The enantiomer of cholesterol

Abstract

Cholesterol plays a variety of significant roles in biological systems. However, the mechanisms by which cholesterol functions remain largely unclear. The enantiomer of cholesterol (ent-cholesterol) - which has identical physical properties, but opposite three-dimensional configuration compared to cholesterol - is a unique tool that can be used to better understand the mechanisms of cholesterol function. We review the literature pertaining to ent-cholesterol, focusing in particular on its use in biological studies. © Springer Science+Business Media, Inc. 2004.