7-Dehydrostigmasterol and ergosterol: the major sterols of an amoeba

Abstract

The sterol fraction of Acanthamoeba (Neff) contains 60% 7-dehydrostigmasterol and 40% ergosterol. The sterols were characterized by infrared and ultraviolet spectroscopy, gas chromatography, specific reactions, and mass spectral analysis. Sterols constitute 5% of the lipids and 15% of the neutral lipids in this species.

Keywords

• sterols
• amoebae
• Acanthamoeba (sp.)
• ergosterol
• 7-dehydrostigmasterol
• taxonomy