The "other" inositols and their phosphates: synthesis, biology, and medicine (with recent advances in myo-inositol chemistry)

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150 Citations (SciVal)

Abstract

Cell signaling via inositol phosphates, in particular via the second messenger myo-inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate, and phosphoinositides comprises a huge field of biology. Of the nine 1,2,3,4,5,6-cyclohexanehexol isomers, myo-inositol is pre-eminent, with "other" inositols (cis-, epi-, allo-, muco-, neo-, L-chiro-, D-chiro-, and scyllo-) and derivatives rarer or thought not to exist in nature. However, neo- and D-chiro-inositol hexakisphosphates were recently revealed in both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, thus highlighting the paucity of knowledge of the origins and potential biological functions of such stereoisomers, a prevalent group of environmental organic phosphates, and their parent inositols. Some "other" inositols are medically relevant, for example, scyllo-inositol (neurodegenerative diseases) and D-chiro-inositol (diabetes). It is timely to consider exploration of the roles and applications of the "other" isomers and their derivatives, likely by exploiting techniques now well developed for the myo series.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1614-1650
JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition
Volume55
Issue number5
Early online date22 Dec 2015
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 26 Jan 2016

Keywords

  • Cyclitols
  • Inositol
  • Isomers
  • Phosphates
  • Synthetic methods

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