Ergosterol: meaning, definitions and examples
๐ฌ
ergosterol
[ หษหrหษกษstษหrษl ]
biochemistry
Ergosterol is a sterol found in the membranes of fungi, protozoa, and plants. It plays a crucial role in maintaining the structural integrity of cell membranes, similar to cholesterol in animal cells. Ergosterol is also a precursor for the synthesis of vitamin D2 when exposed to ultraviolet light. Its presence is a marker for fungal contamination in various settings, including food and clinical samples. This compound is of significant interest in the pharmaceutical industry due to its role in antifungal drug formulation.
Synonyms
ergosta-5,7,22-trienol
Examples of usage
- Ergosterol is a key target in antifungal therapies.
- The fungus produces ergosterol for membrane stability.
- Ultraviolet light converts ergosterol to vitamin D2.
- Testing for ergosterol helps identify fungal infections.
Translations
Translations of the word "ergosterol" in other languages:
๐ต๐น ergosterol
๐ฎ๐ณ เค เคฐเฅเคเฅเคธเฅเคเฅเคฐเฅเคฒ
๐ฉ๐ช Ergosterol
๐ฎ๐ฉ ergosterol
๐บ๐ฆ ะตัะณะพััะตัะพะป
๐ต๐ฑ ergosterol
๐ฏ๐ต ใจใซใดในใใญใผใซ
๐ซ๐ท ergostรฉrol
๐ช๐ธ ergosterol
๐น๐ท ergosterol
๐ฐ๐ท ์๋ฅด๊ณ ์คํ ๋กค
๐ธ๐ฆ ุฅุฑุฌูุณุชูุฑูู
๐จ๐ฟ ergosterol
๐ธ๐ฐ ergosterol
๐จ๐ณ ้บฆ่ง็พ้
๐ธ๐ฎ ergosterol
๐ฎ๐ธ ergรณsterรณl
๐ฐ๐ฟ ะตัะณะพััะตัะพะป
๐ฌ๐ช แแ แแแกแขแแ แแแ
๐ฆ๐ฟ ergosterol
๐ฒ๐ฝ ergosterol
Word origin
The term 'ergosterol' originates from the French word 'ergosterol', which was derived from 'ergosterol' referring to ergosterin, a sterol found in yeast. The root 'ergo-' comes from Greek 'ergon', meaning work, reflecting the compound's significance in cellular functions. The suffix '-sterol' comes from the word 'sterol', indicating its structure related to steroids. Ergosterol was first isolated in the 1930s, and its importance in mycology and biochemistry has been studied extensively since its discovery. Researchers have found that ergosterol is not only vital for fungi but also plays essential roles in various biological processes, making it a significant focus of research in fields ranging from microbiology to pharmacology.