Inositol phosphate

Inositol phosphates play a crucial role in various signal transduction pathways responsible for cell growth and differentiation, apoptosis, DNA repair, RNA export, regeneration of ATP and more.

The inositol-phospholipid signaling pathway is responsible for the generation of IP3 through the cleavage of Phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) found in the lipid bi-layer of the plasma membrane by phospholipase C in response to either receptor tyrosine kinase or Gq alpha subunit-G protein-coupled receptor signaling.

[1] Further reading: Function of calcium in humans Inositol tetra-, penta-, and hexa-phosphates have been implicated in gene expression.

Inositol hexaphosphate also facilitates the formation of the six-helix bundle and assembly of the immature HIV-1 Gag lattice.

Proteolytic cleavage then unmasks an alternative binding site, where IP6 interaction promotes the assembly of the mature capsid lattice.