The effct of cerulenin on sterol biosynthesis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Cerulenin specifically inhibited fatty acid biosynthesis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae without having an effect on sterol formation. Ergosterol was not required for cell growth in the presence of cerulenin (1 microgram/ml). The addition of fatty acids to the growth medium reduced the amount of ergosterol formed by 45%; further addition of cerulenin to the media had no effect on the amount of ergosterol synthesized by the cells. The incorporation of 3H from 3H2O into ergosterol was not affected by cerulenin whereas incorporation into fatty acids was inhibited by 90%.