Sterane

Steranes constitute a class of tetracyclic triterpanes derived from steroids or sterols via diagenetic and catagenetic degradation, such as hydrogenation.

[2] They have an androstane skeleton with a side chain at the C-17 carbon, constituting the scaffold of all sterols.

[4] Sterols are produced via protosterols that are direct cyclization compounds of squalene by the catalysis of oxidosqualene cyclase.

[5] In contrast, diagenetic products of protosterols (called protostanes and cyclosteranes) are widely distributed in older Proterozoic rocks and imply the presence of extinct proto-eukaryotes and/or sterol-producing bacteria before the evolution of crown-group eukaryotes.

Cholesterol and its derivatives (such as progesterone, aldosterone, cortisol, and testosterone), are common examples of compounds with the sterane scaffold.