title: Sterol requirement of Mycoplasma capricolum.
abstract: Mycoplasmas require an external source of sterol for growth. For Mycoplasma capricolum this requirement is met not only by cholesterol but also by the methylcholestane derivatives lanosterol, cycloartenol, 4,4-dimethylcholesterol, and 4beta-methylcholestanol. Cholesteryl methyl ether and 3alpha-methylcholestanol serve equally well as sterol supplements. None of the growth-supporting sterol derivatives tested was metabolically modified. The unusual acceptance of diverse cholestane derivatives by a mycoplasma species contrasts with the structural attributes thought to be necessary for sterol function in eukaryotic membranes.
mesh_terms: D002776:Cholestanes / Q000378:metabolism; D009174:Mycoplasma / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D013261:Sterols / Q000378:metabolism*; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship
chemical_list: D002776:Cholestanes; D013261:Sterols