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==Description==
[http://crdd.osdd.net/raghava/hmrbase/test_extract.php?&db=arun&table=nphormonet&id=1235&show=SHOW-3D Show 3-D Structure]

A steroid of interest both because its biosynthesis in FUNGI is a   target of ANTIFUNGAL AGENTS, notably AZOLES, and because when it is   present in SKIN of animals, ULTRAVIOLET RAYS break a bond to result in   ERGOCALCIFEROL.
'''Ergosterol''' (ergosta-5,7,22-trien-3β-ol), a [[sterol]], is a biological precursor (a [[provitamin]]) to [[Vitamin D|Vitamin D<sub>2</sub>]].  It is turned into [[viosterol]] by [[ultraviolet]] light, and is then converted into [[ergocalciferol]], which is a form of Vitamin D.<ref>{{cite journal |author=Rajakumar K, Greenspan SL, Thomas SB, Holick MF |title=SOLAR ultraviolet radiation and vitamin D: a historical perspective |journal=Am J Public Health |volume=97 |issue=10 |pages=1746–54 |year=2007 |month=October |pmid=17761571 |doi=10.2105/AJPH.2006.091736 |url=http://www.ajph.org/cgi/pmidlookup?view=long&pmid=17761571}}</ref>

Ergosterol is a component of [[fungus|fungal]] [[cell membrane]]s, serving the same function that [[cholesterol]] serves in [[animal]] [[cell (biology)|cell]]s. The presence of ergosterol in fungal cell membranes coupled with its absence in animal cell membranes makes it a useful target for [[antifungal drug]]s.  Ergosterol is also present in the cell membranes of some protists, such as [[trypanosome]]s.<ref>{{cite journal |author=Roberts CW, McLeod R, Rice DW, Ginger M, Chance ML, Goad LJ |title=Fatty acid and sterol metabolism: potential antimicrobial targets in apicomplexan and trypanosomatid parasitic protozoa |journal=Mol. Biochem. Parasitol. |volume=126 |issue=2 |pages=129–42 |year=2003 |month=February |pmid=12615312 |doi=10.1016/S0166-6851(02)00280-3}}</ref> This is the basis for the use of some antifungals against West African [[sleeping sickness]].  

[[Amphotericin B]] is an antifungal drug that targets ergosterol.  It binds to ergosterol and creates a polar pore in fungal membranes.  This causes ions (predominantly K<sup>+</sup> and H<sup>+</sup>) and other molecules to leak out, which will kill the cell.<ref>{{cite journal |author=Ellis D |title=Amphotericin B: spectrum and resistance |journal=J. Antimicrob. Chemother. |volume=49 Suppl 1 |issue= |pages=7–10 |year=2002 |month=February |pmid=11801575 |url=http://jac.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/pmidlookup?view=long&pmid=11801575 |doi=10.1093/jac/49.suppl_1.7 |doi_brokendate=2008-07-02}}</ref> Amphotericin B has been replaced by safer agents in most circumstances but is still used, despite its side effects, for life-threatening fungal or protozoa infections. [[Miconazole]] and [[Clotrimazole]] also inhibit synthesis of ergosterol.

Ergosterol is also used as an indicator of fungal biomass in soil. Though ergosterol does degrade over time, if kept below freezing in a dark environment, this degradation can be slowed or even stopped completely.

==General Properties==

<b>*Molecular Weight</b>

396.65

<b>*Molecular Formula</b>

C<sub>2</sub><sub>8</sub>H<sub>4</sub><sub>4</sub>O

<b>*IUPAC NAME</b>

(3S,9S,10R,13R,14R,17R)-17-[(E,2R,5R)-5,6-dimethylhept-3-en-2-yl]-10,13-dimethyl-2,3,4,9,11,12,14,15,16,17-decahydro-1H-cyclopenta[a]phenanthren-3-ol

<b>*Canonical Smiles</b>

CC(C)C(C)C=CC(C)C1CCC2C1(CCC3C2=CC=C4C3(CCC(C4)O)C)C

<b>*Isomeric Smiles</b>

CC(C)[C@@H](C)C=C[C@@H](C)[C@H]1CC[C@@H]2[C@@]1(CC[C@H]3C2=CC=C4[C@@]3(CC[C@@H](C4)O)C)C


==PhysioChemical Properties==

<b>*Melting Point</b>



<b>*LogP</b>



<b>*Water Solubility</b>



==External Links==
*[http://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/summary/summary.cgi?cid=444679]Pubchem
*[http://www.rcsb.org/pdb/cgi/explore.cgi?pdbId=1BXM]]1BXM,
*[http://www.genome.jp/dbget-bin/www_bget?compound+C01694]KEGG Compound
*[http://www.hmdb.ca/metabolites/HMDB00878]Human Metabolome DataBase
*[http://ptcl.chem.ox.ac.uk/MSDS/ER/ergosterol.html Safety (MSDS) data for ergosterol] Oxford University (2005)
== References ==

{{Vitamin}}
{{Cholesterol metabolism intermediates}}
{{Phytosterols}}

[[Category:Cell biology]]
[[Category:Sterols]]
[[Category:Steroids]]
[[Category:Nutrition]]
[[Category:Hormones]]
[[Category:HMRbase]]