Sterols

Sterols are steroid alcohols such as cholesterol, here listed with oxysterols and bile acids. They share a four-ring steroid nucleus with a hydroxyl group at carbon 3 and help to order the lipids of cell membranes. Oxysterols are oxidized cholesterol derivatives formed by enzymes or by autoxidation. 7α-Hydroxycholesterol, the product of cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase, is the first intermediate of the classic bile acid pathway. Coprostanone is an intermediate in the bacterial reduction of cholesterol to coprostanol in the gut. 24-Methylenecholesterol is a precursor in plant sterol biosynthesis and occurs in pollen. Bile acids, the end products of hepatic cholesterol breakdown, include 3β-Ursodeoxycholic acid and 7-keto-Deoxycholic acid. 16-Dehydropregnenolone acetate is a pregnane steroid used as an intermediate in steroid synthesis.