Lanosterol is a
tetracyclic
Tetracyclics are cyclic chemical compounds that contain four interconnected rings of atoms, e.g. Tröger's base.
They have various pharmaceutical
A medication (also called medicament, medicine, pharmaceutical drug, medicinal drug or s ...
triterpenoid
Triterpenes are a class of chemical compounds composed of three terpene units with the molecular formula C30H48; they may also be thought of as consisting of six isoprene units. Animals, plants and fungi all produce triterpenes, including squal ...
and is the compound from which all animal and fungal
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 ...
s are derived. By contrast plant steroids are produced via
cycloartenol
Cycloartenol is an important triterpenoid of the sterol class which is found in plants. It is the starting point for the synthesis of almost all plant steroids, making them chemically distinct from the steroids of fungi and animals, which are, ...
.
Role in biosynthesis of other steroids
Elaboration of lanosterol under enzyme catalysis leads to the core structure of steroids. 14-Demethylation of lanosterol by
CYP51
In enzymology, a sterol 14-demethylase () is an enzyme of the Cytochrome P450 (CYP) superfamily. It is any member of the CYP51 family. It catalyzes a chemical reaction such as:
: obtusifoliol + 3 O2 + 3 NADPH + 3 H+ \rightleftharpoons 4alpha-met ...
eventually yields
cholesterol
Cholesterol is any of a class of certain organic molecules called lipids. It is a sterol (or modified steroid), a type of lipid. Cholesterol is biosynthesized by all animal cells and is an essential structural component of animal cell memb ...
.
Biosynthesis
Research
Lanosterol has been identified as a key component in maintaining eye lens clarity. Pre-clinical research has identified Lanosterol as a possible agent for the reversal and prevention of cataracts. In vivo experiments on dogs showed significant reversal of cataracts within 6 weeks of lanosterol injection. In 2018, Lanosterol was shown to improve lens clarity in cells with lens clouding due to aging or physical stressors. A subsequent study found positive results on the optics of the lens in mice with cataracts (Wang, Hoshino,Uesugi, Yagi, Pierscionek and Andley (2022).
Use
Lanosterol is an ingredient in over-the-counter ophthalmic products to prevent cataracts. However, the solubility and bioavailability of lanosterol is not conducive to aqueous formulations. Heliostatix Biotechnology claims to have a method of solubilizing lanosterol for use in aqueous products.
[Heliostatix.org]
See also
*
Cycloartenol
Cycloartenol is an important triterpenoid of the sterol class which is found in plants. It is the starting point for the synthesis of almost all plant steroids, making them chemically distinct from the steroids of fungi and animals, which are, ...
*
CYP51
In enzymology, a sterol 14-demethylase () is an enzyme of the Cytochrome P450 (CYP) superfamily. It is any member of the CYP51 family. It catalyzes a chemical reaction such as:
: obtusifoliol + 3 O2 + 3 NADPH + 3 H+ \rightleftharpoons 4alpha-met ...
References
Further reading
*
*
*
*Wang K, Hoshino M, Uesugi K, Yagi N, Pierscionek BK, Andley,UP. Oxysterol Compounds in mouse mutant αA- and αB-crystallin lenses can improve the optical properties of the lens. Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science, 63 doi:
https://doi.org/10.1167/iovs.63.5.15 (2022)
External links
{{Cholesterol metabolism intermediates
Sterols
Triterpenes
Lanostanes