Reversible conversion between teasterone and its ester conjugates in lily cell cultures

Metabolisms of both teasterone and its 3-myristate were studied using lily cell cultures. Teasterone was metabolized to two ester conjugates, teastero ne-3-myristate and teasterone-3-laurate, which have been identified from th e lily pollen. On the other hand, teasterone-3-myristate was metabolized to teasterone. The same reversible conversion was suggested during the course of brassinolide biosynthesis in the lily pollen. It was considered that th e conjugates are the reversible storage forms during the biosynthesis of br assinolide.