Abstract
[C14] Squalene biosynthesized from [Me-C14]-acetate by liver mince was degraded by oxidative ozonolysis to acetone, succinic acid and laevulinic acid. The C-by-C degradation of these 3 fragments was completed. The results showed that the entire C skeleton of squalene was formed from acetate and that C w,w[image] and y (according to the notation of Klyne, 1954) of the isoprenoid units are derived from the methyl C of acetate. By inference it is suggested that C x and z originate from the carboxyl-C of acetate. Possible mechanisms for the formation of isoprenoid units from acetate and the relationship between biosynthesis of squalene and cholesterol are discussed.