Everything about Sterols totally explained
Sterols, or
steroid alcohols are a subgroup of
steroids with a
hydroxyl group in the 3-position of the A-ring. They are
amphipathic lipids synthesized from
acetyl-coenzyme A. The overall molecule is quite flat. The hydroxyl group on the A ring is
polar. The rest of the
aliphatic chain is
non-polar.
Sterols of
plants are called
phytosterols and sterols of
animals are called
zoosterols. The most important zoosterols are
cholesterol and some
steroid hormones; the most important phytosterols are
campesterol,
sitosterol, and
stigmasterol.
Sterols play essential roles in the physiology of
eukaryotic organisms. For example cholesterol forms part of the
cellular membrane where its presence affects the cell membrane's fluidity and serves as
secondary messenger in developmental signaling.
Phytosterols (plant sterols) are also known to block cholesterol absorption sites in the human intestine thus helping to reduce cholesterol in humans.
In humans, sterols act to provide important signals and metabolic communications eg. circadian rhythms, blood clotting.
Further Information
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