the front face of C-20. This follows from the observation that 20-isocholesterol and 20α-hydroxycholesterol, in which a methyl and hydroxy group, respectively, project to the front in the right handed conformation, were inactive in stimulating production of oospores. None of the triterpenoids studied induced oospore formation to any significant degree. Oospore formation was not induced by antheridiol nor 29-hydroxyporiferasterol in combination or added separately to growing cultures of P. cactorum in the concentration range 0.01 - 10.0 milligrams per liter.     

Cytochrome P450 CYP710A encodes the sterol C-22 desaturase in Arabidopsis and tomato

Delta22-unsaturated sterols, containing a double bond at the C-22 position in the side chain, occur specifically in fungi and plants. Here, we describe the identification and characterization of cytochrome P450s belonging to the CYP710A family as the plant C-22 desaturase. Recombinant proteins of CYP710A1 and CYP710A2 from Arabidopsis thaliana and CYP710A11 from tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) were expressed using a baculovirus/insect system. The Arabidopsis CYP710A1 and tomato CYP710A11 proteins exhibited C-22 desaturase activity with beta-sitosterol to produce stigmasterol (CYP710A1, K(m) = 1.0 microM and kinetic constant [k(cat)] = 0.53 min(-1); CYP710A11, K(m) = 3.7 microM and k(cat) = 10 min(-1)). In Arabidopsis transgenic lines with CYP710A1 and CYP710A11 overexpression, stigmasterol levels increased by 6- to 32-fold. Arabidopsis CYP710A2 was able to produce brassicasterol and stigmasterol from 24-epi-campesterol and beta-sitosterol, respectively. Sterol profiling analyses for CYP710A2 overexpression and a T-DNA insertion event into CYP710A2 clearly demonstrated in planta that CYP710A2 was responsible for both brassicasterol and stigmasterol production. Semiquantitative PCR analyses and promoter:beta-glucuronidase transgenic approaches indicated strict tissue/organ-specific regulation for each CYP710A gene, implicating differential tissue distributions of the Delta(22)-unsaturated sterols in Arabidopsis. Our results support the possibility that the CYP710 family may encode P450s of sterol C-22 desaturases in different organisms.     

Sterols of some Clerodendrum species (Verbenaceae): occurrence of the 24 alpha- and 24 beta-epimers of 24-ethylsterols lacking a delta 25-bond

The configurations at C-24 of 24-alkylsterols of six samples of Clerodendrum species (Verbenaceae) - the aerial parts of C. fragrans, C. inerme, C. infortunatum, C. scandens, and C. siphonanthus, and the seeds of C. infortunatum - were examined by NMR. All samples contained 24 beta-ethylsterols possessing a delta 25-bond, clerosterol and 22-dehydroclerosterol, as the dominant sterol components. The other 24-ethylsterols lacking a delta 25-bond, 24-ethyl-22-dehydrocholestanol, 24-ethylcholesterol, and 24-ethyl-22-dehydrocholesterol, which were present as minor components, were shown to be mixtures of the 24 alpha- and 24 beta-epimers, with the 24 alpha-epimers predominating in all cases. Four minor 24-methyl-sterols, 24-methylcholestanol, 24-methylcholesterol, 24-methyl-22-dehydrocholesterol, and 24-methyllathosterol, were shown to be C-24 epimeric mixtures, whereas two others, 24-methyl-22,25-bisdehydrocholesterol and 24-methyl-22-dehydrolathosterol, were found to be present only as the 24 beta-epimers. This is the first report of the occurrence of 24 beta-ethyl-22-dehydrocholestanol in higher plants.     

1alpha,25-dihydroxy-16-ene-23-yne-vitamin D3 and 1alpha,25-dihydroxy-16-ene-23-yne-20-epi-vitamin D3: analogs of 1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 that resist metabolism through the C-24 oxidation pathway are metabolized through the C-3 epimerization pathway

The secosteroid hormone 1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1alpha,25(OH)2D3] is metabolized in its target tissues through modifications of both the side chain and the A-ring. The C-24 oxidation pathway, the previously well established main side chain modification pathway, is initiated by hydroxylation at C-24 of the side chain. The C-3 epimerization pathway, the newly discovered A-ring modification pathway, is initiated by epimerization of the hydroxyl group at C-3 of the A-ring. The end products of the metabolism of 1alpha,25(OH)2D3 through the C-24 oxidation and the C-3 epimerization pathways are calcitroic acid and 1alpha,25-dihydroxy-3-epi-vitamin-D3 respectively. During the past two decades, numerous noncalcemic analogs of 1alpha,25(OH)2D3 were synthesized. Several of the analogs have altered side chain structures and as a result some of these analogs have been shown to resist their metabolism through side chain modifications. For example, two of the analogs, namely, 1alpha,25-dihydroxy-16-ene-23-yne-vitamin D3 [1alpha,25(OH)2-16-ene-23-yne-D3] and 1alpha,25-dihydroxy-16-ene-23-yne-20-epi-vitamin D3 [1alpha,25(OH)2-16-ene-23-yne-20-epi-D3], have been shown to resist their metabolism through the C-24 oxidation pathway. However, the possibility of the metabolism of these two analogs through the C-3 epimerization pathway has not been studied. Therefore, in our present study, we investigated the metabolism of these two analogs in rat osteosarcoma cells (UMR 106) which are known to express the C-3 epimerization pathway. The results of our study indicate that both analogs [1alpha,25(OH)2-16-ene-23-yne-D3 and 1alpha,25(OH)2-16-ene-23-yne-20-epi-D3] are metabolized through the C-3 epimerization pathway in UMR 106 cells. The identity of the C-3 epimer of 1alpha,25(OH)2-16-ene-23-yne-D3 [1alpha,25(OH)2-16-ene-23-yne-3-epi-D3] was confirmed by GC/MS analysis and its comigration with synthetic 1alpha,25(OH)2-16-ene-23-yne-3-epi-D3 on both straight and reverse-phase HPLC systems. The identity of the C-3 epimer of 1alpha,25(OH)2-16-ene-23-yne-20-epi-D3 [1alpha,25(OH)2-16-ene-23-yne-20-epi-3-epi-D3] was confirmed by GC/MS and 1H NMR analysis. Thus, we indicate that vitamin D analogs which resist their metabolism through the C-24 oxidation pathway, have the potential to be metabolized through the C-3 epimerization pathway. In our present study, we also noted that the rate of C-3 epimerization of 1alpha,25(OH)2-16-ene-23-yne-20-epi-D3 is about 10 times greater than the rate of C-3 epimerization of 1alpha,25(OH)2-16-ene-23-yne-D3. Thus, we indicate for the first time that certain structural modifications of the side chain such as 20-epi modification can alter significantly the rate of C-3 epimerization of vitamin D compounds.     

Nuclear magnetic resonance and infrared spectra of delta-24- and C-24 saturated steroids

The infrared (IR) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra of eight Delta(24)-steroids and nine C-24 saturated steroids were examined. NMR spectra allow unambiguous assignment of the biologically important Delta(24)-bond; introduction of a Delta(24)-bond causes the appearance of peaks at Delta 1.60 and 1.68 associated with the C-26, C-27 isopropylidene methyls, while C-24 saturated steroids of the cholestane series possess peaks at Delta 0.82 and 0.91 associated with the C-26, C-27 gem-dimethyls. IR spectra show a good correlation between the introduction of a Delta(24)-bond and a marked decrease in intensity of a band at 1365 cm(-1). NMR and IR spectra also allow an inference about the presence and location of nuclear double bonds in Ring B of cholesterol precursors.     

Minor sterols of marine invertebrates 37. Isolation of novel coprostanols and 4α-methyl sterols from the tunicate Ascidia nigra

The complex sterol mixture isolated from $\text{A, nigra}$ was found to contain a low level of Δ⁴-3-keto steroids, 5β-stanols and 4α-methyl sterols in addition to regular (4-demethyl) sterols. The following new marine sterols were isolated and identified using MS and 360 MHz NMR: 5β-cholest-22E-en-3β-ol, 24S-methyl-5β-cholest-22E-en-3β-ol, 24-methylene-5β-cholestan-3β-ol, both epimers at C-24 of 4α-methyl-24-ethyl-5α-cholest-22E-en-3β-ol, 4α, 22ξ, 23ξ-(or 24ξ-)trimethyl-5α-cholest-8(14)-en-3β-ol and (22S, 23S, 24S)-4α-24-dimethyl-22, 23-methylene-5α-cholestan-3β-ol. The latter sterol and 23-demethylgorqosterol have opposite configurations at C-22, C-23, and C-24; the Δ⁸⁽¹⁴⁾ sterol has an unprecedented side chain.     

FadD19 of Rhodococcus rhodochrous DSM43269, a steroid-coenzyme A ligase essential for degradation of C-24 branched sterol side chains

The actinobacterial cholesterol catabolic gene cluster contains a subset of genes that encode β-oxidation enzymes with a putative role in sterol side chain degradation. We investigated the physiological roles of several genes, i.e., fadD17, fadD19, fadE26, fadE27, and ro04690DSM43269, by gene inactivation studies in mutant strain RG32 of Rhodococcus rhodochrous DSM43269. Mutant strain RG32 is devoid of 3-ketosteroid 9α-hydroxylase (KSH) activity and was constructed following the identification, cloning, and sequential inactivation of five kshA gene homologs in strain DSM43269. We show that mutant strain RG32 is fully blocked in steroid ring degradation but capable of selective sterol side chain degradation. Except for RG32ΔfadD19, none of the mutants constructed in RG32 revealed an aberrant phenotype on sterol side chain degradation compared to parent strain RG32. Deletion of fadD19 in strain RG32 completely blocked side chain degradation of C-24 branched sterols but interestingly not that of cholesterol. The additional inactivation of fadD17 in mutant RG32ΔfadD19 also did not affect cholesterol side chain degradation. Heterologously expressed FadD19DSM43269 nevertheless was active toward steroid-C26-oic acid substrates. Our data identified FadD19 as a steroid-coenzyme A (CoA) ligase with an essential in vivo role in the degradation of the side chains of C-24 branched-chain sterols. This paper reports the identification and characterization of a CoA ligase with an in vivo role in sterol side chain degradation. The high similarity (67%) between the FadD19(DSM43269) and FadD19H37Rv enzymes further suggests that FadD19H37Rv has an in vivo role in sterol metabolism of Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv.     

Cloning, sequencing, and disruption of the gene encoding sterol C-14 reductase in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

A sterol C-14 reductase (erg24-1) mutant of Saccharomyces cerevisiae was selected in a fen1, fen2, suppressor background on the basis of nystatin resistance and ignosterol (ergosta-8,14-dienol) production. The erg24-1 allele segregated genetically as a single, recessive gene. The wild-type ERG24 gene was cloned by complementation onto a 12-kb fragment from a yeast genomic library, and subsequently subcloned onto a 2.4-kb fragment. This was sequenced and found to contain an open reading frame of 1,314 bp, predicting a polypeptide of 438 amino acids (M(r) 50,612). A 1,088-bp internal region of the ERG24 gene was excised, replaced with a LEU2 gene, and integrated into the chromosome of the parental strain, FP13D (fen1, fen2) by gene replacement. The ERG24 null mutant produced ergosta-8,14-dienol as the major sterol, indicating that the delta 8-7 isomerase, delta 5-desaturase and the delta 22-desaturase were inactive on sterols with the C14 = 15 double bond.     

Highly active analogs of 1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3) that resist metabolism through C-24 oxidation and C-3 epimerization pathways

The secosteroid hormone 1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3) [1alpha,25(OH)(2)D(3)] is metabolized in its target tissues through modifications of both the side chain and the A-ring. The C-24 oxidation pathway, the main side chain modification pathway is initiated by hydroxylation at C-24 of the side chain and leads to the formation of the end product, calcitroic acid. The C-23 and C-26 oxidation pathways, the minor side chain modification pathways are initiated by hydroxylations at C-23 and C-26 of the side chain and lead to the formation of the end product, calcitriol lactone. The C-3 epimerization pathway, the newly discovered A-ring modification pathway is initiated by epimerization of the hydroxyl group at C-3 of the A-ring to form 1alpha,25(OH)(2)-3-epi-D(3). A rational design for the synthesis of potent analogs of 1alpha,25(OH)(2)D(3) is developed based on the knowledge of the various metabolic pathways of 1alpha,25(OH)(2)D(3). Structural modifications around the C-20 position, such as C-20 epimerization or introduction of the 16-double bond affect the configuration of the side chain. This results in the arrest of the C-24 hydroxylation initiated cascade of side chain modifications at the C-24 oxo stage, thus producing the stable C-24 oxo metabolites which are as active as their parent analogs. To prevent C-23 and C-24 hydroxylations, cis or trans double bonds, or a triple bond are incorporated in between C-23 and C-24. To prevent C-26 hydroxylation, the hydrogens on these carbons are replaced with fluorines. Furthermore, testing the metabolic fate of the various analogs with modifications of the A-ring, it was found that the rate of C-3 epimerization of 5,6-trans or 19-nor analogs is decreased to a significant extent. Assembly of all these protective structural modifications in single molecules has then produced the most active vitamin D(3) analogs 1alpha,25(OH)(2)-16,23-E-diene-26,27-hexafluoro-19-nor-D(3) (Ro 25-9022), 1alpha,25(OH)(2)-16,23-Z-diene-26,27-hexafluoro-19-nor-D(3) (Ro 26-2198), and 1alpha,25(OH)(2)-16-ene-23-yne-26,27-hexafluoro-19-nor-D(3) (Ro 25-6760), as indicated by their antiproliferative activities.     

Recent Developments in Nematode Steroid Biochemistry

Current knowledge of steroid nutrition, metabolism, and function in free-living, plant-parasitic and animal-parasitic nematodes is reviewed, with emphasis upon recent investigation of Caenorhabditis elegans. A number of 4-desmethylsterols with a trans-A/B ring configuration can satisfy the steroid nutritional requirement in C. elegans, but sterols with a cis-A/B ring configuration or trans-A/B sterols with a 4-methyl group cannot. C. elegans removes methyl or ethyl substituents at C-24 of the plant sterols sitosterol, campesterol, stigmasterol, stigmastanol, and 24-methylene-cholesterol to produce various sterols with structures partially dependent upon that of the dietary sterol. Additional metabolic steps in C. elegans include reduction of Δ²²- and Δ⁵-bonds, C-7 dehydrogenation, isomerization of a Δ⁷-bond to a Δ⁸⁽¹⁴⁾-bond, and 4α-methylation. An azasteroid and several long-chain alkyl amines interfere with the dealkylation pathway in C. elegans by inhibiting the Δ²⁴-sterol reductase; these compounds also inhibit growth and reproduction in various plant-parasitic and animal-parasitic nematodes. A possible hormonal role for various steroids identified in nematodes is discussed.     

Is Pneumocystis a Plant?

Pneumocystis, an AIDS-associated opportunistic pathogen of the lung has some unusual features. This article focuses on work done by my group to understand the organism's distinct sterols. Although Pneumocystis is closely related to fungi, it lacks the major fungal sterol, ergosterol. Several delta(7) 24-alkysterols synthesized by P. carinii are the same as those reported in some basidiomycete rust fungi. The 24-alkylsterols are synthesized by the action of S-adenosyl-L-methionine:C-24 sterol methyl transferase (SAM:SMT). Fungal SAM:SMT enzymes normally transfer only one methyl group to the C-24 position of the sterol side chain and the cells accumulate C28 24-alkylsterols. In contrast, the P. carinii SAM:SMT and those of some plants catalyze one or two methyl transfer reactions producing both C28 and C29 24-alkylsterols. However, unlike most fungi, plants, and the kinetoplastid flagellates Leishmania and Trypanosoma cruzi, P. carinii does not appear to form double bonds at C-5 of the sterol nucleus and C-22 of the sterol side chain. Furthermore, the P. carinii SAM:SMT substrate preference for C30 lanosterol differs from that of homologous enzymes in any other organisms studied. C31 24-Methylenelanosterol and C32 pneumocysterol, products of SAM:SMT activity on lanosterol, can accumulate in high amounts in some, but not all, human-derived Pneumocystis jiroveci populations.     

Alternative pathways of sterol synthesis in yeast. Use of C(27) sterol tracers to study aberrant double-bond migrations and evaluate their relative importance

Yeast produce traces of aberrant sterols by minor alternative pathways, which can become significant when normal metabolism is blocked by inhibitors or mutations. We studied sterols generated in the absence of the delta(8)-delta(7) isomerase (Erg2p) or delta(5) desaturase (Erg3p) by incubating three mutant strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae with 5 alpha-cholest-8-en-3beta-ol, 8-dehydrocholesterol (delta(5,8) sterol), or isodehydrocholesterol (delta(6,8) sterol), together with the corresponding 3 alpha-3H isotopomer. Nine different incubations gave altogether 16 sterol metabolites, including seven delta(22E) sterols formed by action of the yeast C-22 desaturase (Erg5p). These products were separated by silver-ion high performance liquid chromatography (Ag(+)-HPLC) and identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and radio-Ag(+)-HPLC. When delta(8)-delta(7) isomerization was blocked, exogenous delta(8) sterol underwent desaturation to delta(5,8), delta(6,8), and delta(8,14) sterols. Formation of delta(5,8) sterol was strongly favored over delta(6,8) sterol, but both pathways are essentially dormant under normal conditions of sterol synthesis. The delta(5,8) sterol was metabolically almost inert except for delta(22) desaturation, whereas the delta(6,8) sterol was readily converted to delta(5,7), delta(5,7,9(11)), and delta(7,9(11)) sterols. The combined results indicate aberrant metabolic pathways similar to those in mammalian systems. However, delta(5,7) sterol undergoes only slight isomerization or desaturation in yeast, an observation that accounts for the lower levels of delta(5,8) and delta(5,7,9(11)) sterols in wild-type yeast compared to Smith-Lemli-Opitz individuals.