Sterols in a psychrophilic methanotroph, Methylosphaera hansonii

A suite of six sterols, lanosterol, lanost-8(9)-en-3 beta-ol, 4,4-dimethylc holesta-8(14),24-dien-3 beta-ol 4,4-dimethylcholest-8(14)-en-3 beta-ol, 4-m ethylcholesta-8(14),24-dien-3 beta-ol and 4-melhylcholest-8(14)-en-3 beta-o l, were identified in the psychrophilic methanotrophic bacterium, Methylosp haera hansonii. Their presence suggests that the capacity for sterol biosyn thesis in methanotrophic bacteria is limited to the family Methylococcaceae but which have widely different optimal growth temperatures. (C) 2000 Fede ration of European Microbiological Societies. Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.