Inositol phosphates biological functions

Phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate (PI-4-P, 3) is the second most abundant inositol phospholipid in biological membranes. It is a product of phosphorylation by four different species of PI 4-kinases (21), and it is a precursor to PI-4,5-P2 and PI-3,4,5-P3. These kinases are the two inositol lipids whose biological roles are understood best. The biological function of PI-4-P is not well known however, the studies in yeast indicate its role extends beyond the substrate for PI 5-kinase (21), such as regulation of vesicular trafficking and protein secretion from Golgi. PI-4-P is removed by the subsequent phosphorylation to PI-4,5-P2 or dephosphorylation to PI by ER-localized phosphatase (21). 

We were drawn to the catalytic, asymmetric phosphorylation of inositol for several reasons [20-22]. First, wyo-inositol possesses six hydroxyl groups, any one of which could potentially be phosphorylated by a chiral catalyst. Second, the diverse phosphorylation patterns of inositol phosphates correspond to equally diverse biological functions [23] excellent strategies for their synthesis existed. 

This process (also known as the Ferrier II Reaction ) has proved to be of considerable value for the efficient, one-step conversion of 5,6-unsaturated hexopyranose derivatives into functionalized cyclohexanones useful for the preparation of such enantiomerically pure compounds as inositols and their amino, deoxy, unsaturated and selectively O-substituted derivatives, notably phosphate esters. In addition, the products of the carbocyclization have been incorporated into many complex compounds of interest in biological and medicinal chemistry. ... 

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