A sterol-defined system for quantitative studies of sterol metabolism in .

This protocol describes the culturing of the nematode in a sterol-defined experimental system and the subsequent quantitative analysis of sterols through gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Although studied primarily in mammals, sterols are essential biomolecules for most eukaryotes. cannot synthesize sterols and thus relies on the uptake of dietary sterols.

Metabolic Reconfiguration in C. elegans Suggests a Pathway for Widespread Sterol Auxotrophy in the Animal Kingdom.

Cholesterol is one of the hallmarks of animals. In vertebrates, the cholesterol synthesis pathway (CSP) is the primary source of cholesterol that has numerous structural and regulative roles [1]. Nevertheless, the few invertebrates tested for cholesterol synthesis show complete sterol auxotrophy [2-6], raising questions about how animals thrive without cholesterol synthesis and about the prevalence of sterol auxotrophy in animals.