Chemistry And Biological Activity Of Steroids

The steroid scaffold continues to be the structural basis of new drugs for a variety of targets and diseases. Indeed, steroids interact with enzymes and receptors in a strikingly specific manner. Chemistry and Biological Activity of Steroids aims to provide an updated overview of recent advances in the medicinal chemistry of steroids. Novel synthetic methods in the steroids field, including steroid biotransformations, new steroids able to tackle steroid receptors, and steroid enzymes with clinical relevance, are critically reviewed in this book. Furthermore, the diverse physiopathological roles of oxysterols and their therapeutic value are also discussed.

Molecular Structure and Biological Activity of Steroids focuses on the indentification of steroid structural features that control particular biological effects. Steroid geometry plays a critical role in steroid activity; therefore, the results of X-ray crystallographic, NMR spectroscopic, and theoretical studies on structure-activity relationships form an integral part of the book. Well-established observations and proposed models are presented, summarizing knowledge of molecular features (e.g., steroid backbone structures, side-chain constitutions, substitution sites, configurations, hydrogen-bonding patterns) that can affect steroid action. The book also provides overviews about recent progress in various frontier fields of steroid research, including such areas as sex steroids, glucocorticoids, aromatase inhibitors, vitamin D metabolites, brassinosteroids, neuromuscular blocking agents, and cardiotonic steroids. Molecular Structure and Biological Activity of Steroids is a "must-have" resource for biochemists, pharmacologists, endocrinologists, biophysicists, and others actively involved in steroid research.

The term steroid has become virtually synonymous with drug abuse in sport to the majority of the public. However these steroids - androgens - actually comprise only a single relatively small class of biologically active steroids, and are overshadowed by a large collection of compounds, a sizeable number of which are commercial drugs that share the same structural carbon skeleton. The development of these drugs has led to a large body of organic chemistry often denoted as "Steroid Chemistry". Steroid Chemistry At A Glance provides a concise overview of the main principles and reactions of steroid chemistry. Topics covered include: history, isolation and structure determination of steroids steroid nomenclature and stereochemistry natural sources of steroids synthesis and reactions of aromatic a-ring steroids, androstanes, and pregnanes steroids with a spirolactone at position 17 steroids with hetrocyclic ring A compounds derived from cholesterol Based on the highly successful and student friendly "at a glance" approach, the information is presented in integrated, self contained double page spreads of text and illustrative material. Students of chemistry and pharmacy using Steroid Chemistry at a Glance will find they have a resource with which they can quickly, concisely and confidently acquire, regularly review and revise the basic facts that underpin the properties, synthesis and reactions of this important class of natural products. It will also serve as a handy bench reference for postgraduates and professional chemists.

Steroids are a large group of compounds whose structure is based on a 17-carbon skeleton, with a specific cyclopentanoperhydrophenanthrene ring system. Natural steroids have been fine-tuned through evolution to build membranes; act as chemical messengers that regulate metabolic, immune and reproductive functions in animals and stimulate the growth of, or otherwise protect, animal organisms. The steroid core represents a suitable motive for structural modifications. Therefore, a large group of semi-synthetic steroid derivatives have occupied the attention of synthetic chemists as well as medicinal chemists due to their potential biological activity, including anticancer, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and (anti)hormonal activities. This Reprint of the Special Issue of Molecules titled "Steroid Compounds with Potential Biological Activity" is dedicated to both experimental and theoretical studies on steroid chemistry, structural biology, biosynthesis, metabolism, and pharmacology. The Issue focuses on the isolation and synthesis of steroid compounds, diverse in origin, as well as their structural characterization and identification. Published articles and reviews relate to in vitro and in silico studies of the pharmacological properties, molecular biology, biochemistry and structural biology of steroids.

The many new and fascinating data which have been gathered in the period 1985-1990 have made molecular endocrinology into a mature discipline stimulating creative chemists to design innovative drugs. Within a few years, the primary structures of all the steroid receptor proteins and most of the steroid-converting enzymes have been determined and detailed studies of their mechanism of action at a molecular level have become possible. Medicinal chemists have developed steroidal affinity probes to examine the binding sites of enzymes and receptors, and these investigations were supplemented with studies of modified enzymes and receptors prepared with the aid of site-directed mutagenesis. In view of these rapid scientific developments, the author deemed it appropriate to review the present knowledge of the medicinal chemistry of the steroids. In this book, the discussion is supported by the addition of some chapters which summarize the available data on the biological counterparts of the steroids, the steroid-converting enzymes and the steroid receptors.

Molecular Structure and Biological Activity of Steroids focuses on the indentification of steroid structural features that control particular biological effects. Steroid geometry plays a critical role in steroid activity; therefore, the results of X-ray crystallographic, NMR spectroscopic, and theoretical studies on structure-activity relationships form an integral part of the book. Well-established observations and proposed models are presented, summarizing knowledge of molecular features (e.g., steroid backbone structures, side-chain constitutions, substitution sites, configurations, hydrogen-bonding patterns) that can affect steroid action. The book also provides overviews about recent progress in various frontier fields of steroid research, including such areas as sex steroids, glucocorticoids, aromatase inhibitors, vitamin D metabolites, brassinosteroids, neuromuscular blocking agents, and cardiotonic steroids. Molecular Structure and Biological Activity of Steroids is a "must-have" resource for biochemists, pharmacologists, endocrinologists, biophysicists, and others actively involved in steroid research.

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