Synthesis and Bioanalysis of Steroids and Steroid Biosynthesis Inhibitors

Dear Colleagues,

Steroids are a versatile and structurally diverse class of molecules widespread in nature. They are known as cell-building material and as signaling molecules. In recent years, our understanding of the role of steroids and steroid biosynthesis enzymes has significantly evolved. Recent studies have shown that steroids have diverse and hitherto unknown physiological functions. They are involved in the pathomechanisms of diseases or play a role in the inflammatory process in humans. Furthermore, the main target of antifungal therapy is the ergosterol biosynthesis or directly ergosterol, and related mechanisms have been found in other pathogenic organisms such as protozoa. Thus, the function of the steroids, the enzymes involved in their biosynthesis, as well as inhibitors of these enzymes as drug candidates are of great interest. Hence, the demand for authentic steroid standards for their use in bioassays and for analytical approaches cannot be met by simply extraction of steroids from natural sources. Consequently, new methods for isolation and total and partial synthesis of steroids are highly demanded.

This Special Issue is devoted to recent developments in biochemistry, chemistry, and qualitative and quantitative analysis of steroids from different origins to get a better insight into the molecular mechanisms of physiological functions and metabolism of steroids.

This also includes the development of steroid biosynthesis inhibitors as molecular tools for studying pathomechanisms, as novel drugs fighting against upcoming antifungal drug resistance, or as first-in-class drug candidates targeting distinct enzymes in cholesterol biosynthesis, whose enormous therapeutic potential has been highlighted in the past few years.

Prof. Dr. Franz Bracher
Dr. Christoph Müller
Guest Editors

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