inositol (redirected from Inositol metabolism)

inositol (ĭnō`sĭtōl): see vitamin.

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inositol [i′näs·ə‚tȯl]

(organic chemistry)

C₆H₆(OH)₆·2H₂O A water-soluble alcohol often grouped with the vitamins; there are nine stereoisomers of hexahydroxycyclohexane, and the only one of biological importance is optically inactivemeso-inositol, comprising white crystals, widely distributed in animals and plants; it serves as a growth factor for animals and microorganisms.

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Inositol

The generic name for hexahydroxycyclohexanes, which are classified as carbohydrates. The inositols have exceptional chemical stability and are easily crystallized. Of the forms common in nature, the most ubiquitous and biologically important is myoinositol, a water-soluble crystalline compound. Many biological functions require myoinositol, and thus it is identified as an essential metabolite. Although originally classified as a vitamin, myoinositol is now known to be a cellular precursor of phospholipids that serve as a source of metabolic regulators and as membrane anchors for certain proteins. Some microorganisms require exogenous myoinositol for growth. See Carbohydrate, Lipid