title: The "Other" Inositols and Their Phosphates: Synthesis, Biology, and Medicine (with Recent Advances in myo-Inositol Chemistry).
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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy & Pharmacology, University of Bath, Claverton Down, Bath, BA2 7AY, UK.
authors.forename: Mark P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy & Pharmacology, University of Bath, Claverton Down, Bath, BA2 7AY, UK.
authors.forename: Stephen J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Mills
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, University of Oxford, Mansfield Road, Oxford, OX1 3QT, UK. barry.potter@pharm.ox.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Barry V L
authors.initials: BV
authors.lastname: Potter
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D007295:Inositol Phosphates / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D007295:Inositol Phosphates
keywords: cyclitols; inositol; isomers; phosphates; synthetic methods