Cholesterol
Cholesterol
A steroid alcohol or sterol (hence chole-sterol)
Sterols are a type of lipid which are not made from glycerol or fatty acids
Consists of four carbon-based rings called isoprene-units
Small and hydrophobic therefore it can pass through the hydrophobic middle of
phospholipid bilayer membranes
Regulates the fluidity of the membrane
Mainly found in the liver of animals
Plants have a cholesterol derivative in their membranes called stigmasterol
Stigmasterol only differs from cholesterol in the extra double bond between C 22 and C23
Steroid hormones are all made of cholesterol, hence they can pass through the
hydrophobic part of membranes
Structure
Formula: C₂₆H₄₆0
Cholesterol
A steroid alcohol or sterol (hence chole-sterol)
Sterols are a type of lipid which are not made from glycerol or fatty acids
Consists of four carbon-based rings called isoprene-units
Small and hydrophobic therefore it can pass through the hydrophobic middle of
phospholipid bilayer membranes
Regulates the fluidity of the membrane
Mainly found in the liver of animals
Plants have a cholesterol derivative in their membranes called stigmasterol
Stigmasterol only differs from cholesterol in the extra double bond between C 22 and C23
Steroid hormones are all made of cholesterol, hence they can pass through the
hydrophobic part of membranes
Structure
Formula: C₂₆H₄₆0
