Steroid

<p>A steroid is an <a href="/facts/Organic_compound/gqCNaN45">organic compound</a> with four <a href="/facts/Fused_compound/WfstMqT6">fused</a> rings (designated A, B, C, and D) arranged in a specific <a href="/facts/Molecular_configuration/9GwAHtk6">molecular configuration</a>. 
</p><p>Steroids have two principal biological functions: as important components of <a href="/facts/Cell_membrane/vAXSD0DT">cell membranes</a> that alter <a href="/facts/Membrane_fluidity/Q19FXbJM">membrane fluidity</a>; and as <a href="/facts/Signal_transduction/1bs0Me6w">signaling molecules</a>. Examples include the <a href="/facts/Lipid/TdQR87HX">lipid</a> <a href="/facts/Cholesterol/TnfPlYc1">cholesterol</a>, sex hormones <a href="/facts/Estradiol/eCg3UCgX">estradiol</a> and <a href="/facts/Testosterone/uUumdhAz">testosterone</a>,: 10–19  <a href="/facts/Anabolic_steroid/f9KAXfTF">anabolic steroids</a>, and the <a href="/facts/Anti-inflammatory/W27poSUd">anti-inflammatory</a> corticosteroid drug <a href="/facts/Dexamethasone/rwAhDqls">dexamethasone</a>. Hundreds of steroids are found in <a href="/facts/Fungus/BHo5DP59">fungi</a>, <a href="/facts/Plant/X5BMDMvS">plants</a>, and <a href="/facts/Animal/4b8J33nd">animals</a>. All steroids are manufactured in cells from a <a href="/facts/Sterols/QrVlPnWn">sterol</a>: <a href="/facts/Cholesterol/TnfPlYc1">cholesterol</a> (animals), <a href="/facts/Lanosterol/nmuMgCK3">lanosterol</a> (<a href="/facts/Opisthokonts/y2AkoxVG">opisthokonts</a>), or <a href="/facts/Cycloartenol/Wxd9dM6P">cycloartenol</a> (plants). All three of these molecules are produced via <a href="/facts/Cyclic_compound/TH2ReKIQ">cyclization</a> of the <a href="/facts/Triterpene/IaToe1HU">triterpene</a> <a href="/facts/Squalene/Ua31mYv4">squalene</a>.
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Steroid open-in-new

Steroid