Accumulation of ergosta-8,14-dien-3β-ol by Saccharomyces cerevisiae cultured with an azasterol antimycotic agent.

15-Aza-24-methylene-D-homocholesta-8,14-dien-3β-ol, an antimycotic agent, at a concentration of 75 ng/ml inhibited ergosterol biosynthesis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain 3701 B resulting in the accumulation of an unusual sterol. Experimental data presented indicate that this sterol is ergosta-8,14-dien-3β-ol. The accumulation of the compound is supportive of current models of biosynthetic pathways for sterols in yeast and is consistent with inhibition by the azasterol of the Δ sterol reductase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]