A short history of inositol lipids

Abstract

The diverse family of inositol lipids is now known to be central to many aspects of cell biology. The route from the first discovery of inositol to our present day knowledge of inositol lipids spans more than 150 years and is long and complex. This is a brief account of some of the most important stages along that route.

Keywords

• phosphoinositides
• phospholipases/C
• phospholipids
• phospholipids/phosphatidylinositol
• receptors/hormone
• history