What is the role of sterols in cell membranes?

[hivesaeed4]

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?

 

[aroc91]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sterol

 

[Ygggdrasil]

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.

 

[parkerjm]

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.