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Speculations on the evolution of sterol structure and function.

K E Bloch

    CRC Critical Reviews in Biochemistry
    |November 1, 1979
    PubMed
    Summary
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    Sterols are crucial for cell membrane function, with cholesterol being vital for eukaryotes. However, prokaryotes utilize a broader range of sterols, suggesting diverse evolutionary roles in membrane organization and function.

    Area of Science:

    • Biochemistry
    • Cell Biology
    • Evolutionary Biology

    Background:

    • Sterol biosynthesis requires oxygen, indicating a later evolutionary origin for these molecules.
    • Cholesterol's structure facilitates hydrophobic interactions within eukaryotic cell membranes.
    • Sterol structure and function are critical for membrane integrity and fluidity.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To investigate the evolutionary roles of sterols in cellular membranes.
    • To determine the functional differences between cholesterol and other sterols in prokaryotic and eukaryotic systems.
    • To explore the specificity of sterol requirements across different microbial domains.

    Main Methods:

    • In vivo experiments using eukaryotic sterol auxotrophs.
    • Microviscosity measurements of artificial membranes containing various sterols.

    Related Experiment Videos

  • Analysis of sterol production in prokaryotic organisms like Methylococcus capsulatus.
  • Testing the sterol requirements of Mycoplasma capricolum with lanosterol and its derivatives.

    • Main Results:

    • Lanosterol, a cholesterol precursor, is not functional in eukaryotic membranes.
    • Prokaryotic organisms exhibit broader sterol specificity, utilizing different sterol types than eukaryotes.
    • Methylococcus capsulatus produces dimethyl and monomethyl sterols, not cholesterol-type sterols.
    • Lanosterol and related compounds support Mycoplasma capricolum growth.
    • Cholesterylmethyl ether can satisfy sterol requirements in some microbial systems, challenging current hypotheses.

    Conclusions:

    • Sterol requirements and functions differ significantly between prokaryotes and eukaryotes.
    • A primitive role for cyclized squalene derivatives is proposed for prokaryotic membranes.
    • The sterol hydroxyl group's role in membrane organization may be more flexible than previously thought.
    • Evolutionary pressures have led to diverse sterol utilization strategies in different cellular life forms.