The sugar alcohol D-myo-inositol is a component of the phosphatidylinositol signalling cycle, where the principal second messenger is inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate, IP₃, which acts at intracellular ligand-gated ion channels, IP₃ receptors to elevate intracellular calcium. IP₃ is recycled to inositol by phosphatases or phosphorylated to form other active inositol polyphosphates. Inositol produced from dephosphorylation of IP₃ is recycled into membrane phospholipid under the influence of phosphatidyinositol synthase activity (CDP-diacylglycerol-inositol 3-phosphatidyltransferase [EC 2.7.8.11]).

* Key recommended reading is highlighted with an asterisk

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