Purification and characterization of myo-inositol 6-O-methyltransferase from Vigna umbellata Ohwi et Ohashi

The cyclitol 1d-4-O-methyl-myo-inositol (d-ononitol) is accumulated in certain legumes in response to abiotic stresses. S-Adenosyl-l-methionine:myo-inositol 6-O-methyltransferase (m6OMT), the enzyme which catalyses the synthesis of d-ononitol, was extracted from stems of Vigna umbellata Ohwi et Ohashi and purified to apparent homogeneity by a combination of conventional chromatographic techniques and by affinity chromatography on immobilized S-adenosyl-l-homocysteine (SAH). The purified m6OMT was photoaffinity labelled with S-adenosyl-l-[¹⁴C-methyl]methionine. The native molecular weight was determined to be 106 kDa, with a subunit molecular weight of 40 kDa. Substrate-saturation kinetics of m6OMT for myo-inositol and S-adenosyl-l-methionine (SAM) were Michaelis-Menten type with K _m values of 2.92 mM and 63 M, respectively. The SAH competitively inhibited the enzyme with respect to SAM (K _i of 1.63 M). The enzyme did not require divalent cations for activity, but was strongly inhibited by Mn²⁺, Zn²⁺ and Cu²⁺ and sulfhydryl group inhibitors. The purified m6OMT was found to be highly specific for the 6-hydroxyl group of myo-inositol and showed no activity on other naturally occurring isomeric inositols and inositol O-methyl-ethers. Neither d-ononitol, nor d-3-O-methyl-chiro-inositol, d-1-O-methyl-muco-inositol or d-chiro-inositol (end products of the biosynthetic pathway in which m6OMT catalyses the first step), inhibited the activity of the enzyme.Abbreviations DTT dithiothreitol - m6OMT myo-inositol 6-O-methyltransferase - SAH S-adenosyl-l-homocysteine - SAM S-adenosyl-l-methionine We are greatful to Professor M. Popp (University of Vienna) for helpful discussion and comment. This work was supported by Grant P09595-BIO from the Austrian Science Foundation (FWF).     

myo-Inositol-1-Phosphatase from the Pollen of Lilium longiflorum Thunb

A Mg²⁺-dependent, alkaline phosphatase has been isolated from mature pollen of Lilium longiflorum Thunb., cv. Ace and partially purified. It hydrolyzes 1l- and 1d-myo-inositol 1-phosphate, myo-inositol 2-phosphate, and β-glycerophosphate at rates decreasing in the order named. The affinity of the enzyme for 1l- and 1d-myo-inositol 1-phosphate is approximately 10-fold greater than its affinity for myo-inositol 2-phosphate. Little or no activity is found with phytate, d-glucose 6-phosphate, d-glucose 1-phosphate, d-fructose 1-phosphate, d-fructose 6-phosphate, d-mannose 6-phosphate, or p-nitrophenyl phosphate. 3-Phosphosphoglycerate is a weak competitive inhibitor. myo-Inositol does not inhibit the reaction. Optimal activity is obtained at pH 8.5 and requires the presence of Mg²⁺. At 4 millimolar, Co²⁺, Fe²⁺ or Mn²⁺ are less effective. Substantial inhibition is obtained with 0.25 molar Li⁺. With β-glycerophosphate as substrate the K_m is 0.06 millimolar and the reaction remains linear at least 2 hours. In 0.1 molar Tris, β-glycerophosphate yields equivalent amounts of glycerol and inorganic phosphate, evidence that transphosphorylation does not occur.     

sll1981, an acetolactate synthase homologue of Synechocystis sp. PCC6803, functions as l-myo-inositol 1-phosphate synthase

l-myo-inositol 1-phosphate synthase (EC 5.5.1.4; MIPS) catalyzes the first rate limiting conversion of d-glucose 6-phosphate to l-myo-inositol 1-phosphate in the inositol biosynthetic pathway. In an earlier communication we have reported two forms of MIPS in Synechocystis sp. PCC6803 (Chatterjee et al. in Planta 218:989–998, 2004). One of the forms with a ~50 kDa subunit has been found to be coded by an as yet unassigned ORF, sll1722. In the present study we have purified the second isoform of MIPS as a ~65 kDa protein from the crude extract of Synechocystis sp. PCC6803 to apparent homogeneity and biochemically characterized. MALDI-TOF analysis of the 65 kDa protein led to its identification as acetolactate synthase large subunit (EC 2.2.1.6; ALS), the putatively assigned ORF sll1981 of Synechocystis sp. PCC6803. The PCR amplified ~1.6 kb product of sll1981 was found to functionally complement the yeast inositol auxotroph, FY250 and could be expressed as an immunoreactive ~65 kDa MIPS protein in the natural inositol auxotroph, Schizosaccharomyces pombe. In vitro MIPS activity and cross reactivity against MIPS antibody of purified recombinant sll1981 further consolidated its identity as the second probable MIPS gene in Synechocystis sp. PCC6803. Sequence comparison along with available crystal structure analysis of the yeast MIPS reveals conservation of several amino acids in sll1981 essential for substrate and co-factor binding. Comparison with other prokaryotic and eukaryotic MIPS sequences and phylogenetic analysis, however, revealed that like sll1722, sll1981 is quite divergent from others. It is probable that sll1981 may code for a bifunctional enzyme protein having conserved domains for both MIPS and acetolactate synthase (ALS) activities.Anirban Chatterjee and Krishnarup Ghosh Dastidar contributed equally.     

Metabolism of myo-Inositol by Germinating Lilium longiflorum Pollen

Lilium Iongiflorum pollen tubes absorbed myo-[2-³H]inositol produced labeled metabolites which were separated into acid-soluble and -insoluble fractions. The soluble fraction contained labeled myo-inositol, d-glucuronic acid, myo-inositol 1-phosphate, and at least three other unidentified compounds. The acid-insoluble fraction contained considerable chloroformsoluble radioactivity and a labeled residue. Labeled myo-inositol was also absorbed by germinating pollen prior to the time of pollen tube initiation; however, there was a marked reduction in amounts of myo-inositol 1-phosphate and glucuronic acid produced by this pollen in comparison with growing pollen tubes.     

Rat L6 myotubes as an in vitro model system to study GLUT4-dependent glucose uptake stimulated by inositol derivatives

Some of inositol derivatives have been reported to help the action of insulin stimulating glucose uptake in skeletal muscle cells. Rat L6 myotubes were employed in an attempt to develop an in vitro model system for investigation of the possible insulin-like effect of eight inositol derivatives, namely allo-inositol, d-chiro-inositol l-chiro-inositol, epi-inositol, muco-inositol, myo-inositol, scyllo-inositol and d-pinitol. At a higher concentration of 1 mM seven inositol derivatives other than myo-inositol were able to stimulate glucose uptake, while at 0.1 mM only d-chiro-inositol, l-chiro-inositol, epi-inositol and muco-inositol could induce glucose uptake, indicating their significant insulin-mimetic activity. Immunoblot analyses revealed that at least d-chiro-inositol, l-chiro-inositol, epi-inositol, muco-inositol and d-pinitol were able to induce translocation of glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) to plasma membrane not only in L6 myotubes but also in skeletal muscles of rats ex vivo. These results demonstrated that L6 myotubes appeared efficient as an in vitro system to identify inositol derivatives exerting an insulin-like effect on muscle cells depending on the induced translocation of GLUT4.     

Inositol bisphosphate and inositol trisphosphate inhibit cell-to-cell passage of carboxyfluorescein in staminal hairs ofSetcreasea purpurea

pH-buffered carboxyfluorescein (Buffered-CF) alone (control), or Buffered-CF solutions containing one of the following: (1)d-myo-inositol (I); (2)d-myo-inositol 2-monophosphate (IP₁); (3)d-myo-inositol 1,4-bisphosphate (IP₂); (4)d-myo-inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP₃); (5)d-fructose 2,6-diphosphate (F-2,6P₂) were microinjected into the terminal cells of staminal hairs ofSetcreasea purpurea Boom. Passage of the CF from this terminal cell along the chain of cells towards the filament was monitored for 5 min using fluorescence microscopy and quantified using computer-assisted fluorescence-intensity video analysis. Cell-to-cell transport of CF in hairs microinjected with Buffered-CF containing either I, IP₁ or F-2,6P₂ was similar to that in hairs microinjected with Buffered-CF only. On the other hand, cell-to-cell transport of CF in hairs microinjected with Buffered-CF containing either IP₂ or IP₃ was inhibited. These results indicate that polyphosphoinositols may be involved in the regulation of intercellular transport of low-molecular-weight, hydrophilic molecules in plants.Abbreviations CF 5(6)Carboxyfluorescein - DG diacylglycerol - F2, 6P₂ d-fructose 2,6-diphosphate - I d-myo-inositol - IP₁ d-myo-inositol 2-monophosphate - IP₂ d-myo-inositol 1,4-bisphosphate - IP₃ d-myo-inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate     

Further Studies on myo-Inositol-1-phosphatase from the Pollen of Lilium longiflorum Thunb

myo-Inositol-1-phosphatase has been purified to homogeneity from Lilium longiflorum pollen using an alternative procedure which includes pH change and phenyl Sepharose column chromatography. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoretic analysis shows that the enzyme is a dimer (subunit molecular weight, 29,000 daltons). The enzyme is stable at low pH values and is inactivated only below pH 3.0. In addition to 1l-and 1d-myo-inositol-1-phosphate, it shows high specificity for 1l-chiro-inositol-3-phosphate. As observed earlier with other primary phosphate esters, d-glucitol-6-phosphate and d-mannitol-6-phosphate are hydrolyzed very slowly. No activity is observed with inorganic pyrophosphate or myo-inositol pentaphosphate as substrate. The enzyme is inhibited by fluoride, sulfate, molybdate, and thiol-directed reagents. Partial protection against N-ethylmaleimide inhibition by substrate and Mg²⁺ together suggests sulfhydryl involvement at the active site.     

Studies on avian erythrocyte metabolism: purification and properties of myo-inositol 1-phosphatase form chick erythrocytes

An enzyme capable of hydrolyzing myo-inositol 1-phosphate was identified and partially purified from the erythrocytes of 7-day chicks. It has an apparent molecular weight of approximately 60,000, is heat stable, and has a pH of optimal activity between 6.5 and 7.3. In most regards the kinetic properties are similar to the myo-inositol 1-phosphatases of rat testis, rat mammary gland, bovine brain, and of yeast. The enzyme has an absolute requirement for a divalent cation; Mg²⁺ gave the greatest activity, with an optimal concentration of 2.5 mm in the standard assay employed. Zn²⁺, Co²⁺, and Mn²⁺ supported activity to a lesser degree. Activity was inhibited by NaF, HgCl₂, and p-hydroxymercuribenzoate. myo-Inositol tetrakis (dihydrogen phosphate) and myo-inositol 1,3,4,5,6-pentakis (dihydrogen phosphate) were not substrates for this enzyme and inhibited the hydrolysis of myo-inositol 1-phosphate. Unlike other phosphatases for myo-inositol 1-phosphate, this enzyme cleaved myo-inositol 1-phosphate (K_m = 8.6 × 10^?5 m) and myo-inositol 2-phosphate (K_m = 2.86 × 10^?4 m) at approximately the same rates. It also hydrolyzed 2′-purine and pyrimidine ribonucleotides about as well as myo-inositol 1-phosphate, but was only 20–30% as active against the 3′-ribonucleotides and had scarcely any activity against the 5′-ribonucleotides. The amount of enzyme activity in erythrocytes of embryos, chicks, and mature chickens was the same (~29 μmol/ml rbc/h). The biological function of this enzyme in avian erythrocytes is unclear at this time. Other tissues containing this phosphatase also have an enzyme which synthesizes myo-inositol 1-phosphate from glucose 6-phosphate, but we have been unable to detect the presence of such an enzyme in avian erythrocytes.     

sll1722, an unassigned open reading frame of<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Synechocystis</Emphasis> PCC 6803, codes for <Emphasis Type="SmallCaps">l</Emphasis>-<Emphasis Type="Italic">myo</Emphasis>-inositol 1-phosphate synthase

l-myo-Inositol 1-phosphate synthase (EC 5.5.1.4; MIPS) catalyzes conversion of glucose 6-phosphate to l-myo-inositol 1-phosphate, the first and the rate-limiting step in the production of inositol, and has been reported from evolutionarily diverse organisms. Two forms of the enzyme have been characterized from higher plants, viz. cytosolic and chloroplastic, and the presence of MIPS has been earlier reported from the cyanobacteria (e.g. Spirulina sp.), the presumed chloroplast progenitors. The present study demonstrates possible multiple forms of MIPS and identifies the gene for one of them in the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803. Following detection of at least two immunologically cross-reactive MIPS forms, we have been able to identify from the fully sequenced Synechocystis genome an as yet unassigned open reading frame (ORF), sll1722, coding for the approx. 50-kDa MIPS protein, by using biochemical, molecular and bioinformatics tools. The DNA fragment corresponding to sll1722 was PCR-amplified and functional identity of the gene was confirmed by a complementation assay in Saccharomyces cerevisiae mutants containing a disrupted INO1 gene for the yeast MIPS. The sll1722 PCR product was cloned in Escherichia coli expression vector pET20b and the isopropyl -d-thiogalactopyranoside (IPTG)-induced overexpressed protein product was characterized following complete purification. Comparison of the sll1722 sequences with other MIPS sequences and its phylogenetic analysis revealed that the Synechocystis MIPS gene is quite divergent from the others.Abbreviations CBB Coomassie Brilliant Blue - EST Expressed sequence tag - G6P d-Glucose 6-phosphate - IPTG Isopropyl -d-thiogalactopyranoside - MIPS l–myo-Inositol 1-phosphate synthase - ORF Open reading frame     

Phosphatidylinositol(4,5)bisphosphate and Phosphatidylinositol(4)phosphate in Plant Tissues

Pea (Pisum sativum) leaf discs or swimming suspensions of Chlamydomonas eugametos were radiolabeled with [³H]myo-inositol or [³²P]Pi and the lipids were extracted, deacylated, and their glycerol moieties removed. The resulting inositol trisphosphate and bisphosphate fractions were examined by periodate degradation, reduction and dephosphorylation, or by incubation with human red cell membranes. Their likely structures were identified as d-myo-inositol(1,4,5)trisphosphate and d-myo-inositol(1,4,)-bisphosphate. It is concluded that plants contain phosphatidylinositol(4)phosphate and phosphatidylinositol(4,5)bisphosphate; no other polyphosphoinositides were detected.     

Functional identification of sll1383 from<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Synechocystis</Emphasis> sp PCC 6803 as L-<Emphasis Type="Italic">myo</Emphasis>-inositol 1-phosphate phosphatase (EC 3.1.3.25): molecular cloning,expression and characterization

The genome sequence of the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC6803 revealed four Open reading frame (ORF) encoding putative inositol monophosphatase or inositol monophosphatase-like proteins. One of the ORFs, sll1383, is ∼870 base pair long and has been assigned as a probable myo-inositol 1 (or 4) monophosphatase (IMPase; EC 3.1.3.25). IMPase is the second enzyme in the inositol biosynthesis pathway and catalyses the conversion of L-myo-inositol 1-phosphate to free myo-inositol. The present work describes the functional assignment of ORF sll1383 as myo-inositol 1-phosphate phosphatase (IMPase) through molecular cloning, bacterial overexpression, purification and biochemical characterization of the gene product. Affinity (K _m) of the recombinant protein for the substrate DL-myo-inositol 1-phosphate was found to be much higher (0.0034 ± 0.0003 mM) compared to IMPase(s) from other sources but in comparison V _max (∼0.033 μmol Pi/min/mg protein) was low. Li⁺ was found to be an inhibitor (IC₅₀ 6.0 mM) of this enzyme, other monovalent metal ions (e.g. Na⁺, K⁺ NH₄⁺) having no significant effect on the enzyme activity. Like other IMPase(s), the activity of this enzyme was found to be totally Mg²⁺ dependent, which can be substituted partially by Mn²⁺. However, unlike other IMPase(s), the enzyme is optimally active at ∼42°C. To the best of our knowledge, sll1383 encoded IMPase has the highest substrate affinity and specificity amongst the known examples from other prokaryotic sources. A possible application of this recombinant protein in the enzymatic coupled assay of L-myo-inositol 1-phosphate synthase (MIPS) is discussed.     

Kinetics and specificity of the renal Na+/myo-inositol cotransporter expressed in Xenopus Oocytes

The two-microelectrode voltage clamp technique was used to examine the kinetics and substrate specificity of the cloned renal Na⁺/myo-inositol cotransporter (SMIT) expressed in Xenopus oocytes. The steady-state myo-inositol-induced current was measured as a function of the applied membrane potential (V _m ), the external myo-inositol concentration and the external Na⁺ concentration, yielding the kinetic parameters: K _0.5 ^MI , K _0.5 ^Na , and the Hill coefficient n. At 100 mM NaCl, K _0.5 ^MI was about 50 m and was independent of V _m . At 0.5 mm myo-inositol, K _0.5 ^Na ranged from 76 mm at V _m =–50 mV to 40 mm at V _m =–150 mV. n was voltage independent with a value of 1.9±0.2, suggesting that two Na⁺ ions are transported per molecule of myo-inositol. Phlorizin was an inhibitor with a voltage-dependent apparent K _I of 64 m at V _m =–50 mV and 130 m at V _m = –150 mV. To examine sugar specificity, sugar-induced steady-state currents (at V _m =–150 mV) were recorded for a series of sugars, each at an external concentration of 50 mm. The substrate selectivity series was myo-inositol, scyllo-inositol > l-fucose > l-xylose > l-glucose, d-glucose, -methyl-d-glucopyranoside > d-galactose, d-fucose, 3-O-methyl-d-glucose, 2-deoxy-d-glucose > d-xylose. For comparison, oocytes were injected with cRNA for the rabbit intestinal Na⁺/glucose cotransporter (SGLT1) and sugar-induced steady-state currents (at V _m =–150 mV) were measured. For oocytes expressing SGLT1, the sugar selectivity was: d-glucose, -methyl-d-glucopyranoside, d-galactose, d-fucose, 3-O-methyl-d-glucose > d-xylose, l-xylose, 2-deoxy-d-glucose > myo-inositol, l-glucose, l-fucose. The ability of SMIT to transport glucose and SGLT1 to transport myo-inositol was independently confirmed by monitoring the Na⁺-dependent uptake of ³H-d-glucose and ³H-myo-inositol, respectively. In common with SGLT1, SMIT gave a relaxation current in the presence of 100 mm Na⁺ that was abolished by phlorizin (0.5 mm). This transient current decayed with a voltage-sensitive time constant between 10 and 14 msec. The presteady-state current is apparently due to the reorientation of the cotransporter protein in the membrane in response to a change in V _m . The kinetics of SMIT is accounted for by an ordered six-state nonrapid equilibrium model. Present address: W.M. Keck Biotechnology Resource Laboratory, Boyer Center for Molecular Medicine, Rm, 305A, Yale University, 295 Congress Ave., New Haven, Connecticut 06536-0812 Present address: National Institute for Physiological Sciences, Department of Cell Physiology, Okazaka, 444, JapanContributed equally to this workWe thank John Welborn for the HPLC analysis of the sugar substrates. This work was supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health DK19567, DK42479 and NS25554.     

Detergent solubilization and hydrophobic chromatography of rat brain phosphatidylinositol kinase

Rat brain microsomal phosphatidylinositol kinase activity was maximally activated in the presence of either 3 mM sodium deoxycholate, 2% Triton-X-100, or 30–40 mM octylglucoside. Among these detergents, 1% Triton-X-100 was most effective in solubilizing the enzyme, and after treatment with, this agent, 100% of the activity was recovered in the high speed supernatant. Octylglucoside solubilized 40% of the enzyme at concentrations below its critical micelle concentration of 25 mM and up to 80% at higher levels. Solubilized phosphatidylinositol kinase failed to adsorb to adenosine nucleotide affinity resins. However, when the Triton-X-100 extract was chromatographed on an uncharged hydrophobic resin, consisting of dodecyl chains attached to Sepharose 4B by ether bonds, nearly all the enzyme activity was retained, and from 44–85% could be eluted with 8 mM sodium deoxycholate. Solubilization followed by hydrophobic chromatography resulted in several-fold purification of phosphatidylinositol kinase and may have disrupted interactions of the enzyme with other hydrophobic proteins sufficiently to allow its substantial purification by conventional or affinity chromatography techniques.The abbreviations used are phosphatidylinositol 1,2-diacyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoryl-1-l-myo-inositol - phosphatidylinositolphosphate 1,2-diacyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoryl-1-l-myo-inositol-4-monophosphate - phosphatidylinositolbisphosphate 1,2-diacyl-sn-glycerol-3-phosphoryl-1-l-myo-inositol-4,5-bisphosphate - octylglucoside 1-0-n-octyl-d-glucopyranoside     

Degradation of <Emphasis Type="Italic">myo</Emphasis>-inositol Hexakisphosphate by a Phytate-degrading Enzyme from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pantoea agglomerans</Emphasis>

High-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis established myo-inositol pentakisphosphate as the final product of phytate dephosphorylation by the phytate-degrading enzyme from Pantoea agglomerans. Neither product inhibition by phosphate nor inactivation of the Pantoea enzyme during the incubation period were responsible for the limited phytate hydrolysis as shown by addition of phytate-degrading enzyme and phytate, respectively, after the observed stop of enzymatic phytate degradation. In additon, the Pantoea enzyme did not possess activity toward the purified myo-inositol pentakisphosphate. Using a combination of High-Performance Ion Chromatography (HPIC) analysis and kinetic studies, the nature of the generated myo-inositol pentakisphosphate was established. The data demonstrate that the phytate-degrading enzyme from Pantoea agglomerans dephosphorylates myo-inositol hexakisphosphate in a stereospecific way to finally D-myo-inositol(1,2,4,5,6)pentakisphosphate.     

Biosynthesis of myo-inositol in rat mammary gland. Isolation and properties of the enzymes

myo-Inositol 1-phosphate synthase (EC 5.5.1.4) and 1l-myo-inositol 1-phosphatase (EC 3.1.3.25) were isolated and partially purified from lactating rat mammary gland. The synthase had an apparent molecular weight of 290,000 as determined by gel filtration; its pH optimum was 7.2, and the K_m for glucose 6-phosphate was 0.5 mm. No other compound could act as a substrate, but the synthase was inhibited 100% by d-gluconic acid 6-phosphate, 54% by d-fructose 6-phosphate, 31.8% by d-galactose 6-phosphate, and 29.6% by d-mannose 6-phosphate each at 5mm. Activity was stimulated 2-fold by the addition of 1 mm NAD⁺ and 40% by 14 mm ammonium ions, whereas it was inhibited by 30% in the presence of 1 mm NADH and by 93.6% when incubated with 1 mmp-mercuribenzoate. Reagents which interfere with Schiff-base formation, pyridoxal 5′-phosphate and trinitrobenzenesulfonate, inhibited the enzyme, but EDTA was without effect.The 1l-myo-inositol 1-phosphatase from rat mammary tissue appears to exist in a native tetrameric form of 210,000 as determined by gel filtration which, upon heating at 70 °C for 15 min, is converted into a stable monomer of approximately 52,000. Mg²⁺ (1.5 mm) was an absolute requirement for activity though Mn²⁺ gave 17% of the activity provided by Mg²⁺. Sodium, potassium, or ammonium ions were stimulatory, but lithium ions were strongly inhibitory. 1l-myo-Inositol 1-phosphatase specifically cleaved 1l-myo-inositol 1-phosphate and was 60% as active toward l-α-glycerol phosphate with only minor activity toward other phosphorylated compounds. The pH optimum was 8.0 and the K_m for 1l-myo-inositol 1-phosphate was 0.8 mm.     

Potentiometric and P NMR studies on inositol phosphates and their interaction with iron(III) ions

Potentiometric, conductometric and ³¹P NMR titrations have been applied to study interactions between myo-inositol hexakisphosphate (phytic acid), (±)-myo-inositol 1,2,3,5-tetrakisphosphate and (±)-myo-inositol 1,2,3-trisphosphate with iron(III) ions. Potentiometric and conductometric titrations of myo-inositol phosphates show that addition of iron increases acidity and consumption of hydroxide titrant. By increasing the Fe(III)/InsP₆ ratio (from 0.5 to 4) 3 mol of protons are released per 2 mol of iron(III). At first, phytates coordinate iron octahedrally between P2 and P1,3. The second coordination site represents P5 and neighbouring P4,6 phosphate groups. Complexation is accompanied with the deprotonation of P1,3 and P4,6 phosphate oxygens. At higher concentration of iron(III) intermolecular P–O–Fe–O–P bonds trigger formation of a polymeric network and precipitation of the amorphous Fe(III)–InsP₆ aggregates. ³¹P NMR titration data complement the above results and display the largest chemical shift changes at pD values between 5 and 10 in agreement with strong interactions between iron and myo-inositol phosphates. The differences in T₁ relaxation times of phosphorous atoms have shown that phosphate groups at positions 1, 2 and 3 are complexated with iron(III). The interactions between iron(III) ions and inositol phosphates depend significantly on the metal to ligand ratio and an attempt to coordinate more than two irons per InsP₆ molecule results in an unstable heterogeneous system.     

Phytate metabolism in Petunia pollen

Phytic acid has been detected in the anthers of young flower buds of Petunia hybrida, the amount increasing slowly as the flower develops until anther dehydration, when there was a more rapid increase in phytic acid content. In mature pollen, the phytic acid content was found to be 2.0 % by weight, of which 90 % was water soluble, while free myo-inositol was a relatively low 0.06 % by weight. Breakdown of phytic acid was initiated soon after pollen germination began, and its degradation products, myo-inositol and inorganic phosphate, were rapidly mobilized for phospholipid and pectin biosynthesis. Both are in high demand during pollen tube elongation. Utilization of myo-[2-³H]inositol for phospholipid biosynthesis was about five times that for pectin synthesis during the first few hours of pollen germination. The label in the phospholipid was identified as the myo-inositol moiety of phosphaltidylinositol, while the pectin material contained predominantly labelled arabinose, with smaller amounts of label in galacturonic acid, glucose and xylose. A chase experiment showed that the myo-inositol moiety of phosphatidylinositol was subject to a relatively rapid turnover, while the label in pectin was not. Labelling germinating pollen with [³²P]orthophosphate gave label in phosphatidic acid, phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylcholine of the phospholipids. Phosphatidylinositol contained 30 % of this label initially, a proportion which declined to 10 % over longer periods of germination.     

FORMATION OF MYO-INOSITOL AND PHYTIN IN RIPENING RICE GRAINS

With the view to elucidate the role of myo-inositol in the ripeningprocess of rice grains, its distribution, formation and conversionwere studied.

1. myo-Inositol in the ripening rice grains was fractionated intofree-, phosphate ester- and phosphoinositide-forms. At the earlystage of ripening, a considerable part of myo-inositol was foundin free state, and at the end of ripening stage the most partwas found in phosphate ester-state, phytic acid. The contentof phosphoinositide in the grains was low during the ripeningperiod.
2. The occurrence of biosynthesis of myo-inositol inthe ripeningrice grains was confirmed by the observation ofincorporationof ¹⁴C into myo-inositol from ¹⁴C-sugars and itwas found, fromthe feeding experiment of myo-inositol- thatmyo-inositol doesnot undergo reactions further than phosphorylation.
3. The feeding experiment of glucose-l-³²P showed that the distributionpattern of ³²P in different fractions of grain material wasthe same as that of ³²P-phosphate, indicating that phytic acidis one of the final products of phosphorus metabolism in theripening rice grains.
4. These results led to the assumptionthat myo-inositol mightact as an acceptor of phosphorus toremove inorganic phosphorusin favor of starch synthesis byphosphorylase.

(Received September 12, 1962; )