Sterols of the cultured dinoflagellate Pyrocystis lunula

Eighteen components of the sterol fraction of Pyrocystis lunula have been identified. In addition to 4 alpha-methyl sterols (typical dinoflagellate sterols), regular sterols, both with a saturated and delta 5-unsaturated skeleton, were isolated, together with delta 4-3-keto steroids including the hitherto unknown 23,24R-dimethyl-4,22E-cholestadien-3-one.