ergosterol

[ ur-gos-tuh-rohl, -rawl ]

noun

, Biochemistry.

1. a colorless, crystalline, water-insoluble sterol, C 28 H 43 OH, that occurs in ergot and yeast and that, when irradiated with ultraviolet light, is converted to vitamin D.

ergosterol

/ ɜːˈɡɒstəˌrɒl /

noun

1. a plant sterol that is converted into vitamin D by the action of ultraviolet radiation. Formula: C 28 H 43 OH

Word History and Origins

Origin of ergosterol¹

First recorded in 1885–90; ergo- ² + sterol

Example Sentences

Azoles deplete ergosterol, which results in killing of the pathogen cell.

From Science Daily

Together, the teams uncovered the mechanism of the drug: AmB kills fungi by acting like a sponge to extract ergosterol from fungal cells.

From Science Daily

They found that AmBMU’s lower potency wasn’t so much because of a looser binding between it and ergosterol, but the slower pace at which the molecule stripped out the membrane component.

From Science Magazine

Other eukaryotes—organisms with complex cells—produce their own sterols, including stigmasterol in plants and ergosterol in fungi.

From Science Magazine

Further experiments revealed the pathogens were releasing less of a molecule called ergosterol, which made them visible to the ants.

From Science Magazine