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Sterol

 

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Sterol


 
 


Sterols, or steroid alcohols are a subgroup of steroidSteroid

A steroid is a lipid characterized by a carbon skeleton with four fused rings....
s with a hydroxyl group at the 3-position of the A-ring. They are amphipathic lipidsFacts About Amphipathic lipids

Amphipathic lipids are molecules that are mostly lipid-like in structure, but at one end have a region that is polar or ion...
 synthesized from acetyl-coenzyme A via the HMG-CoA reductaseHMG-CoA reductase

HMG-CoA reductase is the first enzyme of the HMG-CoA reductase pathway, the metabolic pathway that produces cholesterol and ...
 pathway. The overall molecule is quite flat. The hydroxyl group on the A ring is polarChemical polarity

Chemical polarity, also known as bond polarity or just polarity, is a concept in chemistry which describes how e...
. The rest of the aliphatic chain is non-polarChemical polarity

Chemical polarity, also known as bond polarity or just polarity, is a concept in chemistry which describes how e...
.

Sterols of plantPlant

Plants are a major group of living things including familiar organisms such as trees, flowers, herbs, ferns, and mosses....
s are called phytosterolPhytosterol

Phytosterols are a group of steroid alcohol, phytochemicals naturally occurring in plants....
s
and sterols of animalAnimal Overview

Animals are a major group of organisms, classified as the kingdom Animalia or Meta­zoa....
s are called zoosterols. Important zoosterols are cholesterolCholesterol

Cholesterol is a sterol and a lipid found in the cell membranes of all body tissues, and transported in the blood plasma of...
 and some steroid hormoneSteroid hormone

Steroid hormones are steroids which act as hormones....
s; notable phytosterols include campesterol, sitosterol, and stigmasterolFacts About Stigmasterol

Stigmasterol is a phytosterol with a molecular weight of 412.691 and a formula of C29H48O....
. ErgosterolErgosterol

Ergosterol, a sterol, is the biological precursor to Vitamin D2....
 is a sterol present in the cell membraneCell membrane

A cell membrane, plasma membrane or plasmalemma is a selectively permeable lipid bilayer coated by proteins whi...
 of fungiFungus

A fungus is a eukaryotic organism that digests its food externally and absorbs the nutrient molecules into its cells....
, where it serves a role similar to cholesterol in animal cells.

Sterols and related compounds play essential roles in the physiology of eukaryoticEukaryote

|-| style = "background: pink; padding: 4px;" | Animalia - Animals...
 organisms. For example, cholesterol forms part of the cellular membrane in animals, where it affects the cell membrane's fluidity and serves as secondary messenger in developmental signaling. In humans and other animals, corticosteroids, such as cortisolCortisol

Cortisol is a corticosteroid hormone produced by the adrenal cortex that is involved in the response to stress; it increases...
 act as signalling compounds in cellular communication and general metabolism.

Phytosterols may block cholesterol absorption sites in the human intestine thus helping to reduce cholesterol in humans.

See also

  • CholesterolCholesterol

    Cholesterol is a sterol and a lipid found in the cell membranes of all body tissues, and transported in the blood plasma of...
  • PhytosterolPhytosterol

    Phytosterols are a group of steroid alcohol, phytochemicals naturally occurring in plants....
  • ErgosterolErgosterol

    Ergosterol, a sterol, is the biological precursor to Vitamin D2....


External links

  • Cyberlipid.org