What is the role of sterols in cell membranes?

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Sterols are a class of lipids, not receptors for microorganisms. They play various roles in the body, including acting as hormones that interact with nuclear receptors. In cell membranes, sterols primarily serve a structural function, influencing membrane fluidity. For instance, plants in colder climates typically have fewer sterols in their membranes compared to those in tropical environments, as this adaptation helps maintain membrane integrity under different temperature conditions.
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I don't get what they are. My professor said that they were receptors (present in the cell membrane) for different microorganisms but I just can't understand it because my understanding of a receptor is like a receptor for a hormone. Do sterols work similarly?
 
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Sterols are not receptors for microorganisms. They are a class of lipids that play a number of roles in the body. Some sterols are hormones that act on nuclear receptors.
 
Sterols found in the cell membrane typically serve a structural role; they decrease the fluidity of the membrane. As an example, a plant adapted to survive in colder temperatures will typically have fewer sterols in its cells' membranes than, say, a plant adapted for tropical environments.
 
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