[Research on inositol metabolism in an inositol-autotrophic and an inositol-heterotrophic strain of Neurospora crassa].
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Preimplantation rabbit embryos collected at the early morula stage were cultured to blastocysts in the presence of [3H]inositol. The blastocysts were lysed, and both the aqueous and lipid portions were analysed for incorporated radioactivity. Thin-layer chromatographic separation of the lipid portion indicated that [3H]inositol was incorporated into phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate, and phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate. HPLC anion-exchange chromatography indicated that [3H]inositol was incorporated into inositol phosphates, including the two second messengers, inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate and inositol 1,3,4,5-tetrakisphosphate, and also inositol monophosphate and inositol 1,4-bisphosphate. These results provide evidence that rabbit blastocysts may have an active phosphatidylinositol second messenger system, which may be responsive to intrauterine factors or intraembryonic paracrine factors.
We have investigated the relationship between muscarinic agonist-stimulated phosphoinositide (PI) hydrolysis and electrophysiological responses in rat hippocampal slice preparations. In a previous extracellular study, we found that muscarinic agonists at concentrations that stimulate PI hydrolysis result in a biphasic firing response; an initial increase in firing followed by loss of firing at higher concentrations. To test the hypothesis that variability in obtaining consistent loss of firing is related to depletion of intracellular inositol, we investigated the effects of adding exogenous inositol to the buffer. We now report that concentrations of inositol similar to those in cerebral spinal fluid (30-100 microM) augment carbamylcholine (carbachol, CCh) mediated loss of firing and [3H]inositol-1,3,4,5-tetrakisphosphate ([3H]Ins(1,3,4,5)P4) formation. Inhibition of firing produced by 30 microM CCh in the presence of inositol was associated with a sustained depolarization of 20-25 mV, an increased slope resistance in the depolarized range (-60 to -40 mV), and a parallel shift in the hyperpolarized (-100 to -70 mV) range of the voltage-current curve and increased frequency of spontaneous IPSPs. Under voltage-clamp, measurements of the M-current (IM) showed sustained inactivation by CCh with reversal after washout of CCh. Manual depolarization of cells by current injection to the same level of depolarization as attained with CCh did not usually lead to the same loss of firing. These findings suggest that IM, and possibly other voltage-independent currents or ion pumps, may cause loss of firing only in part through a depolarization blockade of firing and not through desensitization. Furthermore, CCh treatment without inositol did not depolarize neurons as much as CCh with inositol, and usually did not cause a delayed loss of firing. Brain slice preparations may thus require physiological concentrations of inositol to show consistent or maximum phosphoinositide-mediated electrophysiological responses.
Production of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3) in cells results in the mobilization of intracellular calcium. Therefore, the dynamics of IP3 metabolism is important for calcium dependent processes in cells. This report investigates the coupling of mAChRs to the inositol lipid pathway in the CNS of the larval Manduca sexta. Stimulation of intact abdominal ganglia prelabeled with [3H]-inositol using a muscarinic agonist, oxotremorine-M (oxo-M), increased total inositol phosphate levels in a dose dependent manner (EC50 = 4.23 microM). These inositol phosphates consisted primarily of inositol 1,4-bisphosphate (IP2) and inositol monophosphate (IP1). Similarly, when nerve cord homogenates were provided with [3H]-phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate ([3H]-PIP2) (10-13 microM) the predominant products were IP2 and IP1. In contrast, incubation of purified membranes with 1 mM oxo-M in the presence of 100 microM GTP gamma S and [3H]-PIP2 increased IP3 levels, suggesting that the direct activation of phospholipase C (PLC) by mAChRs occurs in a membrane delimited process. Together, these results suggest that in the intact nerve cord and in crude homogenates, a cytosolic 5-phosphatase quickly metabolizes IP3 to produce to IP2 and IP1. This enzyme was kinetically characterized using IP3 (Km = 43.7 microM, Vmax = 864 pmoles/min/mg) and IP4 (Km = 0.93 microM; Vmax = 300pmoles/min/mg) as substrates. The enzyme activity can be potently inhibited by two IP thiol compounds; IP3S3 (1,4,6) and IP3S3 (2,3,5), that show complex binding kinetics (Hill numbers < 1) and can distinguish different forms of the 5-phosphatase in purified membranes. These two inhibitors could be very useful tools to determine the role of the inositol lipid pathway in neuroexcitability.
A number of 3-substituted 1D-myo-inositols were synthesized and evaluated as substrates for phosphatidylinositol synthase and uptake by intact cells. 1D-3-Amino-, -3-chloro-, and -3-(acetylthio)-3-deoxy-myo-inositols were all synthesized by nucleophilic displacement of the 6-O-(trifluoromethyl)sulfonyl group of 1L-1,2:3,4-di-O-cyclohexylidene-5-O-methyl-6-O-[(trifluoromethyl)-sulfon yl] - chiro-inositol (which was prepared from L-quebrachitol), respectively, by reaction with LiN3, followed by reduction of the azido function, and with LiCl and KSAc to give the O-protected compounds. O-Demethylation using BBr3 and concomitant acetal hydrolysis furnished the free-hydroxy 3-amino- and 3-chloro-3-deoxy-1D-myo-inositols. The 3-mercapto analogue was obtained by removal of the acetal groups of the acetylthio analogue, followed by acetylation and purification of the peracetate, and subsequent O-demethylation and deacetylation. The 3-deoxy derivative was synthesized from the 6-O-(imidazol-1-ylthiocarbonyl) compound via Barton-McCombie deoxygenation. The 3-azido derivative was directly synthesized from 1L-1-O-tosyl-chiro-inositol via displacement with azide. The 3-keto analogue was prepared by Pt-catalyzed air oxidation of 1L-chiro-inositol. The compounds were all evaluated as substrates for phosphatidylinositol (PtdIns) synthase from mouse brain. The 3-NH2, 3-F, 3-deoxy, and 3-keto analogues all showed activity as substrates, as measured by liberation of cytidine monophosphate. These compounds also showed inhibition of the reaction of myo-[3H]inositol with PtdIns synthase. These results taken together indicate that these compounds are likely to be incorporated into phospholipids. As a further indication that these compounds might be useful as probes for the PtdIns pathway, it was demonstrated that the 3-NH2, 3-F, and 3-deoxy compounds are taken up by intact fibroblast cells as evidenced by their competing with myo-[3H]inositol uptake.
Valproic acid and lithium are effective antibipolar drugs. We recently showed that lithium stimulated the release of glutamate in monkey and mouse cerebral cortex slices, which, through activation of the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor, increased accumulation of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate [Ins(1,4,5)P3]. We show here that valproate behaves similarly to lithium in that at therapeutic concentrations it stimulates glutamate release and Ins(1,4,5)P3 accumulation in mouse cerebral cortex slices. The fact that these two effects are a common denominator for two structurally unrelated antibipolar drugs suggests that these effects are important in their antibipolar action. The effects of maximal concentrations of lithium and valproate on glutamate release are additive, suggesting different mechanisms for release, which are discussed. The additivity of the two drugs on glutamate release is consistent with the clinical benefit of combining the two drugs in the treatment of subsets of bipolar patients, e.g., in rapid cycling manic-depression. Unlike lithium, valproate does not increase accumulation of inositol monophosphates, inositol bisphosphates, or inositol 1,3,4-trisphosphate. This is additional evidence against the "inositol depletion" hypothesis, which states that, by trapping inositol in the form of inositol monophosphates and certain inositol polyphosphates, lithium exerts its antimanic action by inhibiting resynthesis of phosphoinositides with resultant blunting of Ins(1,4,5)P3 signaling.
In previous studies it has been shown that both bradykinin and histamine increase the formation of 3H-labeled inositol phosphates in adrenal chromaffin cells prelabelled with [3H]inositol and that both these agonists stimulate release of catecholamines by a mechanism dependent on extracellular calcium. Here, we have used mass assays of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate [Ins(1,4,5)P3] and inositol 1,3,4,5-tetrakisphosphate [Ins(1,3,4,5)P4] to investigate changes in levels of these two candidates as second messengers in response to stimulation with bradykinin and histamine. Bradykinin increased the mass of Ins(1,3,4,5)P4 despite the failure in earlier studies with [3H]inositol-labelled cells to observe a bradykinin-mediated increase in content of [3H]InsP4. Bradykinin elicited a very rapid increase in level of Ins(1,4,5)P3, which was maximal at 5-10 s and then rapidly decreased to a small but sustained elevation at 2 min. The bradykinin-elicited Ins(1,3,4,5)P4 response increased to a maximum at 30-60 s and at 2 min was still elevated severalfold above basal levels. Histamine, which produced a larger overall total inositol phosphate response in [3H]inositol-loaded cells, produced significantly smaller Ins(1,4,5)P3 and Ins(1,3,4,5)P4 responses compared with bradykinin. The bradykinin stimulation of Ins(1,4,5)P3 accumulation was partially dependent on a high (1.8 mM) extracellular Ca2+ concentration, whereas the Ins(1,3,4,5)P4 response was almost completely lost when the extracellular Ca2+ concentration was reduced to 100 nM. Changes in the inositol polyphosphate second messengers are compared with the time course of bradykinin-stimulated increases in free intracellular Ca2+ concentrations and noradrenaline release.
In adrenal glomerulosa cells, angiotensin II (AII) rapidly stimulates the formation of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (Ins-1,4,5-P3) and causes marked long-term changes in the levels of highly phosphorylated inositols. Glomerulosa cells prelabeled with [3H]inositol for 48 h and exposed to AII for 10 min showed prominent increases in inositol 1,3,4,5-tetrakisphosphate (Ins-1,3,4,5-P4) and smaller increases in two additional tetrakisphosphates, Ins-1,3,4,6-P4 and another (Ins-3,4,5,6-P4) eluting in the position of Ins-3,4,5,6-P4 and its stereoisomer, Ins-1,4,5,6-P4, on anion exchange liquid chromatography. A concomitant decrease in InsP5 indicates that an increase in Ins-1,4,5,6-P4, the breakdown product of InsP5, is probably responsible for the initial rise in Ins-3,4,5,6-P4 during 10 min stimulation by AII. During prolonged stimulation by AII, Ins-1,3,4,5-P4 began to decline from its high, stimulated level after the first hour but the level of Ins-1,3,4,6-P4 remained elevated for several hours. There were also progressive increases in the levels of Ins-3,4,5,6-P4 and InsP5 during stimulation for up to 16 h with AII. Treatment of adrenal cells for 16 h with the cyclic AMP-mediated secretagogue, adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), slightly increased basal levels of Ins-1,3,4,6-P4, Ins-3,4,5,6-P4, and InsP5, and enhanced the subsequent AII-stimulated increases in the two additional tetrakisphosphate isomers but not of inositol trisphosphates or Ins-1,3,4,5-P4. This change in the pattern of the higher inositol phosphate response to AII was manifested within 2 h after exposure to ACTH, and was mimicked by treatment with 8-bromo cyclic AMP or forskolin. Treatment with 50 microM cycloheximide abolished the ACTH-induced increases in inositol polyphosphate responses during AII stimulation, but had no effect on the responses of untreated cells to AII. The conversion of [3H]Ins-1,3,4-P3 to [3H]Ins-1,3,4,6-P4, a reaction linking the receptor-mediated InsP3 response to higher inositol phosphates, was enhanced in permeabilized cells that were pretreated for 16 h with either ACTH or AII. These results demonstrate that the reactions by which Ins-1,3,4,6-P4 and Ins-3,4,5,6-P4 are formed and converted to InsP5 are influenced by agonist-stimulated regulatory processes that include both calcium-dependent and cyclic AMP-dependent mechanisms of target cell activation. They also reveal changes consistent with agonist-induced conversion of InsP5 to its dephosphorylated metabolite, Ins-1,4,5,6-P4, during short-term stimulation by AII.
To investigate the mechanisms by which inositol phosphates regulate cytosolic free Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]c), we injected Xenopus oocytes with inositol phosphates and measured Ca2+-activated Cl- currents as an assay of [Ca2+]c. Inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (Ins(1,4,5)P3) injection (0.1-10.0 pmol) induced an initial transient Cl- current (I1) followed by a second more prolonged Cl- current (I2). Both currents were Ca2+-dependent, but the source of Ca2+ was different. Release of intracellular Ca2+ stores produced I1, whereas influx of extracellular Ca2+ produced I2; Ca2+-free bathing media and inorganic calcium channel blockers (Mn2+, Co2+) did not alter I1 but completely and reversibly inhibited I2. Injection of the Ins(1,4,5)P3 metabolite, inositol 1,3,4,5-tetrakisphosphate (Ins(1,3,4,5)P4) (0.2-10.0 pmol) generated a Ca2+-dependent Cl- current with superimposed current oscillations that resulted from release of intracellular Ca2+, not Ca2+ influx. Injection of the Ins(1,3,4,5)P4 metabolite, inositol 1,3,4-trisphosphate (10.0 pmol), or the synthetic inositol trisphosphate isomer, inositol 2,4,5-trisphosphate (1.0-10.0 pmol), mimicked the effect of Ins(1,4,5)P3, stimulating an I1 resulting from release of intracellular Ca2+ and an I2 resulting from influx of extracellular Ca2+. The results indicate that several inositol trisphosphate isomers stimulate both release of intracellular Ca2+ and influx of extracellular Ca2+. Ins(1,3,4,5)P4 also stimulated release of intracellular Ca2+, but it was neither sufficient nor required for Ca2+ influx.
Aggregation of the receptor with high affinity for immunoglobulin E (IgE) in rat basophilic leukemia cells leads to a calcium-dependent and a calcium-independent hydrolysis of phosphoinositides. The increase in the levels of inositol phosphates induced in the absence of calcium is only 25% of that observed with 1 mM Ca2+. The inositol phosphates reach a new steady state level 2 min after stimulation in EGTA, whereas with calcium they continue to increase up to 15 min. A similar response is observed when the receptors are aggregated due to the interaction of bound IgE with antigen or with anit-IgE, or by the binding of IgE cross-linked chemically. The antigen-mediated response is inhibited by hapten and disruption of such antigen-antibody aggregates late after stimulation leads to a rapid decline in the levels of the inositol phosphates to basal values. Separation of the inositol phosphates by Dowex columns shows that there is a fast rise in inositol trisphosphate which peaks at 15 s and slowly declines to a lower plateau within 2 min. Analysis by high pressure liquid chromatography reveals a 5-fold increase in the levels of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate in less than 10 s after stimulation, which precedes any major change in the other inositol phosphates. Aggregation of the receptor in the absence of external calcium induces a transient increase in cytoplasmic calcium which reaches a maximum of approximately 25 nM over basal levels after activation. The onset of the rise in Ca2+ lags after the initial rise in the inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate.
D-myo-Inositol 1,3,4,5-tetrakisphosphate [Ins(1,3,4,5)P4] is produced rapidly from the established second messenger D-myo-inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate [Ins(1,4,5)P4] in stimulated cells. Despite extensive investigations, in particular concerning its potential role in mediating cellular Ca2+ influx, no exact cellular function has been described for this inositol phosphate; however, binding sites have been identified in a number of tissues and it has been shown to act synergistically with Ins(1,4,5)P3. To assist in the elucidation of the mechanism of action and structural requirements within the Ins(1,3,4,5)P4 moiety that are necessary for recognition and activation of the receptor, structural analogues of this tetrakisphosphate are required. Routes for the synthesis of racemic 6-deoxy-myo-inositol 1,3,4,5-tetrakisphosphate [6-deoxy-DL-Ins(1,3,4,5)P4] and the chiral antipodes D- and L-6-deoxy-myo-inositol 1,3,4,5-tetrakisphosphate are described here. The racemic tetrakisphosphate was synthesised from DL-1,2-O-isopropylidene-myo-inositol in eight steps. Deoxygenation at C-6 was achieved following the Barton-McCombie procedure. Both chiral tetrakisphosphates were synthesised through resolution of racemic cis-diol 6-deoxy-1,4,5-tri-O-p-methoxybenzyl-myo-inositol with the chiral auxiliary (S)-(+)-O-acetylmandelic acid. Absolute configuration was confirmed by synthesis of the known D-6-deoxy-myo-inositol. Both D-6-deoxy-Ins(1,3,4,5)P4 and its enantiomer will be useful tools to unravel the enigmatic role of Ins(1,3,4,5)P4 in the polyphosphoinositide pathway of signal transduction.
The compound diisopropylfluorophosphate (DFP) selectively inhibits an inositol deacylase activity in living trypanosomes that, together with the previously described phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride (PMSF)-sensitive inositol acyltransferase, maintains a dynamic equilibrium between the glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchor precursor, glycolipid A [NH2(CH2)2PO4-6Man alpha 1-2Man alpha 1-6Man alpha 1-4GlcN alpha 1-6myo-inositol-1-PO4-sn-1,2-dimyristoylglycerol], and its inositol acylated form, glycolipid C. Experiments using DFP in living trypanosomes and a trypanosome cell-free system suggest that earlier GPI intermediates are also in equilibrium between their inositol acylated and nonacylated forms. However, unlike mammalian and yeast cells, bloodstream form trypanosomes do not appear to produce an inositol acylated form of glucosaminylphosphatidylinositol (GlcN-PI). A specific function of inositol acylation in trypanosomes may be to enhance the efficiency of ethanolamine phosphate addition to the Man3GlcN-(acyl)PI intermediate. Inositol deacylation appears to be a prerequisite for fatty acid remodelling of GPI intermediates that leads to the exclusive presence of myristic acid in glycolipid A and, ultimately, in the variant surface glycoprotein (VSG). In the presence of DFP, the de novo synthesis of GPI precursors cannot proceed beyond glycolipid C' (the unremodelled version of glycolipid C) and lyso-glycolipid C'. Under these conditions glycolipid C'-type GPI anchors appear on newly synthesized VSG molecules. However, the efficiencies of both anchor addition to VSG and N-glycosylation of VSG were significantly reduced. A modified model of the GPI biosynthetic pathway in bloodstream form African trypanosomes incorporating these findings is presented.
Cultured bovine lens epithelial cells adapt to hypertonic sodium stress via an increase in Na(+)-myo-inositol cotransporter activity and accumulate myo-inositol. At least 12 hr of hypertonic exposure was necessary to enhance myo-inositol accumulation; and thereafter, uptake activity continued to increase throughout the duration of a 72-hr exposure period. Switching from hypertonic to isotonic medium for 24 hr reversed the otherwise elevated accumulation activity. The protein synthesis inhibitor, cycloheximide, did not affect myo-inositol uptake in isotonic medium but markedly decreased myo-inositol uptake in hypertonic medium. Cells exposed to hypertonic conditions and the microtubule disrupter, colchicine, similarly showed marked impairment of the otherwise enhanced myo-inositol uptake. These studies indicated that hypertonicity-induced elevation of Na(+)-myo-inositol cotransporter activity in cultured bovine lens epithelial cells is not solely attributed to the increased sodium gradient alone, but rather involves increased de novo synthesis of the Na(+)-myo-inositol cotransporter protein(s).
In this study the mass of polyphosphoinositides as well as the turnover of [3H]inositol phospholipids and [3H]inositol phosphates during ischaemia and short periods of reperfusion were studied in the isolated perfused rat heart. Since the phosphoinositides located within the sarcolemma are precursors for release of inositoltrisphosphate (InsP3) and diacylglycerol, sarcolemmal membranes (rather than whole tissue) isolated at the end of the experimental procedure, were used. Hearts were prelabelled with [3H]inositol and subsequently perfused with 10 mM LiCl to block the phosphatidylinositol (PI) pathway. The results showed that 20 min of global ischaemia depressed the amount of [3H]inositol present in both sarcolemmal phosphatidylinositol-4-phosphate (PI-4-P) and phsophatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate (PI-4,5-P2), as well as in the cytosolic [3H]inositol phosphates, [3H]InsP2 and [3H]InsP3. The mass of the sarcolemmal inositol phospholipids remained unchanged during ischaemia. Reperfusion caused an immediate (within 30 sec) increase in the amount of [3H]inositol in sarcolemmal PI, PI-4-P and PI-4,5-P2. PI-4-P levels showed a transient increase after 30 seconds postischaemic reperfusion, while the mass of the other sarcolemmal inositol phospholipids, PI and PI-4,5-P2, remained unchanged. [3H]InsP, [3H]InsP2 and [3H]InsP3 also increased significantly in comparison to ischaemic hearts after only 30 sec postischaemic reperfusion. In summary, the results obtained indicate inhibition of the PI pathway during ischaemia with an immediate significant stimulation upon reperfusion. In view of the capacity of InsP3 to mobilize Ca2+, the possibility exists that stimulation of this pathway during reperfusion may play a role in the intracellular Ca2+ overload, characteristic of postischaemic reperfusion.
Novel, structurally modified potential mimics of the second messenger D-myo-inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate, based on the biologically active regioisomer D-myo-inositol 1,4,6-trisphosphate, were synthesised. DL-5-O-Benzyl-1,4,6-tri-O-p-methoxybenzyl-myo-inositol was the key intermediate for the preparation of the following compounds: DL-3-deoxy-, DL-3-deoxy-2-O-methyl-, DL-3-O-(2-hydroxyethyl)-, DL-3-O-(3-hydroxypropyl)- and DL-3-O-(4-hydroxybutyl)-myo-inositol 1,4,6-trisphosphate. DL-1,4,6-Tri-O -allyl-5-O-benzyl-myo-inositol was used to prepare DL-2-O-methyl-myo-inositol 1,4,6-trisphosphate. Deoxy-compounds were prepared by reduction of the corresponding tosylated intermediate using Super Hydride. The hydroxyalkyl groups were introduced at the C-3 of myo-inositol using the corresponding benzyl protected hydroxy alkyl bromide via the cis-2,3-O-dibutylstannylene acetal. Methylation and benzylation at C-2 was accomplished using methyl iodide and benzyl bromide, respectively, in the presence of sodium hydride. Deblocking of p-methoxybenzyl groups was accomplished with TFA in dichloromethane and the allyl groups were removed by isomerisation to the cis-prop-1-enyl derivative, which was hydrolysed under acidic conditions to give the corresponding 1,4,6-triol. The 1,4,6-triols were phosphitylated with the P(III) reagent bis(benzyloxy)(diisopropylamino)phosphine in the presence of 1H-tetrazole then oxidised with 3-chloroperoxybenzoic acid followed by deblocking by hydrogenolysis to give DL-2-O-methyl-, DL-3-O-deoxy-, DL-3-O-deoxy-2-O-methyl-, DL-3-O-(2-hydroxyethyl)-, DL-3-O-(3-hydroxypropyl)- and DL-3-O-(4-hydroxybutyl)-myo-inositol 1,4,6-trisphosphate, respectively.
Convenient high yielding methods for the preparation of 4,6-di-O-benzyl-myo-inositol, myo-inositol 1,3,5-orthoformate and myo-inositol 1,3,5-orthoacetate, without involving chromatography are described. Myo-inositol was converted to racemic 2,4-di-O-benzoyl-myo-inositol 1,3,5-orthoformate by successive treatment with triethyl orthoformate and benzoyl chloride. The dibenzoate obtained on benzylation with benzyl bromide and silver(I) oxide gave 2-O-benzoyl-4,6-di-O-benzyl-myo-inositol 1,3,5-orthoformate. Deprotection of the benzoate and the orthoformate with isobutylamine and aqueous trifluoroacetic acid, respectively gave 4,6-di-O-benzyl-myo-inositol in an overall yield of 67%. Myo-inositol orthoformate and orthoacetate were prepared and isolated as their tribenzoates. The free orthoesters were regenerated by deprotection of the benzoates by aminolysis with isobutylamine.
Two digalactosyl D-chiro-inositols and two trigalactosyl D-chiro-inositols, members of the fagopyritol A series and fagopyritol B series, were isolated from buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench) seeds. Structures of the first three were determined by 1H and 13C NMR. Fagopyritol B2 is alpha-D-galactopyranosyl-(1-->6)-alpha-D-galactopyranosyl-(1-->2) -1D-chiro-inositol, and fagopyritol A2 is alpha-D-galactopyranosyl-(1-->6)-alpha-D-galactopyranosyl-(1-->3)- 1D-chiro-inositol. Fagopyritol A3, a trigalactosyl D-chiro-inositol, is alpha-D-galactopyranosyl-(1-->6)-alpha-D-galactopyranosyl-(1 -->6) -alpha-D-galactopyranosyl-(1-->3)- 1 D-chiro-inositol. From analysis of hydrolysis products, the second trigalactosyl D-chiro-inositol, fagopyritol B3, isalpha-D-galactopyranosyl-(1-->6)-alpha-D-galactopyranosyl-(1-->6) -alpha-D-galactopyranosyl-(1-->2)-1D-chiro-inositol.