Zymostenol


Zymostenol is an intermediate compound in the biosynthesis of cholesterol and other sterols. It is formed during the conversion of lanosterol to cholesterol, a critical metabolic pathway in animals, fungi, and some protozoa.

Biosynthesis

Zymostenol is produced from 14-demethyl lanosterol via the action of sterol Δ8,7-sterol isomerase. This step is part of the Bloch pathway of cholesterol biosynthesis, where zymostenol is further converted to zymosterol and then to 7-dehydrocholesterol, a direct precursor to cholesterol.