2,3-Oxidosqualene
| Names | |
|---|---|
| Preferred IUPAC name 2,2-Dimethyl-3-[(3E,7E,11E,15E)-3,7,12,16,20-pentamethylhenicosa-3,7,11,15,19-pentaen-1-yl]oxirane | |
| Other names Squalene oxide 2,3-Squalene oxide Squalene epoxide Squalene-2,3-epoxide | |
| Identifiers | |
| 3D model (JSmol) | |
| ChEBI | |
| ChemSpider | |
| MeSH | 2,3-oxidosqualene | 
| PubChem CID | |
| UNII | |
| CompTox Dashboard (EPA) | |
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| Properties | |
| C30H50O | |
| Molar mass | 426.717 g/mol | 
| Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). Infobox references | |
(S)-2,3-Oxidosqualene ((S)-2,3-epoxysqualene) is an intermediate in the synthesis of the cell membrane sterol precursors lanosterol and cycloartenol, as well as saponins. It is formed when squalene is oxidized by the enzyme squalene monooxygenase. 2,3-Oxidosqualene is the substrate of various oxidosqualene cyclases, including lanosterol synthase, which produces lanosterol, a precursor to cholesterol.
The stereoisomer (R)-2,3-oxidosqualene is an inhibitor of lanosterol synthase.