Sterols from a species of Pichia, a n-alkane-utilizing yeast.

The component sterols in the lipid from a yeast, a species of Picia, grown on n-alkanes have been studied. Ergosterol and zymosterol in the 4-desmethylsterol fraction, 4alpha-methylzymosterol in the 4-monomethylsterol fraction and lanosterol in the 4,4-dimethylsterol fraction are present as the major components in the respective fractions. Among the minor components, the presence of 24-methylene-lanostenol, in addition to fecosterol and 4alpha-methylfecosterol, is indicated.