Consider the structure of cholesterol, a small, hydrophobic molecule with a sterol backbone similar to that of

Question:

Consider the structure of cholesterol, a small, hydrophobic molecule with a sterol backbone similar to that of three of the hormones shown in Figure 16−40, but possessing fewer polar groups such as –OH, =O, and –COO–. If cholesterol were not normally found in cell membranes, could it be used effectively as a hormone if an appropriate intracellular receptor evolved?

Figure 16−40