CONVERSION OF [14C]CYCLOARTENOL AND [14C]LANOSTEROL INTO PHYTOSTEROLS BY CULTURES OF NICOTIANA TABACUM

Tissue cultures of Nicotiana tabacum were treated with [14C]cyeloartenol and [14C]lanosterol, and the 4,4‐dimethylsterol 4‐methylsterol and phytosterol fractions were examined for radioactivity. In both cases activity was incorporated into the phytosterols. The distributions of radioactivity in the 4,4‐dimethylsterols and 4‐methylsterols were compared with those obtained by incorporation of [14C]acetic acid. It is concluded that cycloartenol is a true phytosterol precursor in the tissue cultures, whereas the possible role of lanosterol (not detectable in the cultures, even by isotopic dilution experiments) is not proven. Copyright © 1969, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved