title: The sterols of the echinoderm Asterias rubens.
abstract: 1. Twenty-two sterols were identified in the starfish Asterias rubens (Phylum, Echinodermata; Class, Asteroidea). 2. The major 4-demethyl sterols had a Delta(7) bond and the C(27) compound 5alpha-cholest-7-en-3beta-ol predominated over other mono- and di-unsaturated sterols belonging to the C(26), C(27), C(28) and C(29) series. 3. Small amounts of cholest-5-en-3beta-ol and 5alpha-cholestan-3beta-ol were also present. 4. The minor sterols identified all contained either one or two methyl groups at C-4 and are considered to be potential biosynthetic precursors of 5alpha-cholest-7-en-3beta-ol. 5. Three sterols possessing a 9beta,19-cyclopropane ring were also isolated and were probably derived by the starfish from a dietary source.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002776:Cholestanes / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002849:Chromatography, Gas; D004032:Diet; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D013215:Starfish / Q000032:analysis*; D013261:Sterols / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000302:isolation & purification*
chemical_list: D002776:Cholestanes; D013261:Sterols