Distribution of sterols in fungi. II. Brassicasterol in Tuber and Terfezia species

Sterols from ascocarps of Tuber (truffle) and Terfezia species were identified by gas–liquid chromatography, gas chromatography – mass spectrometry, and 1 H nuclear magnetic resonance, and the structure of brassicasterol from the yeastlike cells of Taphrina deformans confirmed by 1 H nuclear magnetic resonance. Sterols of the fruiting bodies ranged from 1.2 to 2.3 μg/mg dry weight. Ergosterol was the principal sterol of Tuber species which also contained 28–44% brassicasterol depending on the species and source of the sample. Terfezia sp., on the other hand, contained about 98% brassicasterol with only small amounts of ergosterol. Brassicasterol is common to several families of the subdivision Ascomycotina, and to our knowledge has not been reported for a nonascomycetous species.