Biosynthesis and composition of sterols and sterol esters in the land snail Cepaea nemoralis (L.) (gastropoda, pulmonata, stylommatophora)

Abstract

Abstract--1. The biosynthesis and composition of sterols and sterol esters were studied in the land snail Cepaea nemoralis after injection of Na-l-14C -a~tate.2. Free and esterified sterols appeared to be synthesized by the animals, whilst the specific radioactivity of the sterols from the esters was found to be higher than that of the free sterols after incubation for 48 hr.3. The composition of sterols in both fractions was not significantly different. 4. The fatty acid moiety of the sterol esters appeared to be labeled as well and involved about sixty components, which are summarized from myristic acid onwards.

Hydrocarbons in the land snail Cepaea nemoralis (L.) (gastropoda, pulmonata)

“…These findings resemble those of another snail of the same family, Arianta arbustorum, in which also no traces of squalene could be detected (van der Horst, unpublished results) and from which very high labelled sterols have been isolated (Voogt & van der Horst, 1972).…”

“…In our experiments we failed to detect squalene in the hydrocarbon fractions, although Cepaea is quite capable of synthesizing sterols (van der Horst & Voogt, 1972). These findings resemble those of another snail of the same family, Arianta arbustorum, in which also no traces of squalene could be detected (van der Horst, unpublished results) and from which very high labelled sterols have been isolated (Voogt & van der Horst, 1972).…”