Chemical Properties
Off-White Solid
Uses
Desmosterol has been used as a sterol to test its interaction with human protein Mincle and as an internal standard in ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS). It may be used as in the preparation of lipid monolayers.
Uses
24-dehydro Cholesterol is an immediate precursor to cholesterol in the Bloch pathway of cholesterol biosynthesis. Structurally, it varies from cholesterol only by a single double bond at carbon 24 and has been used as cholesterol substitute in cellular membrane studies. During brain development, 24-dehydro cholesterol transiently accumulates, composing up to 30% of total brain sterol, where it is poised to rapidly enrich membrane sterols. However, defects in cholesterol synthesis can lead to a condition called, desmosterolosis, which results in an accumulation of excess 24-dehydro cholesterol. 24-dehydro Cholesterol has been reported to activate liver X receptor-target genes in both the liver of cholesterol-free mice and in cholesterol-starved macrophage foam cells in atherosclerotic lesions.[Cayman Chemical]
Uses
A metabolite of Cholesterol (C432501).
Definition
ChEBI: A cholestanoid that is cholesta-5,24-diene substituted by a beta-hydroxy group at position 3. It is an intermediate metabolite obtained during the synthesis of cholesterol.
General Description
Desmosterol lacks a double bond between C24 and C25 compared to cholesterol. It is present in the membrane of spermatozoa and astrocytes and is the major brain sterol.
Biochem/physiol Actions
Desmosterol is a precursor of cholesterol in the Bloch pathway and the enzyme 24-dehydrocholesterol reductase catalyzes this step. Desmosterol accumulates during impairment of 24-dehydrocholesterol reductase enzyme thereby leading to desmosterolosis. Desmosterol is a liver X receptor (LXR) agonist . It is a potential therapeutic target for treating the neurodegenerative disorder. Desmosterol regulates inflammatory signaling in macrophages.
