Cholesterol

Cholesterol is a lipid found in the cell membranes of all tissues, and it is transported in the blood plasma of all animals. Cholesterol is also considered a sterol (a combination steroid and alcohol).

Cholesterol
Cholesterol is small molecule, one of the steroids. It is essential to life.

Cholesterol and Atherosclerosis
Cholesterol has important functions and is needed for
Vitamin D production in skin
Sex hormone production in gonads and adrenal glands
Making cell membranes
Make bile acid (salts) ...

Cholesterol A waxy lipid produced by animal cells that is a major component of cell membranes. Cholesterol is also used as a building block for some hormones.

Cholesterol (see diagram above) is the precursor of several other steroids, including several hormones. It is also an important component of cell membranes.

Cholesterol and steroids: Most mention of these two types of lipids in the news is usually negative.

cholesterol
(kol-ess-teh-rol)
A steroid that forms an essential component of animal cell membranes and acts as a precursor molecule for the synthesis of other biologically important steroids.
Chondrichthyes ...

Cholesterol A sterol that is an important constituent of eukaryotic membranes as well as lipoproteins; also a precursor of steroid hormones.

cholesterol
The Biology Project > Cell Biology > Cell Membranes > Problem Set
The Biology Project
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics
University of Arizona
May 2002
Revised: August 2004
Contact the Development Team ...

Cholesterol is another important component of cell membranes embedded in the hydrophobic areas of the inner (tail-tail) region. Most bacterial cell membranes do not contain cholesterol. Cholesterol aids in the flexibility of a cell membrane.

cholesterol - lipid molecule with a characteristic four-ringed steroid structure that is an important component of the plasma membranes of animal cells ...

cholesterol Steroid that is an integral part of cell membranes and a precursor to other steroidal compounds in animals.
cholinergic Type of nerve fiber that releases acetylcholine from axon terminal.

9. Which of the following are found in the cell membrane?
a. cellulose
b. phospholipids
c. cholesterol
d. proteins ...

>"bad" cholesterol) and decreases HDL ("good" cholesterol) thus
>increasing the risk of heart attack, still the # 1 cause of death in the
>U.S.
> The text also mentioned the protective effect in females of having ...

MRC/BHF Heart Protection Study of cholesterol-lowering with simvastatin in 5963 people with diabetes: a randomised placebo-controlled trial. Lancet 2003;361(9374):2005-16. PMID 12814710.

Cholesterol (← links)
Diabetes insipidus (← links)
Adulterant (← links)
Pickle (← links)
Ilosvay reagent (← links)
Persulphocyanogen (← links)
Myosin (← links)
Hungary (← links)
Wormleys test (← links)
Papyrine (← links) ...

The gene encodes a member of the apolipoprotein (APO) family of proteins that transport cholesterol, triglycerides, and other blood lipids in the body.

The cell membranes found in animal cells contain a chemical called cholesterol. This chemical makes the membrane harder. Plant cells do not need cholesterol, because they have a cell wall, as a result, their cell membranes are softer.

- Primary alcohols found in plant matter which play a role in the reduction of cholesterol and in stimulating apoptosis. Monoterpenes also increase the levels of liver enzymes involved in detoxifying carcinogens.

an organic compound containing four fused carbon rings, for example, cholesterol, sex hormones, vitamin D, and adrenocortical hormone (ACTH)
Source: Noland, George B. 1983. General Biology, 11th Edition. St. Louis, MO. C. V. Mosby
...

Because they do that job, you would expect liver cells to have more peroxisomes than most other cells in a human body. They also play a role in cholesterol synthesis and the digestion of amino acids.

And there are different types of plasma membranes in different types of cells, and the plasma membrane has in it in general a lot of cholesterol as its lipid component. That's different from certain other membranes from within the cell.

to regulate the fluidity of their plasma membranes to meet their particular needs by synthesizing more of certain types of molecules, such as those with specific kinds of bonds that keep them fluid at lower temperatures. The presence of cholesterol ...

See also: Cells, Trans, Protein, Blood, Human