The biosynthesis of squalene and sterols by the adipose tissue of rat, sheep and man.
1. The subcutaneous and omental adipose tissue of man, the epididymal fat pads of the rat and the fat tail of the Syrian sheep incorporate mevalonic acid into non-saponifiable lipids. 2. Time studies showed that the rates of decarboxylation of mevalonic acid and synthesis of non-saponifiable lipids slightly decline after 20min. but subsequently remain linear for 6hr. 3. About one-half of the incorporated radioactivity in the non-saponifiable lipids was in squalene, 20% in lanosterol and cholesterol, and the remainder in unidentified substances.
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Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon.