Abstract
Wild-type Neurospora crassa is completely inhibited by 5 ppm nystatin. Ultraviolet-induced mutants have been isolated that grow in the presence of 60 ppm of the antibiotic. Gas-liquid chromatographic, mass spectroscopic, and nuclear magnetic resonance analyses showed the wild-type sterols to be ergosterol (ergosta-5,7,22-trien-3β-ol) and episterol (ergosta-7,24(28)-dien-3β-ol) in a 3:1 ratio. The mutants contained lichesterol (ergosta-5,8,22-trien-3β-ol) and fecosterol (ergosta-8,24(28)-dien-3β-ol) in a 2:1 ratio, differing from the wild type only in the position of the B-ring unsaturation. A deficiency of an ergosta-8,24 (28)-dien-3β-ol:ergosta-7,24(28)-dien-3β-ol isomerase is indicated.
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Morris, D.C., Safe, S. & Subden, R.E. Detection of the ergosterol and episterol isomers lichesterol and fecosterol in nystatin-resistant mutants of Neurospora crassa . Biochem Genet 12, 459–466 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00486063
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00486063