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. 1973 Nov;135(3):443–455. doi: 10.1042/bj1350443

The sterols of the echinoderm Asterias rubens

Andrew G Smith 1,*, Ian Rubinstein 1, L John Goad 1
PMCID: PMC1165846  PMID: 4772271

Abstract

1. Twenty-two sterols were identified in the starfish Asterias rubens (Phylum, Echinodermata; Class, Asteroidea). 2. The major 4-demethyl sterols had a Δ7 bond and the C27 compound 5α-cholest-7-en-3β-ol predominated over other mono- and di-unsaturated sterols belonging to the C26, C27, C28 and C29 series. 3. Small amounts of cholest-5-en-3β-ol and 5α-cholestan-3β-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 5α-cholest-7-en-3β-ol. 5. Three sterols possessing a 9β,19-cyclopropane ring were also isolated and were probably derived by the starfish from a dietary source.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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