[Does malonate take part in the synthesis of sterols?]

The effect of acetyl-CoA-carboxylase activators, citrate and biotin, on cholesterol biosynthesis from acetate and malonate in rat liver and in cultured human lung fibroblasts was studied. Administration of citrate and biotin to animals and an addition of biotin to the fibroblast culture medium led to a significant stimulation of [2-14C]acetate incorporation into sterols but had no effect on the incorporation of [2-14C]malonate. The data obtained suggest that malonate is incorporated into sterols without preliminary decarboxylation.