Sterolico

Sterolico is an adjective used in Italian and related contexts to describe things related to sterols, a subgroup of steroids that contain a hydroxyl group and a characteristic four-ring structure. In English, a closely related term is sterolic or sterol-related. The term is used across biochemistry, physiology, and plant and medical sciences to refer to sterols, their properties, biosynthesis, and roles.

Sterols are essential components of eukaryotic cell membranes, where they help regulate fluidity and permeability. They also serve as precursors for other important molecules, including bile acids, steroid hormones, and vitamin D.

Major examples of sterols include cholesterol in animals; sitosterol, campesterol, and stigmasterol in plants; and ergosterol in fungi. Each sterol has a distinct distribution and function in its organism, contributing to membrane structure and metabolic processes.

Biosynthesis of sterols commonly proceeds via the mevalonate pathway, starting from acetyl-CoA and leading to isoprenoid intermediates that are cyclized into the sterol nucleus. In animals and fungi, the end product is cholesterol or ergosterol respectively, while plants produce various plant sterols. Regulation of sterol synthesis, such as through HMG-CoA reductase, is a key control point in cellular metabolism.

Analytically, sterols are studied by methods like gas chromatography and high-performance liquid chromatography, often after chemical derivatization and saponification. Nutritional science examines dietary sterols and their effects on cholesterol metabolism and overall health.

The term sterolico thus anchors a wide range of topics from molecular structure to organismal physiology and dietary science, reflecting the central role of sterols in biology.