Crossword clues for ergosterol
The Collaborative International Dictionary
ergosterol \ergosterol\ n. a plant sterol that is converted into vitamin D by ultraviolet radiation.
Wiktionary
n. (context steroid hormone mycology English) The steroid precursor of vitamin D2. It is found in cell membranes of fungi, and is their functional equivalent of cholesterol. It is also found in the membranes of some protists.
WordNet
n. a plant sterol that is converted into vitamin D by ultraviolet radiation
Wikipedia
Ergosterol (ergosta-5,7,22-trien-3β-ol) is a sterol found in cell membranes of fungi and protozoa, serving many of the same functions that cholesterol serves in animal cells. Because many fungi and protozoa cannot survive without ergosterol, the enzymes that create it have become important targets for drug discovery. Ergosterol is a provitamin form of vitamin D; exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light causes a chemical reaction that produces vitamin D.
Usage examples of "ergosterol".
He arose at the crack of dawn, when he began to take his secret medicines: potassium bromide to raise his spirits, salicylates for the ache in his bones when it rained, ergosterol drops for vertigo, belladonna for sound sleep.