Lanosterol
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| Lanosterol | |
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| Chemical name | lanosta-8,24-dien-3-ol |
| Chemical formula | C30H50O |
| Molecular mass | 426.70 g/mol |
| CAS number | [79-63-0] |
| Density | ? g/cm3 |
| Melting point | 138-140 °C |
| Boiling point | ? °C |
| SMILES | |
| Disclaimer and references | |
Lanosterol is a tetracyclic triterpenoid which is the compound from which all steroids are derived. Lanosterol is biochemically synthesized from farnesyl pyrophosphate. The critical step is the enzymatic conversion of the acyclic terpene squalene to the polycylic lanosterol via 2,3-squalene oxide. Further elaboration under enzyme catalysis leads to the core structure of steroids.
[edit] Biosynthesis
- Two molecules of farnesyl pyrophosphate condense with reduction by NADPH to form squalene - by squalene synthase;
- Squalene is reduced by NADPH to 2,3-oxidosqualene (squalene epoxide) - by squalene monooxygenase;
- 2,3-oxidosqualene is converted to a protosterol cation and finally to lanosterol, catalyzed by the enzyme lanosterol synthase:
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
