Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Phosphoinositides and PIPs01:42

Phosphoinositides and PIPs

Phosphoinositides are a group of phospholipids containing a glycerol backbone with two fatty acid chains and a phosphate attached to a myoinositol sugar ring. The inositol head group extends into the cytoplasm, where it is modified by adding phosphate groups to form phosphatidylinositol phosphates or PIPs.
Different phosphoinositides are synthesized and recruited on the cytosolic face of the plasma membrane. The localization of specific phosphoinositides concentrated in separate membrane...
IP3/DAG Signaling Pathway01:11

IP3/DAG Signaling Pathway

Membrane lipids such as phosphatidylinositol (PI) are precursors for several membrane-bound and soluble second messengers. Specific kinases phosphorylate PI and produce phosphorylated inositol phospholipids. One such inositol phospholipids are the  phosphatidylinositol-4,5 bisphosphate [PI(4,5)P2], present in the inner half of the lipid bilayer. Upon ligand binding, GPCR stimulates Gq proteins to turn on phospholipase Cꞵ. Activated phospholipase Cꞵ cleaves PI(4,5)P2 and produces two-second...
iPS Cell Differentiation01:22

iPS Cell Differentiation

The ability of induced pluripotent stem cells or iPSCs to differentiate into most body cell types has stimulated repair and regenerative medicine research over the past few decades. iPSC-derived blood cells, hepatocytes, beta islet cells, cardiomyocytes, neurons, and other cell types can repair injuries or regenerate damaged tissue in diseases such as diabetes and neurodegenerative disorders.
Insulin: Biosynthesis, Chemistry, and Preparation01:25

Insulin: Biosynthesis, Chemistry, and Preparation

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) of pancreatic β-cells synthesizes preproinsulin, which consists of a signal peptide, A and B chains, and a C-peptide. Preproinsulin is then cleaved and folded into proinsulin, which translocates to the Golgi apparatus for sorting and packaging into secretory granules. In these granules, enzymatic clipping generates insulin and C-peptide.
Damage or functional impairment of β-cells inhibits insulin production, leading to diabetes. Diabetes treatment primarily uses...
Biosynthesis of Lipids01:29

Biosynthesis of Lipids

Microbial membranes exhibit remarkable diversity in lipid composition, reflecting evolutionary adaptations to various environmental conditions. The three domains of life—Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya—synthesize membrane lipids through distinct biosynthetic pathways, leading to fundamental structural differences that impact membrane stability, function, and adaptability.Fatty Acid-Based Lipids in Bacteria and EukaryaBacteria and eukaryotes share a common fatty acid biosynthesis pathway, which...
Inhibitors of Viral Protein Synthesis01:30

Inhibitors of Viral Protein Synthesis

Protein synthesis is indispensable for viral replication, as viruses lack the cellular machinery required for this process and must hijack the host's translational apparatus. In response, host cells deploy a critical innate immune defense involving interferons, specialized cytokines that play a central role in inhibiting viral propagation.Upon viral detection, infected cells release interferons that bind to receptors on adjacent uninfected cells, activating the JAK-STAT signaling pathway and...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

The reliability of biomedical science: A case history of a maturing experimental field.

BioEssays : news and reviews in molecular, cellular and developmental biology·2022
Same author

PIKfyve/Fab1 is required for efficient V-ATPase and hydrolase delivery to phagosomes, phagosomal killing, and restriction of Legionella infection.

PLoS pathogens·2019
Same author

Do inositol supplements enhance phosphatidylinositol supply and thus support endoplasmic reticulum function?

The British journal of nutrition·2018
Same author

Drug Redeployment to Kill Leukemia and Lymphoma Cells by Disrupting SCD1-Mediated Synthesis of Monounsaturated Fatty Acids.

Cancer research·2015
Same author

Inositol lipids: from an archaeal origin to phosphatidylinositol 3,5-bisphosphate faults in human disease.

The FEBS journal·2013
Same author

Versatility and nuances of the architecture of haematopoiesis - Implications for the nature of leukaemia.

Leukemia research·2011
Same journal

Single-cell evidence for PANoptosome complexes.

Nature reviews. Molecular cell biology·2026
Same journal

Reply to 'Single-cell evidence for PANoptosome complexes'.

Nature reviews. Molecular cell biology·2026
Same journal

Plucking cellular ribosomes with Ribo-Tweezer.

Nature reviews. Molecular cell biology·2026
Same journal

COPII meets autophagy at the ER membrane.

Nature reviews. Molecular cell biology·2026
Same journal

Diapause presses pause on life's developmental and ageing clock.

Nature reviews. Molecular cell biology·2026
Same journal

Histone acetylation at the dawn of gene regulation.

Nature reviews. Molecular cell biology·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 11, 2026

Preparation of Quality Inositol Pyrophosphates
10:34

Preparation of Quality Inositol Pyrophosphates

Published on: September 3, 2011

Inositol derivatives: evolution and functions.

Robert H Michell1

  • 1School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK. R.H.Michell@bham.ac.uk

Nature Reviews. Molecular Cell Biology
|January 25, 2008
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Inositols and their derivatives have diverse evolutionary roles beyond eukaryotic cells. This research explores their status in primordial bacteria and archaea to understand their ubiquity in eukaryotes.

More Related Videos

Extraction and Quantification of Soluble, Radiolabeled Inositol Polyphosphates from Different Plant Species using SAX-HPLC
09:01

Extraction and Quantification of Soluble, Radiolabeled Inositol Polyphosphates from Different Plant Species using SAX-HPLC

Published on: June 26, 2020

Absolute Quantitation of Inositol Pyrophosphates by Capillary Electrophoresis Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry
09:22

Absolute Quantitation of Inositol Pyrophosphates by Capillary Electrophoresis Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry

Published on: August 13, 2021

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 11, 2026

Preparation of Quality Inositol Pyrophosphates
10:34

Preparation of Quality Inositol Pyrophosphates

Published on: September 3, 2011

Extraction and Quantification of Soluble, Radiolabeled Inositol Polyphosphates from Different Plant Species using SAX-HPLC
09:01

Extraction and Quantification of Soluble, Radiolabeled Inositol Polyphosphates from Different Plant Species using SAX-HPLC

Published on: June 26, 2020

Absolute Quantitation of Inositol Pyrophosphates by Capillary Electrophoresis Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry
09:22

Absolute Quantitation of Inositol Pyrophosphates by Capillary Electrophoresis Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry

Published on: August 13, 2021

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Current research on inositols primarily investigates myo-inositol (Ins) derivatives within eukaryotic cells.
  • The known functions of Ins phospholipids and polyphosphorylated Ins derivatives in eukaryotes are extensive.
  • Inositols and their derivatives exhibit greater versatility and have acquired diverse evolutionary functions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the status of inositol derivatives in primordial bacteria and archaea.
  • To understand how inositol, inositol lipids, and inositol phosphates became ubiquitous in eukaryotes.
  • To explore the emergence of multifarious inositol derivative functions during eukaryote diversification.

Main Methods:

  • Comparative genomic and phylogenetic analyses of inositol metabolism pathways in prokaryotes and eukaryotes.
  • Bioinformatic approaches to identify and characterize inositol-related genes and enzymes across different domains of life.
  • Reconstruction of ancestral metabolic pathways to infer the evolutionary history of inositol derivatives.

Main Results:

  • Inositol derivatives are present in primordial bacteria and archaea, suggesting ancient origins.
  • Evidence points to horizontal gene transfer and co-option as mechanisms for the spread of inositol pathways.
  • The diversification of inositol functions correlates with the emergence of complex cellular structures and signaling pathways in eukaryotes.

Conclusions:

  • Inositol derivatives played a fundamental role in early life, predating eukaryotes.
  • The evolutionary trajectory of inositols highlights their adaptability and contribution to eukaryotic complexity.
  • Understanding inositol's ancient roles provides insights into the origins of essential eukaryotic biochemical processes.