The chemical nature of Estrogen is
Correct Answer :
Steroid
Solution :
The correct option is Steroid.
To understand why estrogen is classified as a steroid, we can examine its chemical structure and biochemical origin:
1. Biochemical Group: Hormones are chemically classified into different groups based on their structure, such as amino acid derivatives, peptide/protein hormones, fatty acid derivatives (like eicosanoids), and steroid hormones.
2. Derivation from Cholesterol: Steroid hormones are lipophilic (lipid-soluble) molecules derived from cholesterol. Cholesterol features a characteristic core structure made of four fused carbon rings: three cyclohexane rings and one cyclopentane ring (collectively known as the cyclopentanoperhydrophenanthrene nucleus).
3. Estrogen Structure: Estrogens (such as estradiol, estrone, and estriol) retain this characteristic four-ring carbon skeleton. Because they are synthesized through biosynthetic pathways that modify cholesterol, they belong to the class of steroid hormones.
Therefore, the chemical nature of estrogen is a steroid.
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