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Glite Dictionary
ergosterol

ergosterol

1 9.5
A fat-like chemical in mushrooms and some plants that becomes vitamin D2 in sunlight
  • noun
  • /ˌɜrɡəˈstɛrɒl/
  • Specialized
: ergosterol
  • Recent studies indicate that ergosterol, a compound found in fungi, can be transformed into vitamin D2 when exposed to sunlight.

Examples

  • Amphotericin is a polyene macrolide that binds preferentially to ergosterol in the fungal cell membrane; it also binds human cholesterol.

    Academic text (2008)

  • Analysis of cross-sectional descriptive data on in-home dust showed a pattern of lower levels of ergosterol, Der p1, and Fel d1 in the BEHs.

    Academic text (2011)

  • Scientists are investigating the role of ergosterol in the health benefits of certain mushrooms.

  • The presence of ergosterol in mycelium can help indicate the nutritional quality of various fungal species.

Surface Forms

ergosterol singular
ergosterols plural

Morphology

ergosterol = sterol (semi-transparent) = ergo + sterol

The element 'sterol' clearly signals a sterol, but the preceding element is a specialized chemical combining form not transparently meaningful to general learners.

Etymology

Ergosterol breaks into ergo- and -sterol, and the -sterol part is the same as in cholesterol, which is a 'fat-like molecule'. A helpful way to remember it is that ergosterol is like a 'fungal cholesterol' found in fungi and can turn into vitamin D2 in sunlight.