Sterol
Sterol
Sterol (pronunciation: /ˈstɛrɒl, ˈstiːr-, -əl/), also known as steroid alcohol, is a type of organic molecule. It is a subgroup of steroids and an important class of organic molecules. They occur naturally in plants, animals, and fungi, with the most familiar type of animal sterol being cholesterol.
Etymology
The term "sterol" comes from the Greek words "stereos" meaning solid, and "ol" a suffix used in chemistry to denote alcohol.
Function
Sterols, particularly cholesterol, are crucial components of cell membranes and are precursors to other biologically important steroids, such as corticosteroids, glucocorticoids, and sex hormones.
Types of Sterols
There are several types of sterols, including:
- Cholesterol: The most common type of sterol, found in animal cells.
- Phytosterols: These are plant sterols, which have a structure similar to that of cholesterol.
- Mycosterols: These are sterols found in fungi.
Related Terms
- Lipid: Sterols are a type of lipid, a group of naturally occurring molecules that include fats, waxes, sterols, fat-soluble vitamins (such as vitamins A, D, E, and K), monoglycerides, diglycerides, triglycerides, and phospholipids.
- Steroid: Sterols are a subgroup of steroids, which are organic compounds with four rings arranged in a specific molecular configuration.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Sterol
- Wikipedia's article - Sterol
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