Sterol biosynthesis in the oyster,Crassostrea virginica

Sterol biosynthesis in the oyster,Crassostrea virginica, was examined by injection of [2-¹⁴C]acetate and [2,3-³H] lanosterol. The oyster incorporated [2-¹⁴C] acetate into squalene 4,4′-dimethylsterols, 4-monomethylsterols, cholesterol, desmosterol, isofucosterol, and 24-methylenecholesterol, and also converted [2-³H] lanosterol to cholesterol. Therefore, the oyster was concluded to synthesize cholesterol, desmosterol, isofucosterol, and 24-methylenecholesterol from acetate via squalene, probably using the lanosterol pathway.