Cholesterol is a common precursor to

Cholesterol is a common precursor to

• A. Nucleotides
• B. Peptide hormones
• C. Steroid hormones
• D. Carbohydrates

Answer: (C)

Cholesterol provides the backbone for steroid hormones. The four-ring steroid nucleus in cholesterol is the starting point that enzymes modify to form pregnenolone and then other steroids such as progesterone, cortisol, aldosterone, and the sex hormones. That shared origin is why cholesterol is a common precursor to steroid hormones. Nucleotides, peptide hormones, and carbohydrates come from different building blocks—nucleotides from sugar, phosphate, and bases; peptide hormones from amino acids; carbohydrates from sugars. The cholesterol-derived pathway specifically gives rise to the steroid family, which also explains why these hormones are lipophilic and act by intracellular receptors to regulate gene expression.

Cholesterol provides the backbone for steroid hormones. The four-ring steroid nucleus in cholesterol is the starting point that enzymes modify to form pregnenolone and then other steroids such as progesterone, cortisol, aldosterone, and the sex hormones. That shared origin is why cholesterol is a common precursor to steroid hormones.

Nucleotides, peptide hormones, and carbohydrates come from different building blocks—nucleotides from sugar, phosphate, and bases; peptide hormones from amino acids; carbohydrates from sugars. The cholesterol-derived pathway specifically gives rise to the steroid family, which also explains why these hormones are lipophilic and act by intracellular receptors to regulate gene expression.