Widespread Sterol Methyltransferase Participates in the Biosynthesis of Both C4α- and C4β-Methyl Sterols.

Although the abundance of 4β-methyl sterols found here is low, we cannot deny the possibility that organisms with a large proportion of 4β-methyl sterols remain undiscovered. Alternatively, such organisms may have existed in ancient times, but the biosynthesis capacity of 4β-methyl sterols may have diminished or been lost due to the marginal significance of these sterols in the life process. 9 As STRM orthologs are widespread in eukaryotes, the discovery of BmSTRM and the protocol for the activity assay provided in this study ( i.e. , BmSTRM activity is highly unstable in vitro ) suggest the need to revisit currently accepted notions regarding the function of STRMs in steroid biosynthesis.

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