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Brassicasterol
Brassicasterol (24-methyl cholest-5,22-dien-3β-ol) is a 28 carbon sterol synthesised by several unicellular algae (phytoplankton) and some terrestrial plants e.g. oilseed rape. This compound has frequently been used as a biomarker for the presence of (marine) algal matter in the environment. Additional recommended knowledge
Chemical PropertiesSolubilityBrassicasterol has a low water solubility and consequently a high octanol – water partition coefficient (Kow = ??). This means that in most environmental systems, brassicasterol will be associated with the solid phase. DegradationIn anaerobic sediments and soils, brassicasterol is stable for many hundreds of years enabling it to be used as an indicator of past algal production (see below). Chemical AnalysisSince the molecule has a hydroxyl (-OH) group, it is frequently bound to other lipids including glycerols; most analytical methods, therefore, utilise a strong alkali (KOH or NaOH) to saponify the ester linkages. Typical extraction solvents include 6% KOH in methanol. The free sterols are then separated from the polar lipids by partitioning into a less polar solvent (e.g. hexane). Prior to analysis, the hydroxyl group is frequently derivatised with BSTFA (bis-trimethyl silyl trifluoroacetamide) to replace the hydrogen with the less exchangeable trimethylsilyl (TMS) group. Instrumental analysis is frequently conducted on Gas Chromatograph (GC) with either a Flame Ionisation Detector (FID) or Mass Spectrometer (MS). The mass spectrum for the TMS ether of brassicasterol can be seen in the Figure.
Formation and OccurrenceAlgal SourcesBrassicasterol is formed in plants from the isoprenoid squalene through campesterol as an intermediate. A list of the algae in which brassicasterol has been identified is shown below together with approximate composition (Data from an excellent review by Volkman, 1986).
Other Sources? Use as a Tracer for Marine AlgaeThe principal source of brassicasterol in the environment is from marine algae. Its relatively high concentration and stability allows it to be used in the assessment of the origin of organic matter in samples, especially sediments. Brassicasterol / Cholesterol Ratio
Multivariate AnalysisMultivariate Statistical Analyses such as Principal Component Analysis of a range of lipid biomarkers (e.g. other sterols, fatty acids and fatty alcohols) enable identification of compounds that have similar origins or behaviour. An example can be seen in the loadings plot for sediment samples from the Mawddach Estuary, Wales.
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This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Brassicasterol". A list of authors is available in Wikipedia. |