Sterol biosynthesis and metabolism in marine invertebrates

Abstract

The present state of knowledge on the ability of marine invertebrate animals to synthesise and metabolise sterols is reviewed. While animals from some phyla have a limited ability to synthesise sterols de novo other groups of invertebrates are apparently incapable of sterol synthesis. It appears likely that much of the sterol of invertebrates originates from algae either in the plankton or living as symbionts with particular animals. The methods which can be employed to determine the capacity of an invertebrate to synthesise its own sterol de novo are critically discussed and possible problems considered. The known interconversions of dietary sterols by marine invertebrates are described and recent aspects of steroid hormone interconversions are briefly outlined. © 1981, Walter de Gruyter. All rights reserved.