Comparative conformational analysis of cholesterol and ergosterol by molecular mechanics

A comparative conformational analysis of cholesterol and ergosterol has been carried out using molecular mechanics methods. These studies are aimed at giving a better understanding of the molecular nature of the interaction of these sterols with polyene macrolide antibiotics. Structures of cholesterol and ergosterol determined by X-ray methods have been used as initial geometries of these molecules for force field calculations. The calculation of steric energy has also been made for conformations which do not appear in the crystal. The latter conformers have different conformations of the side chain as well as different conformations of rings A and D. The rotational barriers around bonds C17-C20 and C20-C22 have also been calculated. The results obtained on differences and similarities in the conformations of cholesterol and ergosterol allow us to postulate a mechanism for differential interaction with the antibiotics. The relatively rigid side chain of ergosterol (stretched molecule) in comparison with the flexible side chain of cholesterol (bent molecule), allows better intermolecular contact of the first sterol molecule with a polyene macrolide and in consequence facilitates complex formation involving Van der Waal's forces.