Metabolites of the marine sponge Suberites cf. aurantiacus

Fractions of free sterols and sterol esters were observed in the ethylacetate extract of the marine sponge Suberites cf. aurantiacus and their compositions were determined. It was found that cholesterol was the predominant component in all sterol forms. The esters had a high content of unsaturated long-chain fatty acids (C 24 -C 26 ). Sterol acetates have not been previously observed in marine invertebrates.