Secosteroid

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Steroid skeleton. Note how the "B" ring is broken in Vitamin D.
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Steroid skeleton. Note how the "B" ring is broken in Vitamin D.

A secosteroid is a molecule similar to a steroid but with a "broken" ring.

Secosteroids are very similar in structure to steroids except that two of the B-ring carbon atoms (C9 and 10) of the typical four steroid rings are not joined, whereas in steroids they are.

In humans, the most important secosteroid is Vitamin D.

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