Sterol Biosynthesis in Some Coelenterates and Echinoderms

Abstract

This study deals with the biosynthesis of sterols from mevalonate-2-¹⁴C in the coelenterates, Sarcophyta sp., Stereonephthya japonica, Acalycigorgia inermis, Ellisella rubra, Dofleinia armata, and Parasicyonis actinostoloides, and the echinoderms, Leiaster leachii, Coronaster valsellatus, Protoreaster nodosus, Henricia ohshimai, Clypeaster japonicus, and Holothuria leucospilota. After injection of mevalonate-2-¹⁴C into the animals, the sterolsynthesizing ability was evaluated by radioautography in conjunction with the isolation of radioactive sterols.
It was shown that all echinoderms and the four coelenterates, Sarcophyta sp., S. japonica, D. armata, and P. actinostoloides, are more or less capable of synthesizing sterols from mevalonate, but the two species of coelenterates, A. inermis and E. rubra, lack this ability.