ergosterol

American  

[ur-gos-tuh-rohl, -rawl] / ɜrˈgɒs təˌroʊl, -rɔl /

noun

Biochemistry.

1. a colorless, crystalline, water-insoluble sterol, C 28 H 43 OH, that occurs in ergot and yeast and that, when irradiated with ultraviolet light, is converted to vitamin D.

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ergosterol British  

/ ɜːˈɡɒstəˌrɒl /

noun

1. a plant sterol that is converted into vitamin D by the action of ultraviolet radiation. Formula: C 28 H 43 OH

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Etymology

Origin of ergosterol

First recorded in 1885–90; ergo- ² + sterol

Example Sentences

Instead, they found that azole-induced reduction of ergosterol increase the activity of cellular mitochondria, the "powerhouse" of the cell, required to produce the cellular "fuel" that drives all metabolic processes in the pathogen cell.

From Science Daily • May 31, 2024

They found that AmBMU’s lower potency wasn’t so much because of a looser binding between it and ergosterol, but the slower pace at which the molecule stripped out the membrane component.

From Science Magazine • Nov. 8, 2023

Fungi have plasma membranes similar to other eukaryotes, except that the structure is stabilized by ergosterol, a steroid molecule that functions like the cholesterol found in animal cell membranes.

From Textbooks • Apr. 25, 2013

For instance, the biosynthetic pathways and enzymes that produce cholesterol in humans are very similar to those producing the steroid ergosterol in fungi.

From Scientific American • Jul. 28, 2012

The epitome: Vitamin D made by irradiating ergosterol.

From Time Magazine Archive