Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Takishita K
PROVIDER: S-EPMC3317845 | biostudies-other | 2012 Feb
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-other
Takishita Kiyotaka K Chikaraishi Yoshito Y Leger Michelle M MM Kim Eunsoo E Yabuki Akinori A Ohkouchi Naohiko N Roger Andrew J AJ
Biology direct 20120201
Sterols are key components of eukaryotic cellular membranes that are synthesized by multi-enzyme pathways that require molecular oxygen. Because prokaryotes fundamentally lack sterols, it is unclear how the vast diversity of bacterivorous eukaryotes that inhabit hypoxic environments obtain, or synthesize, sterols. Here we show that tetrahymanol, a triterpenoid that does not require molecular oxygen for its biosynthesis, likely functions as a surrogate of sterol in eukaryotes inhabiting oxygen-po ...[more]