STEROIDS

Sterols are an important class of organic molecules. These compounds have a tetracyclic core with a side chain at position 17, which varies according to the family of steroids to wich they belong. They are naturally present in plants and animals, and act as membrane enhancers and precursors of steroid hormones. They are essential primary metabolites in eukaryotic organisms because they regulate the fluidity and permeability of the phospholipid bilayer. The biosynthetic pathway of these sterols is different in animals and plants. Our goal is to develop a sterol probe to understand more clearly the functions of this molecule within the plant cell.

♦ New-to-nature aza-iridoids for bioengineering

PARTNERSHIP

Dr. Hubert Schaller (IBMP)