ecdysteroid

English

Structure diagram of ecdysterone (20-hydroxyecdysone), an arthropod ecdysteroid

Etymology

From ecdysis (“shedding, moulting”) (from Ancient Greek ἔκδυσις (ékdusis, “stripping”)) + steroid.

Noun

ecdysteroid (plural ecdysteroids)

1. (organic chemistry, biochemistry) Any of a group of hormones responsible for moulting in insects and other functions in other invertebrates and plants.
   • 2007, Guy Smagghe, “12: Insect Cell Lines as Tools in Insecticide Mode of Action Research”, in Isaac Ishaaya, Ralf Nauen, A. Rami Horowitz, editors, Insecticides Design Using Advanced Technologies, Springer, page 269:

     The ecdysteroid group includes more than 250 polyhydroxysterols that occur in plants and animals, with 20-hydroxyecdysone (20-OH-E) being the physiologically active moulting hormone in most insects (Lafont 2000).

   • 2008, John L. Capinera, editor, Encyclopedia of Entomology, 2nd edition, Springer, page 1279:

     In some dipteran species, ecdysteroids synthesis starts at almost the same time as the onset of vitellogenin synthesis, whereas in other species like orthopterans the synthesis starts only towards the end of vitellogenin uptake.

   • 2009, Penny M. Hopkins, “Chapter 3: Crustacean Ecdysteroids and their Receptors”, in Guy Smagghe, editor, Ecdysone: Structures and Functions, Springer, page 73:

     Ecdysteroids in crustaceans differ substantially from those of their fellow arthropods, the insects. Crustacean ecdysteroids and ecdysteroid nuclear receptors are similar to those of insects, but differ in the number of hormones and in the number and structure of the receptor isoforms.

Derived terms

• ecdysteroidal
• phytoecdysteroid

Translations

any of a group of hormones present in arthropods and in plants

• French: ecdystéroïde ?
• German: Ecdysteroid n
• Spanish: ecdisteroide m

See also

• ecdysone