sterol
(Science: chemistry) Any steroid-based alcohol having a hydrocarbon (aliphatic) side-chain of 8-10 carbons at the 17-beta position and a hydroxyl group at the 3-beta position (therfore an alcohol).
cholesterol is a sterol. Because of its hydrophilic property at the -OH end and hydrophobicity at the hydrocarbon side chain, it can be incorporated into the lipid bilayers of the cytoplasmic membrane. However, sterols only exist in the cytoplasmic membranes of eukaryotes while in prokaryotes, virtually none have sterols in their membranes except mycoplasmas, a group of cell wall-less bacteria.
Dictionary > Sterol
You will also like...
Role of Golgi Apparatus & Endoplasmic Reticulum in Protein Synthesis
The endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatus are the organelles involved in the translation step of protein synthesis a..
Insects
There are more species of insects than any other species combined. This surely illustrates that insects have the selecti..
A Balanced Diet – Minerals and Proteins
Proteins and minerals can be derived from various dietary sources. They are essential for the proper growth and developm..
Roots
This study guide tackles plant roots in greater detail. It delves into the development of plant roots, the root structur..
Origins of Life on Earth
Earth was created around 4.5 billion years ago and life began not long after. Primitive life likely possessed the elemen..
The Human Nervous System
The nervous system is essentially a biological information highway. This tutorial gives an overview of the nervous syste..