20S-Hydroxycholesterol is a
steroid
A steroid is a biologically active organic compound with four rings arranged in a specific molecular configuration. Steroids have two principal biological functions: as important components of cell membranes that alter membrane fluidity; and a ...
of the
oxysterol class. It is a human
metabolite
In biochemistry, a metabolite is an intermediate or end product of metabolism.
The term is usually used for small molecules. Metabolites have various functions, including fuel, structure, signaling, stimulatory and inhibitory effects on enzymes, c ...
of
cholesterol.
20S-Hydroxycholesterol has been the subject of research into its role in human health. For example, 20S-hydroxycholesterol has been found to be an
allosteric
In biochemistry, allosteric regulation (or allosteric control) is the regulation of an enzyme by binding an effector molecule at a site other than the enzyme's active site.
The site to which the effector binds is termed the ''allosteric site ...
activator of the
Hedgehog signaling pathway, which has implications in cancer research.
More recently, 20S-hydroxycholesterol was identified as an
endogenous ligand
In biochemistry and pharmacology, a ligand is a substance that forms a complex with a biomolecule to serve a biological purpose. The etymology stems from ''ligare'', which means 'to bind'. In protein-ligand binding, the ligand is usually a m ...
for the
sigma-2 receptor, which had previously been considered an
orphan receptor since its discovery in 1990.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hydroxycholesterol, 20S-
Sterols