INVESTIGATION OF BIOSYNTHESIS OF CYCLITES .22. CYCLITES IN CHLORELLA FUSCA

The occurrence of cyclitols in Chlorella fusca has been studied, using the method of photoassimilation in an atmosphere of14CO2. Besides myo-inositol which is known to be a constituent of this algal species, other cyclitols were detected, namely d-chiro-inositol, mytilitol, laminitol, and l-leucanthemitol. Incorporation experiments with labelled precursors make it most probable that myo-inositol is formed from d-glucose through a pathway already established in many organisms, whereas d-chiro-inositol is the product of a direct epimerization of myo-inositol. No biogenetic relation exists between myo-inositol and the two C-methylinositols; the methyl group of l-methionine is not incorporated into these compounds. © 1969 Springer-Verlag.