The Multifunctional Fungal Ergosterol

The roles of ergosterol in the regulation of membrane fluidity and structure, as well its role as a target for the activity of antifungals, have been known for decades. Two recent studies, however, demonstrated that ergosterol is an immunologically active lipid that induces pyroptosis and that virtually all steps of its biosynthetic process are potential drug targets. In combination, those two reports strongly indicate that the biological relevance of ergosterol is broader than the current literature suggests.