Editing Steroid (section)

{{Short description|Polycyclic organic compound having sterane as a core structure}}
{{about|the family of polycyclic compounds|the drugs, also used as performance-enhancing substances|Anabolic steroid|the scientific journal|Steroids (journal)|the Death Grips EP|Steroids (Crouching Tiger Hidden Gabber Megamix)}}
{{pp-move}}
{{pp-pc}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2023}}
{{cs1 config|name-list-style=vanc}}
[[Image:Trimethyl steroid-nomenclature.svg|thumb|right|alt=Complex chemical diagram|class=skin-invert-image|Structure of 24-ethyl-[[lanostane]], a prototypical steroid with 32 carbon atoms. Its core ring system (ABCD), composed of 17 carbon atoms, is shown with [[IUPAC]]-approved ring lettering and atom numbering.<ref name = "IUPAC_steroids"/>{{rp|1785f}}]]A '''steroid''' is an [[organic compound]] with four [[fused compound|fused]] rings (designated A, B, C, and D) arranged in a specific [[molecular configuration]]. 
 
Steroids have two principal biological functions: as important components of [[cell membrane]]s that alter [[membrane fluidity]]; and as [[signal transduction|signaling molecules]]. Examples include the [[lipid]] [[cholesterol]], sex hormones [[estradiol]] and [[testosterone]],<ref name = "Lednicer_2011">{{cite book  | vauthors = Lednicer D | title = Steroid Chemistry at a Glance | year = 2011 | publisher = Wiley | location = Hoboken | isbn = 978-0-470-66084-3 }}</ref>{{rp|10–19}} [[anabolic steroid]]s, and the [[anti-inflammatory]] corticosteroid drug [[dexamethasone]].<ref name="pmid16236742">{{cite journal | vauthors = Rhen T, Cidlowski JA | title = Antiinflammatory action of glucocorticoids--new mechanisms for old drugs | journal = The New England Journal of Medicine | volume = 353 | issue = 16 | pages = 1711–1723 | date = October 2005 | pmid = 16236742 | doi = 10.1056/NEJMra050541 | s2cid = 5744727 }}</ref> Hundreds of steroids are found in [[Fungus|fungi]], [[plant]]s, and [[animal]]s. All steroids are manufactured in cells from a [[sterols|sterol]]: [[Cholesterol|cholestero]]<nowiki/>l (animals),[[lanosterol]] ([[opisthokonts]]), or [[cycloartenol]] (plants). All three of these molecules are produced via [[Cyclic compound|cyclization]] of the [[triterpene]] [[squalene]].<ref name="urlLanosterol biosynthesis">{{cite web | url = http://www.chem.qmul.ac.uk/iubmb/enzyme/reaction/terp/lanost.html | title = Lanosterol biosynthesis | publisher = International Union Of Biochemistry And Molecular Biology | work = Recommendations on Biochemical & Organic Nomenclature, Symbols & Terminology | access-date = 28 November 2006 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110308161403/http://www.chem.qmul.ac.uk/iubmb/enzyme/reaction/terp/lanost.html | archive-date = 8 March 2011 | url-status = dead }}</ref>