The effects of lithium ion and other agents on the activity of myo-inositol-1-phosphatase from bovine brain.

A novel type of bacterium has been isolated from various geothermally heated locales on the sea floor. The organisms are strictly anaerobic, rod-shaped, fermentative, extremely thermophilic and grow between 55 and 90°C with an optimum of around 80°C. Cells show a unique sheath-like structure and monotrichous flagellation. By 16S rRNA sequencing they clearly belong to the eubacteria, although no close relationship to any known group could be detected. The majority of their lipids appear to be unique in structure among the eubacteria. Isolate MSB8 is described as Thermotoga maritima, representing the new genus Thermotoga.

Thermotoga maritima sp. nov. represents a new genus of unique extremely thermophilic eubacteria growing up to 90°C

The phosphoinositides are minor phospholipids present in all eukaryotic cells. They are storage forms for messenger molecules that transmit signals across the cell membrane and evoke responses to extracellular agonists. The phosphoinositides break down to liberate messenger molecules or precursors of messenger molecules. Many different compounds are formed, although the functions of only a few are understood. Recent studies elaborating the pathways for formation of products from phosphoinositides and the factors controlling their metabolism are summarized here.

https://science.sciencemag.org/content/sci/234/4783/1519.full.pdf

The metabolism of phosphoinositide-derived messenger molecules

Following the discovery of inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate as a second messenger, many other inositol phosphates were discovered in quick succession, with some understanding of their synthesis pathways and a few guesses at their possible functions. But then it all seemed to go comparatively quiet, with an explosion of interest in the inositol lipids. Now the water-soluble phase is once again becoming a focus of interest. Old and new data point to a new vista of inositol phosphates, with functions in many diverse aspects of cell biology, such as ion-channel physiology, membrane dynamics and nuclear signalling.

https://www.mrc-lmb.cam.ac.uk/rlw/text/phdrefs4.pdf

Back in the water: the return of the inositol phosphates

Potential role and therapeutic interests of myo-inositol in metabolic diseases.

d-Myoinositol 1-Phosphate as Product of Cyclization of Glucose 6-Phosphate and Substrate for a Specific Phosphatase in Rat Testis

Inositol formation by cyclization of glucose chain in rat testis.

Cyclic butaneboronic acid esters: novel derivatives for the rapid separation of carbohydrates by gas-liquid chromatography.

Biosynthesis of inositol in rat testis homogenate

THE discovery of an active system in rat testis for synthesis of inositol has been reported recently1. The possibility that spermatozoa are the cellular site of synthesis was considered, and epididymal sperm cells were therefore tested for synthetic ability; no significant formation of inositol was observed. Further tracing of the male reproductive tract showed that minces of epididymis and combined seminal vesicle, coagulating gland, and prostate were less than 1/100 as active as whole testis and less than 1/30 as active as testis homogenate in forming inositol from glucose-U-14C. Previous investigations1 with tissue homogenates failed to elicit synthesis in rat brain, kidney, lung, liver, spleen, and lactating mammary gland ; a small synthesis of inositol has been demonstrated2 in slices of rat brain, kidney, and liver.

Frank Eisenberg

Papers

d-Myoinositol 1-Phosphate as Product of Cyclization of Glucose 6-Phosphate and Substrate for a Specific Phosphatase in Rat Testis

Inositol formation by cyclization of glucose chain in rat testis.

Cyclic butaneboronic acid esters: novel derivatives for the rapid separation of carbohydrates by gas-liquid chromatography.

Biosynthesis of inositol in rat testis homogenate

Reproductive tract as site of synthesis and secretion of inositol in the male rat.